Monocle on Design
598 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★ - 59 ratingsEverything you need to know about the world of design, from furniture to fashion and craft to architecture. Expect fresh stories, new finds and designers and all the latest news from the world’s most exciting studios.
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Episodes
Bold futures
October 29, 2019 20:00 - 41.2 MBWe head to Eindhoven to check out the best of Dutch Design Week. Plus: how the Cold War shaped Vienna’s architecture and Rob Dickins introduces The Architects Underground at the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Extra: Seeing double
October 24, 2019 17:00 - 9.7 MBWe visit Baltimore’s Post Typography to learn how founders Nolen Strals and Bruce Willen grew a successful design and branding agency from their beginnings as collaborators in the city’s music scene.
The politics of pattern
October 22, 2019 20:00 - 41.2 MBWe discuss the politics of pattern design with writer and curator Priya Khanchandani and architect Sam Jacob, whose exhibition at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale challenges established norms. Plus: staying in Portugal, we head to Modtissimo, the trade fair in Porto that shows off the nation’s best textiles.
Extra: Best seats in the house
October 17, 2019 16:18 - 10.6 MBWe speak to Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon of London’s Pinch Design about how to create furniture that’s elegant yet homely.
Stanley Donwood
October 15, 2019 20:00 - 41.2 MBWe speak to the artist, illustrator and designer about his new book, ‘There will be no Quiet’, collecting his designs for Radiohead album covers over the past three decades. Plus: production designer Anna Rhodes on making music videos for artists including Kanye West, Rufus Wainwright and Laura Marling.
Extra: ‘Sound in Mind’ with Yuri Suzuki
October 10, 2019 16:45 - 8.93 MBWe speak to the sound designer and audio-branding specialist about his new showcase, currently at London’s Design Museum.
Heart of glass
October 08, 2019 20:00 - 41.2 MBA visit to Venice Glass Week to speak with makers and experts such as Rosa Barovier and Simone Cenedese, who discuss their delicate and highly skilled work. Plus: Czech sculptor, glass and product designer Rony Plesl.
Extra: The Antwerp Six
October 03, 2019 18:22 - 10.2 MBIn the late 1980s a group of fashion graduates piled into a van with their collections, drove to London and took the British Designer Show by storm, forging the futures of the so-called Antwerp Six.
Form, function and the future
October 01, 2019 20:00 - 41.2 MBWe visit the Mingeikan – the Japan Folk Crafts Museum – to speak to its director-designer Naoto Fukasawa, who has used Japan’s Mingei crafts movement to inform his globally renowned products. Plus: we look at design’s future and the role of artificial intelligence with Daisuke Ishii, Sony’s chief art director, discussing the brand’s ‘Affinity in Autonomy’ installation.
Extra: A higher power
September 26, 2019 17:46 - 4.53 MBIn an increasingly secular society, designs for worship are changing to reflect the needs of parishioners, many of whom crave calm in busy cities. Monocle’s Design editor Nolan Giles takes a closer look at modern religious architecture.
Extra: ‘Exploring the city’
September 19, 2019 17:00 - 8.72 MBAhead of our full report from the event, we speak to Ben Evans, co-founder and director of London Design Festival, about how temporary spaces can inspire lasting change in a city’s design outlook.
Under the covers
September 17, 2019 20:00 - 38.8 MBWe welcome back design writer Katie Treggiden to run through the sharpest magazines and publishing projects catching her eye. Plus: our creative director Richard Spencer Powell talks about designing not only the latest edition of the magazine but a new soon-to-launch title from the Monocle stable.
Extra: ‘Creative Spaces’
September 12, 2019 15:33 - 9.13 MBWe speak to Ted Vadakan who co-founded LA art-and-design brand Poketo along with Angie Myung. He talks about their new book ‘Creative Spaces’.
Istanbul’s design future
September 10, 2019 20:00Monocle’s Nolan Giles explores an Istanbul neighbourhood that is being reinvigorated by design and pays a visit to the city’s Bilgi University Faculty of Architecture. Plus: we check out Design Week Helsinki and speak to Philippe Brocart, managing director of world-leading interiors fair Maison et Objet.
Extra: Inner worlds
September 05, 2019 17:07A look at hidden design and architecture that's tucked away from the street, as we speak with photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre about their project "Budapest Courtyards".
Outside the box
September 03, 2019 20:00Author Shiromi Pinto speaks to Josh Fehnert about her architecturally informed novel ‘Plastic Emotions’, which details the relationship between Sri Lankan modernist architect Minnette de Silva and Swiss-French design icon Le Corbusier. Plus: in praise of courtyards and the latest design headlines from Katie Treggiden.
Extra: Supermarket sweep
August 30, 2019 12:30We check out supermarket design and learn why the architecture of one outlet in London, created by architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, is now protected as a heritage site.
Landscape architecture, a portrait
August 27, 2019 20:00Architecture prizes are many but what about an award for the all-important spaces between buildings? We speak to the founder of The Cultural Landscape Foundation to find out more. Plus: a look at the prints and textiles of William Morris, and a preview of the Design Biennale Zürich.
Extra: Smooth ride
August 22, 2019 22:00The story of the Yamaha Passol, the minimalist motorcycle from Japan, whose design helped pave the way for some of today’s more zippy two-wheeled wonders.
Industry leaders
August 20, 2019 20:00Writer Dana Thomas joins us to discuss her upcoming book “Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes”. Plus we delve into an archive recording with architect and urban designer Sir Terry Farrell.
Extra: Designs on summer
August 15, 2019 17:12From Monocle’s ‘Summer Weekly’ newspaper, we learn the design story of Strandkörbe, the seasonal beachside seating put to good use every summer in Germany.
Bookmaking boom
August 13, 2019 20:00'Disegno’ editor in chief Oli Stratford mulls over the design headlines with Josh Fehnert. Plus: a listen back to a stirring discussion with Dutch graphic designer Irma Boom.
Extra: Clear vision
August 08, 2019 16:37A look at one of the design stories from ‘The Monocle Summer Weekly’ newspaper as we trace the story of a French design icon found on table tops around the world – Duralex glassware.
Fashion, Monocle style
August 06, 2019 19:02We speak to our Fashion editor Jamie Waters about the summer looks selected for the latest issue of the magazine. We also listen back to one of our favourite conversations from the podcast archives: an in-depth interview with Pritzker prize-winning architect BV Doshi.
Extra: Cycling – getting into gear
August 01, 2019 16:10With the Tour de France ending this week, broadcaster, cycling commentator and writer Matt Barbet talks through the designs behind some of cycling’s race-winning jerseys.
Meeting Stefan Sagmeister
July 30, 2019 19:02We visit New York-based graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister to talk about growing up in Austria, his big break in album art and why taking sabbaticals is so important. Plus: how design impacts our quality of life.
Meeting Stefan Sagmeister
July 30, 2019 19:02We visit New York-based graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister to talk about growing up in Austria, his big break in album art and why taking sabbaticals is so important. Plus: how design impacts our quality of life.
Extra: London’s fashion shortfall
July 25, 2019 17:40Monocle’s Fashion editor asks if London’s fashion retailers are falling short and, if so, why.
Poster perfect
July 23, 2019 19:02Despite the growth of digital displays in public places, printed posters remain surprisingly ubiquitous. We visit a new museum dedicated to the art. Plus: we hear from the head of Gensler and Helsinki’s deputy mayor.
Extra: Jan Gehl
July 18, 2019 16:45We hear from Danish architect and urban-design pioneer Jan Gehl. He was our guest at the recent Monocle Quality of Life Conference in Madrid and joined editor Andrew Tuck on stage.
Landscape design: Roberto Burle Marx
July 16, 2019 19:02We visit the New York Botanical Garden’s horticultural tribute to the Brazilian modernist landscaper. Plus: we meet Tony Fadell at the Starmus science and arts festival and speak to the president of architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox.
Extra: Caravan club
July 11, 2019 15:50If you’re heading off on holiday in Europe, you’re bound to see plenty of caravans on the roads – and if you take a closer look you’ll see that many of them are made by Adria. We visit an exhibition in Slovenia that’s dedicated to Adria’s designer.
Shelter from the Storm
July 09, 2019 19:02How is London tackling homelessness – and what role can architects and designers play? In an extended roundtable discussion, we speak to the team behind the UK capital’s only non-government funded free homeless shelter.
Extra: Meeting Sir David Chipperfield
July 04, 2019 17:15We hear from British architect Sir David Chipperfield in conversation with Monocle editor in chief Tyler Brûlé. They spoke at our 2019 Quality of Life Conference in Madrid.
Big Insights: Woods Bagot
July 02, 2019 19:02To kick off our Big Insights series, we speak to the CEO of architecture firm Woods Bagot about his priorities, hopes and preoccupations. Plus: we look at Berlin’s playgrounds and find out how design can provide dignity in old age.
Extra: Havana’s Focsa building
June 27, 2019 16:15We head to the top of the Focsa building in Havana, which arguably boasts one of the Cuban capital’s best views. Over the years it’s hosted wealthy landowners, Russian spies, foreign dignitaries and academics. We lift the veil on its mysterious past.
Redesigning the hotel
June 25, 2019 19:02Can technology lead to more humane hospitality? We visit Toronto’s The Annex Hotel to find out why they think it can. Plus: The Woolmark Company’s latest collaboration with Prada, and designer Philippe Malouin on the future of office furniture.
Extra: Can manifestos change the world?
June 20, 2019 16:45From Le Corbusier’s ‘5 Points of Architecture’ to Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi’s ‘Learning from Las Vegas’ and the more recent ‘Architecture Must Burn’ by Aaron Betsky, Katie Treggiden asks what it takes to create a lasting manifesto.
Manifestos: architecture of the future
June 18, 2019 19:02Can a manifesto change the world? In truth there are probably quicker ways but that didn’t stop the London Festival of Architecture and the Design Museum commissioning 10 young London-based practices to compose one each. We hear them out.
Extra: Design on the Rhine
June 13, 2019 16:50As the mercury rises, we shine a spotlight on the growing urban-river movement and head to *Swim City*, a new exhibition at Basel’s Swiss Architecture Museum, to see how the residents of Basel unwind by the river.
What’s next for Notre Dame?
June 11, 2019 19:02Tears fell as the spire of Paris’s most famous cathedral crumbled – but should Notre Dame be rebuilt as it was? Josh Fehnert asks professor Alan Dunlop whether it’s best to reuse or redo. Plus: our verdict on the TWA hotel in New York and a word with Maruni art director Naoto Fukasawa.
Extra: In with the old
June 06, 2019 17:30From the redevelopment of King’s Cross to breathing new life into old industrial buildings in Hackney Wick, London is a city that’s hitting its stride when it comes to reviving its old buildings. Here’s what Monocle’s Design editor Nolan Giles had to say about the matter.
Restoring Cuba
June 04, 2019 19:02Havana celebrates its 500th birthday this year and some of its buildings are beginning to show their age. Restoration and reuse are proving challenging – but also rewarding, as Lucinda Elliott reports. Plus a word with the CEO of Rapt Studio and a Victorian renovation project in London.
Extra: Pick a pocket
May 30, 2019 14:30A new book released this week called ‘The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women’s Lives 1660 – 1900’, traces the history of pockets and what they reveal about women’s role in society.
Book covers: turning the page
May 28, 2019 19:02We find out from our favourite designers what makes a book fly off the shelves and Josh Fehnert and Chiara Rimella ask if it’s okay to judge books by their covers. Plus: EU election logos and how design influences the ballots.
Extra: Warsaw’s graphic past
May 23, 2019 17:00Can you understand a country by looking at its graphic-design industry? Warsaw underwent a dramatic swing from communism in the 1980s to a fascination with capitalism in the 1990s. Today the city’s identity is striking more of a balance and new graphic-design styles are emerging.
Cities of the future
May 21, 2019 19:02What will our cities look like in 2050? We ask an architect and urban planner to answer just that. Plus: a listed building comes of age in London, and part one of our series on office furniture and the changing world of the workplace.
Extra: Modernist Metroland
May 16, 2019 20:52London’s grade II-listed Arnos Grove underground station is a classic example of modernist influences in the UK capital’s Metroland.
Drawing conclusions
May 14, 2019 19:02We look at the unusual history of architectural drawings and debate the advantages of putting pencil to paper with architect Sam Jacob. Plus: architect Piero Lissoni on his new showroom for De Padova and a postcard from Toronto.
Extra: Straight to the moon
May 09, 2019 16:00The idea of settling on the moon was once considered science fiction – but could it become a reality? Given the radical difference in atmosphere and vast lack of resources, we find out what materials could be used for building.