Designing Inclusion: Co-Op Earns National Recognition

JJCA is proud to celebrate a remarkable moment. Our high school co-op, JJ, has earned recognition as one of five regional winners in the 2026 Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum National High School Design Competition. This honor reflects both his talent and his drive to design with purpose.

This year’s competition carries special weight. It marks the 250th anniversary of the United States and invites students to look both back and ahead. Designers studied meaningful ideas from their communities and then shaped new solutions for the future. Out of entries from 24 states, only 155 stood out. From that group, five regional winners rose to the top. JJ is one of them. His work shows how thoughtful design can honor history while also creating real change.

At JJCA, we believe in creating places for healing and learning. JJ’s project does exactly that. As someone with special needs, he understands firsthand how design can shape a person’s experience. Therapeutic horseback riding helped him manage severe OCD and gave him a strong sense of inclusion and confidence. That personal connection became the foundation for his award-winning idea.

During lessons, instructors often reminded students to “put your heels down.” That repeated phrase sparked JJ’s detail-oriented thinking. He began asking how the traditional stirrup could better support riders with limited mobility, especially children with special needs.

Standard stirrups often fall short for riders who need extra support. So JJ designed a new solution. His adaptive stirrup includes an adjustable heel rest that improves stability and comfort. At the same time, he built in a critical safety feature. A hook-and-groove joint releases under lateral pressure, helping prevent a rider from being dragged during a fall. It is a simple but powerful idea that increases both access and safety.

The project took shape over several months. JJ first developed the concept, then created a prototype and gathered feedback from professionals in the field. After refining the design, he built and tested a second version. Even when a 3D-printed prototype broke during testing, he kept improving the design and learning from the process. That persistence reflects the curiosity and resilience that define strong designers.

Just as important, JJ connects his idea to history. The stirrup has shaped transportation, agriculture, and equestrian culture for centuries. By rethinking this familiar tool, he honors its legacy while adapting it for a more inclusive future.

We see this as more than an award. It is a sign of what thoughtful, human-centered design can achieve. JJ listens, studies, tests, and creates solutions that help people live better lives. That mindset reflects the values we hold at JJCA.

Now a high school junior, JJ plans to pursue architecture in college. While he has not yet chosen a school, his path forward is already clear. He designs with empathy, purpose, and determination. We could not be more excited to see what he does next.