Discourse about design on the vibrant Arlecchino train designed by Gio Ponti, held in Milan, featuring Formafantasma
Prada Frames 'In Transit' Symposium Explores the Future of Design and Mobility
The fourth edition of the Prada Frames symposium, themed "In Transit," is set to take place from 6-8 April at the Padiglione Reale and the refurbished Arlecchino train at Milano Centrale station. This three-day multidisciplinary event, hosted by Prada in collaboration with the design practice Formafantasma, will delve into the disruptive impact of online and logistical infrastructures and offer a critical perspective on modern hypermobility and global transit of goods versus human movement.
The symposium will focus on the complex interactions between design, mobility, global distribution networks, and digital revolutions, and how these shape daily life and the challenges of human migration. While the exact dates within 2025 are not specified, the event is scheduled to take place around late July, following the Milan Salone del Mobile in April.
Prada Frames is rooted in research and conversation, pushing the boundaries of what a design event can be. The format of the symposium is seen as a new model for design collaborations, fostering an ongoing dialogue that extends beyond Milan and into the wider world.
More than a dozen academics, designers, artists, and thinkers will lead discussions at the symposium, including MoMA senior curator Paola Antonelli, AI scholar Kate Crawford, and poet Tung-Hui Hu. Prada Frames is not an indictment of the Salone del Mobile as a whole, but an opportunity to rethink what design week can be beyond product showcases.
Stefano Trimarchi and Alessio Farresin, the organizers of the Prada Frames symposium, see the event as the antithesis of anything commercial. For them, Prada Frames considers the things often overlooked in design, focusing on critical dialogue and reflection, looking at contemporary culture and the world we inhabit, making it interesting.
In addition to the symposium, the Prada Frames project has been exploring the distribution of goods and materials in their practice for several years. Formafantasma are also involved in an ongoing research project, 'OltreTerra,' on the global dynamics of wool production.
The Arlecchino train, once a stylish connection between Milan and Rome, was designed in the 1950s and kept in service until 1992. Its visual concept was inspired by the diamond pattern motif worn by the jester-like Harlequin character from the Italian commedia dell'arte tradition. Each carriage is rendered in a jewel-toned color. The train will be refurbished and used as a venue for the Prada Frames symposium.
The Prada Frames symposium, launched in 2022 during Milan Design Week, is an annual event supported by the Italian fashion house Prada. By addressing pressing issues such as AI, environment, borders, and global trade, Prada Frames aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of design in shaping our future. Registration for complimentary attendance can be found on prada.com.
- The Prada Frames symposium, scheduled to take place in July 2025, will not only focus on design and mobility but also delve into the intersection of design, finance, and transportation, as industry experts discuss the global dynamics of these sectors and their impact on lifestyle and travel.
- As the Prada Frames symposium delves into the future of design and mobility, discussions will extend to the financial aspects of transportation, exploring the funding mechanisms that underpin the global distribution networks and the economic implications of hypermobility on individual lifestyles and travel experiences.
