America's First Lady Laura Bush welcomed the National Design Award winners to the White House on Friday to felicitate them on their accomplishments.

 “I’ve been looking forward to this since 2003," Mrs. Bush told the 80 members of the design community It’s an opportunity for me to be able to meet people I have admired for years. Each one of you has made an unbelievable contribution to our culture.”

The First Lady stressed out the importance of fashion and designs and necessity to remind Americans about it. “It’s an important business, and it’s a great export business for the United States. It certainly expresses our fabulous ideas and it’s just fun. It’s fun to get to see all the great fashion designs, to meet the designers, to have some pretty clothes and to just shop with my girls,” she told WWD.

“Funky footwear and stylish clothes add a kick to mundane events,” Mrs. Bush added. “Colorful design on the cover of a book can draw children to the words inside.”

Among the notable achievers were Yves Béhar, the NDA product winner, Yeohlee Teng, the NDA fashion winner, and the lifetime-achievement award winner, Milton Glaser.

Yves Béhar said the US government needs to pay more attention to design:

"The public and the media are so taken in by design. Somehow, that needs to trickle up. The level of awareness should be there and exist for design and culture to