In celebration of Pirouette: Turning Points in Design, MoMA presents a special abecedarium event. Twenty-six designers, scholars, DJs, photographers, and entrepreneurs will each present on one paradigm-shifting object or idea, each corresponding to one letter of the alphabet. Discover how objects and designs such as the Astronaut cup, the Global Temperature Spiral, the Money Manicure, the Sony Walkman, and others—both well-known and niche—changed our culture and society.
Pirouette Abecedarium will be hosted by co-organizers Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, and Director, Research and Development; and Jamer Hunt, Professor of Transdiscplinary Design, Parsons; along with the MoMA Public Engagement team.
This event is free, but registration is required.
Schedule
9:00–9:30 a.m.
Welcome coffee
9:30–10:00
P = Pirouette
Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, and Director, Research and Development, MoMA
Jamer Hunt, Professor of Transdisciplinary Design, The New School
10:00–10:30
A = Astronaut cup
Christine Choi, Partner and Head of Brand Communications, M13
B = Beauty
Camila Falquez, Photographer
C = Chair
Norman Teague, Designer
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
D = Digital remains
Jessa Lingel, Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania
E = Emergency
Jeannie Annan, Chief Research and Innovation Officer, International Rescue Committee
F = Flop
Colleen Macklin, Professor of Media Design, Parsons School of Design
G = Good Design
Rick Griffith, Design Director, MATTER
H = Habit
Wendy S. Walters, Author and Associate Professor of Nonfiction, Columbia University
Moderated discussion
12:00–1:30 p.m.
Lunch (on your own)
1:30–2:30
I = Icons
Susan Kare, Artist and Designer, Design Architect, Niantic Labs
J = Jumpsuit
Andrea Lauer, Costume/Set/Production Designer, Founder and Creative Director, RISEN DIVISION
K = Kitchen
Andrés Jaque, Founder, Office for Political Innovation
L = Luxury
Brandon Blackwood, Designer
M = M&Ms
Stephanie Hinnershitz, Assistant Professor of Security and Military Studies, Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base
2:30–3:30
N = Nails
Sarah Nguyen, Nail Designer and Artist
O = Olympics
Jessica Lomax, Chief Design Officer, Calvin Klein
Q = Quotidian
Alice Rawsthorn, Design Critic and Author
R = Rainbow Flag
Jon Key, Designer, Cofounder, and Design Director, Codify Art
Moderated discussion
3:30–4:00
Coffee
4:00–4:45
S = Solar Sintered Bowl
Markus Kayser, Founder, Kayser Works
T = Tampon
Greta Meyer, CEO and Cofounder, Sequel
U = Universal
Sarah Kaufman, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation
V = View-Master
Ashley James, Associate Curator, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
4:45–6:00
W = Walkman
Jace Clayton, Artist, DJ, and Writer
X = Xtinction
Ed Hawkins, Professor of Climate Science, University of Reading
Y = Yesterday
Caterina Fake, General Partner and Investor, Yes VC
Z = Zettel’z
Paola Antonelli
Moderated discussion and conclusion
6:00–7:00
Reception
Accessibility
This theater is equipped with an induction loop that transmits directly to hearing aids with T-coils.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and live CART captionin is available for public programs upon request with two weeks’ advance notice. MoMA will make every effort to provide accommodation for requests made with less than two weeks’ notice. Please contact [email protected] to make a request for these accommodations.
The nearest all-gender restroom is located in the Cullman Mezzanine 1 Lobby.
Wheelchair-accessible seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information on accessibility at MoMA, please visit moma.org/visit/accessibility.
The Adobe Foundation is proud to support equity, learning, and creativity at MoMA.
Access and community programs at MoMA are supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
Major funding is provided by the Agnes Gund Education Endowment Fund for Public Programs, the Jeanne Thayer Young Scholars Fund, and the Annual Education Fund.