Paola Antonelli

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.