Ibero-America Designs at Pratt

To discuss design today, it is essential to have a comprehensive perspective. While traditional design capitals like Milan and Paris continue to thrive, associated with furniture and fashion respectively, other cities like New York have become major cultural and design epicenters. Quietly, some emerging regions are transforming into platforms for innovative design, blending rich artisanal traditions with modern design concepts and business resources. This includes professionals trained at universities that have become hubs of education and design research.

Let’s talk about Ibero-America, a region comprising 22 countries across two continents, with nearly 6,000 universities and over 700 million inhabitants. It hosts 187 Biosphere Reserves and embraces a global outlook poised for learning and showcasing its capabilities. The association Iberoamérica Diseña, which we founded, aims to highlight design as a unique value of Ibero-America after organizing a biennial for 20 years. We will introduce this association in New York, in collaboration with Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, discussing with designers, educators, students, and design enthusiasts about this potential and its ability to influence global design trends.

Manuel Estrada – President of Iberoamérica Diseña

Anita Cooney – Dean / School of Design / Pratt Institute

Ignacio Urbina Polo – Chair / Industrial Design Department / Pratt Institute