The New Edition of the Annual Symposium Will Feature Academic Explorations of Movement in Social Contexts
Prada Frames is set to explore the dynamic relationship between the natural environment and design with its fourth symposium, themed “In Transit,” during Milan Design Week. The event, developed by the Milan and Rotterdam-based design studio Formafantasma, will be held from April 6 to 8 at Milan’s Central Train Station, specifically within the “Padiglione Reale,” a space historically reserved for Italian royalty.
The three-day symposium aims to delve into themes of mobility and the infrastructures that support the movement of people, goods, data, and power, reflecting on how these elements serve as catalysts for change. The event will address topics such as the rise of artificial intelligence, data centers, and migration patterns, exploring their links to the concept of movement.
The symposium will feature a range of speakers from diverse fields, including architects, scholars, designers, filmmakers, and astrophysicists. Notable participants include Kate Crawford, a leading scholar of artificial intelligence, and others from varied disciplines, examining the impacts of digital and logistical infrastructures on society.
Attendees will have a unique experience aboard the “Arlecchino” train, a historically significant vehicle designed by Gio Ponti and Giulio Minoletti in 1950, equipped with mid-century interiors and recently restored. This setting is intended to enhance the discussions by linking them directly to the themes of movement and design history.
The Prada Frames initiative, which began in 2022, represents Prada’s ongoing commitment to integrating design, architecture, and the arts into meaningful discourse, as evidenced by the Fondazione Prada art space. The event is free, with prior registration required on Prada’s website, offering an accessible platform for exploring how contemporary infrastructures and mobility impact our daily lives and the environment.
