Although a recipient of a laurea degree in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano university in 1990, she has never worked as an architect. Antonelli has curated several architecture and design exhibitions in Italy, France, and Japan. She has been a contributing editor for "Domus" magazine (1987–91) and the design editor of "Abitare" magazine (1992–94). She has also contributed articles to several publications, among them "Metropolis", the Harvard Design Review, "I.D." magazine, "Paper", "Metropolitan Home", "Harper's Bazaar", and "Nest". In 2014 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Royal College of Art.