Pratt Institute

Brooklyn Campus 

Symposium: Friday, November 6, 2026    

9 am -6:30 pm EST 

 

Admission is Free |  Please Register Here

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9:00 am – 9:30 am Introductions

Location: Memorial Hall

Symposium Introduction: Deborah Schneiderman

 

9:30 am – 11:30 am Presentations Session I

Location: Memorial Hall

Introductions and Moderation: Karyn Zieve

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Amy F Ogata    “Resurfacing the Second Empire”

Professor | University of Southern California | Department of Art History | Los Angeles, CA

 

Alina Hoffman    "Agents and Agency: Assessing the Use of Generative AI Tools Through a Disability Studies Lens"

Visiting Assistant Professor |  Pratt Institute | School of Design | Brooklyn, NY

 

Elizabeth Carroll    "Surface and Illusion: Simulated Lacquer, Process, and Taste in Early Modern Venice"

Senior Lecturer | San Josè State University | Department of Art and Art History | San Jose, CA

 

Heather Molecke   "The Synthetic Environment"

Instructor | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA

 

11:30 am – 12:30 pm Exhibits

Multiple locations

#Synthetic Exhibit Introduction: Karin Tehve

#Synthetic Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibit Introduction: Sarah Frankie Sigman

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#Synthetic Exhibit

Location: Design Center Gallery

 

#Synthetic Cabinet of Cur

Location: Pratt Library | Alumni Reading Room

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12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch

 

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Presentations Session II + Brief Reintroduction

Location: Memorial Hall

Symposium Reintroduction: Deborah Schneiderman

Moderation and Introduction: Erica Morowski

 

Rachel Rosengarten Hunnicutt    “Synthesizing the Severed Floor: Bell Labs, Lumon, and the Interior Palimpsest”

PhD Candidate |  William & Mary | American Studies | Williamsburg , VA

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Suzanne Lettieri    "Social Surfaces"

Assistant Professor. | Cornell University | College of Architecture, Art, and Planning | Ithaca, NY

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Sara Reed    "The Archive as Synthetic Interior: Collage, Speculation, and Revolutionary Havana"

Assistant Professor | Virginia Commonwealth University | Department of Interior Design | Richmond, VA

 

Rana Abudayyeh     "Pixels to Places"

Associate Professor | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | College of Architecture and Design | School of Interior Architecture | Knoxville, TN

 

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm  Coffee Break at #Synthetic Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibit

Location: Pratt Library | Alumni Reading Room

#Synthetic Cabinet of Curiosities Exhibit Introduction: Sarah Frankie Sigman

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4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Keynote

Location: Memorial Hall

Introduction and Moderation: Keena Suh

 

Jenny Sabin    "Biosynthetic Design: Towards Adaptive Architecture" 

Professor | Chair of the Department of Design Tech | Arthur L. and Isabel B. Wiesenberger Professor in Architecture | Director of Graduate Studies in Design Technology | Co-Director of the M.S. in Design Technology | Cornell University | Ithaca, NY

 

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Reception at #Synthetic Exhibit 

Location: Design Center Gallery

#Synthetic Exhibit Introduction: Karin Tehve