Fashion as Design

Anna Burckhardt serves as a Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where she specializes in contemporary design with a focus on sustainability and restorative practices. Her academic background includes an MA in Visual Culture from New York University, where she researched Latin American textile design, and a Bachelor of Laws from Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. She has made significant contributions to major exhibitions, including co-curating "Broken Nature" with Paola Antonelli, which explored the concept of restorative design and humanity's relationship with nature. Her expertise in sustainable design is evident in her work examining how design can repair connections between humans and other species, while maintaining formal elegance and functionality. Burckhardt advocates for circularity in design and the innovative use of waste materials, as demonstrated through her curation of projects like Studio Formafantasma's "Ore Streams" and Kosuke Araki's "Anima." Her upcoming research focuses on design's role in energy harnessing and its relationship to power structures, while she continues to promote sustainable practices in museum operations and exhibition design.

Michelle Millar Fisher is currently the Ronald C. and Anita L. Wornick Curator of Contemporary Decorative Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, following her impactful tenure as a Curatorial Assistant at The Museum of Modern Art from 2014 to 2018. Her research focuses on the intersections of people, power, and the material world, particularly in architecture and design. During her time at MoMA, she co-organized several significant exhibitions including "Design and Violence," "This Is for Everyone: Design Experiments for the Common Good," and "Items: Is Fashion Modern?" She holds multiple degrees, including an MA and M.Phil in Art History from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and is completing her doctorate at The Graduate Center, CUNY. Fisher is co-founder of ArtHistoryTeachingResources.org, a Kress Foundation-funded project used in over 185 countries, and Art + Museum Transparency, which promotes discussions on art and labor issues. Her recent work includes co-organizing "Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births" and researching for her upcoming book and exhibition on craft schools across America. Her contributions to the field have been recognized through numerous awards, including Graham Foundation Awards and Pew Center for Arts & Heritage project awards.

Paola Antonelli has served as Senior Curator in the Department of Architecture & Design at The Museum of Modern Art since 1994, while also holding the position of founding Director of Research & Development. Her innovative approach to curating has expanded the understanding of design beyond traditional boundaries, incorporating everything from video games to everyday objects into MoMA's collection. She has curated numerous groundbreaking exhibitions, including "Items: Is Fashion Modern?" and "Design and Violence," while also developing significant online educational initiatives. Her work on Coursera includes co-creating and teaching "Fashion as Design," which explores the impact and evolution of fashion in modern society. With a Master's degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic of Milan, she has received multiple honorary doctorates and prestigious awards, including the "Design Mind" Smithsonian Institution's National Design Award and recognition as one of TIME magazine's 25 most incisive design visionaries. Her teaching experience spans prestigious institutions including UCLA, Harvard Graduate School of Design, and the School of Visual Arts in New York. Through her curatorial work, writing, and educational initiatives, Antonelli continues to champion design's role in shaping contemporary culture and society, making complex design concepts accessible to global audiences through both traditional exhibitions and digital platforms.

Stephanie Kramer brings a unique blend of practical industry experience and academic expertise to her role as Research Assistant in The Museum of Modern Art's Department of Architecture and Design. Her significant contributions include working on the groundbreaking exhibition "Items: Is Fashion Modern?" while also developing content for MoMA's online course "Fashion as Design." Her academic credentials include an MA in Visual Culture: Costume Studies from New York University, complementing her practical experience as former Director of Fabric R&D at Nicole Miller. Currently teaching fashion history and theory at both the Fashion Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute, she specializes in youth subcultures, fashion, and identity. Her curatorial experience extends beyond MoMA to include contributions to exhibitions at the Museum at FIT and The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Through her work, Kramer bridges the gap between practical fashion industry knowledge and theoretical understanding, bringing both perspectives to her research and teaching endeavors.