Taking place during Milan Design Week 2026, the fifth edition of Prada Frames is curated by Formafantasma. Titled In Sight, this year’s symposium will take place from April 19th to 21st in the historic setting of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It will offer a thought-provoking programme that places ideas, rather than objects, at the centre of design discourse.
A symposium on images and meaning
With In Sight, Prada Frames turns its focus to image-making as a defining force of contemporary culture. In an era defined by digital circulation and artificial intelligence, images are no longer stable carriers of truth, but rather complex constructs that exist somewhere between reality and representation. The symposium approaches the image as a cultural, political and material entity, questioning its role in shaping perception and collective understanding.
Conversations at the intersection of design and society
Curated by Formafantasma, the programme brings together thinkers, designers, and cultural figures for a series of lectures and discussions. Topics range from the historical frameworks that influence our perception, to the environmental and social costs embedded in digital imagery. These include data storage, energy consumption and invisible labour systems.
The conversations address the attention economies that determine how images circulate today, encouraging critical reflection rather than definitive conclusions. Designed by Alice Rawsthorn, a leading design critic, and brought to life through performative visits led by Natalia Grabowska, the symposium features contributions from renowned figures from various disciplines. These include Paola Antonelli, Kate Crawford, Hania Rani, Alfredo Jaar, Geert Lovink, Joanna Zylinska, Mark Leckey, Ed Atkins and Hans Ulrich Obrist. There is also a music programme curated by Threes Productions.
A historic setting for contemporary thought
Taking place in the Renaissance sacristy of Santa Maria delle Grazie, traditionally attributed to Bramante, the symposium situates contemporary discourse within a richly layered architectural context. Intimate guided tours enable participants to engage with the space and the ideas it embodies, and a special closing evening will present key themes through a public programme combining discussion and live performance.
Operating in a space of inquiry rather than certainty, Formafantasma explores the relationship between form and meaning. In our interview, they explore the multifaceted roles of objects, the economic realities of design, and its place within broader systems.
Special thanks to P:S
