Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, will give a keynote speech at Dezeen Day, our new international architecture and design conference taking place in London on 30 October.

Antonelli, the first Dezeen Day speaker to be unveiled, will speak about the impact of Broken Nature, Design Takes on Human Survival, the exhibition she curated for the XXII Triennale di Milano and which closed on 1 September.

One of the most influential and acclaimed architecture and design exhibitions of recent years, the exhibition explored how human society has become severed from the natural and identified projects that attempt to create a new dialogue with nature via what she describes as "restorative design".

"Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival highlighted the concept of restorative design, plotting its role in surveying our species' bonds with the complex systems in the world, and in designing reparations when necessary, through objects, concepts, and new systems," Antonelli said.

She added that her lecture at Dezeen Day "will take stock of the experience, casting the exhibition against the turbulent geopolitical background of the past year, describing which among its ambitions were met, and which were not."

Born in Sardinia in 1963, Antonelli joined MoMA in 1994 after working as a design writer, editor and teacher. Besides curating exhibitions she writes and lectures extensively. Her books include Humble Masterpieces: 100 Everyday Marvels of Design; Design and the Elastic Mind; and Talk to Me: Design and the Communication between People and Objects.

"Her goal is to promote design's understanding, until its positive influence on the world is universally acknowledged," her official biography states. "Her work investigates design's impact on everyday experience, often including overlooked objects and practices, and combining design, architecture, art, science and technology."

Dezeen Day aims to set the agenda for international architecture and design, and takes place at BFI Southbank in central London on 30 October.

Dezeen's first ever conference will feature keynote lectures and panel discussions tackling critical topics facing architecture and design including the circular economy, rethinking architecture and design education and post-plastic materials. More details including speakers will be unveiled soon.

Tickets are now on sale! The first 100 early-bird tickets cost just £250 each (plus VAT if relevant). Click here to purchase tickets or use the form below:

Please note refunds are not available. 

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Illustration by Rima Sabina Aouf.