Monocle on Design

Monocle

Everything 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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100 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes100

Newest first

Interior architect Alex Holloway takes inspiration from cinema and online slang
Alex Holloway, of interior architecture studio Holloway Li, on drawing inspiration from cinema aesthetics and online slang. Plus: a review of Sicilian architecture and travel etiquette. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tuesday · 29 min
What separates luxury interiors from the rest?
Dorothée Boissier explains Gilles and Boissier’s approach to interior design. Then: Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton give their take on “digital minimalism” and whether or not designers can help us to stay on task. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 21 · 33 min
Henry Wilson’s philosophy of designing imperfection and Rolf Fehlbaum on the importance of friendship
Australian designer Henry Wilson on why perfection is not something he strives for. Then: Rolf Fehlbaum of Vitra on why fun and friendship make for better work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 14 · 33 min
From house to home: Fernanda Canales, Thuma’s Alec Banks and the importance of ritual with Sophie Lou Jacobsen
Mexican architect Fernanda Canales invites us into her modern home. Then: French-American designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen and Thuma’s head of brand, Alec Banks, discuss how ritual and memory shape our relationship with home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 7 · 31 min
What does ‘good taste’ mean in interior design? The view from Tara Bernerd and Dan Rosen
UK interior designer Tara Bernerd on how travel has influenced her taste. Then: Design comedian Dan Rosen on why judging others’ interior-design choices can be a good thing. Plus: Paris Fashion Week Men’s and Design Parade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 30 · 32 min
How do you revive a club as historic as Paris’s Bus Palladium?
We hear how Studio KO turned one of Paris’s most famous nightclubs into a hotel. Then: making design more sensual with Astraeus Clarke. Plus: Nic and Grace give their takes on The Barack Obama Presidential Center. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 23 · 33 min
Does Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design now rival Milan Design Week?
We discuss why Denmark’s biggest design event drew record numbers this year, as well as our highlights of the week. Then: how to innovate materially with Jessie French. Plus: combining emotion and logic with Space Copenhagen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 16 · 32 min
Is imperfection becoming a trend? A view of the future from NYCxDesign 2026
A NYCxDesign special featuring designers from the US and Canada. Nic Monisse speaks with Simone Ferkul about human imperfection; Ryan Twardzik about his regional design ethos; and Jared Rusten about how to make chairs rock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 9 · 30 min
Feeling over form and function: the design principles of Tola Ojuolape and Rodolfo Agrella
London-based interior designer Tola Ojuolape discusses the sense of belonging that she strives to achieve with each new project. Then: Venezuela’s Rodolfo Agrella on the importance of “energy”. Plus: café interiors from the new issue of Monocle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 2 · 32 min
Redesigning London’s shared cultural spaces with Jayden Ali. Plus: Reykjavík’s DesignMarch 2026
Forward-thinking British architect Jayden Ali joins to detail his new galleries at V&A East in London. Then: unpicking Icelandic design stereotypes at DesignMarch 2026. Plus: highlights at this year’s NYCxDesign. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 26 · 31 min
Let’s get flexible: Mark Haydon and Kim Colin on adaptability in design
How can flexibility improve quality of life? We answer this with Fisher & Paykel and the brand’s head of industrial design, Mark Haydon. Plus: Kim Colin, co-founder of Industrial Facility, on working with technology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 21 · 27 min
Exploring Mexico City’s thriving design landscape with Tatiana Bilbao
Nic Monisse is in Mexico to learn how design is shaping the country’s capital. Grace Charlton also joins from Paris to explore the history and future of the city’s design-thinking. Plus: Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 19 · 27 min
Modern luxury: Simone Stephens and Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen on living well
Our series with Fisher & Paykel continues as we speak to Simone Stephens, head of global D&A partnerships and principal designer at Fisher & Paykel Appliances. Plus, Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects on human wellbeing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 14 · 26 min
Monocle Design Awards 2026 with Jean-Baptiste Anotin
We discuss this year’s Monocle Design Awards winners and speak with one recipient, Jean-Baptiste Anotin, about the design thinking behind the sleek PP-1 turntable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 12 · 28 min
A sense of place with Dan Witten-Hannah and Sophie Lou Jacobsen
How is place represented in industrial design? In the first of a series produced with Fisher & Paykel, we speak to CEO Dan Witten-Hannah about identity. Plus: Sophie Lou Jacobsen on her new Milan-inspired collection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 7 · 32 min
Deyan Sudjic on the legacy of Andrea Branzi. Plus: Designing for Artificial Life with Sacha Leong
We explore Italian radical design at Salone del Mobile with author, and former director of the Design Museum, Deyan Sudjic. Plus: How to design for Artificial Life with Sacha Leong of Nice Projects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 5 · 31 min
Touring Prototype Island with Design Singapore Council
Some of the most exciting work on display at Milan Design Week could be found at Prototype Island, which showcased 15 Singapore-based creatives. Nic Monisse and Hassan Anderson visited the exhibition in the Brera Design District to explore why Singapore’s designers continue to innovate in new and surprising ways. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 29 · 34 min
A tour around the 64th edition of Salone del Mobile
Nic Monisse, Ed Stocker and Grace Charlton have been busy at Milan Design Week. We cover what they saw and chat to Cristián Mohaded, Yabu Pushelberg, Patricia Urquiola, Annabelle Schneider and Anne-Rachel Schiffmann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 28 · 27 min
Is collectable design on the rise at Salone del Mobile? A selection of highlights from Milan Design Week 2026
We talk with designer Franck Genser about his work for Louis Vuitton. Then: Mario Milana and Gabriella Campagna of Casa Milana on their apartment-turned-showroom. Plus: Highlights from Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 21 · 27 min
The rise and rise of Brazilian design with Jig. Plus: touring the Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht.
Fernando Augusto Pacheco visits Jig, a new furniture shop in London’s Soho that champions contemporary Brazilian design. Then: Exploring De Stijl at the Rietveld Schröder House and we look forward to Salone del Mobile 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 14 · 28 min

Monocle on Design

Interior architect Alex Holloway takes inspiration from cinema and online slang

What separates luxury interiors from the rest?

Henry Wilson’s philosophy of designing imperfection and Rolf Fehlbaum on the importance of friendship

From house to home: Fernanda Canales, Thuma’s Alec Banks and the importance of ritual with Sophie Lou Jacobsen

What does ‘good taste’ mean in interior design? The view from Tara Bernerd and Dan Rosen

How do you revive a club as historic as Paris’s Bus Palladium?

Does Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design now rival Milan Design Week?

Is imperfection becoming a trend? A view of the future from NYCxDesign 2026

Feeling over form and function: the design principles of Tola Ojuolape and Rodolfo Agrella

Redesigning London’s shared cultural spaces with Jayden Ali. Plus: Reykjavík’s DesignMarch 2026

Let’s get flexible: Mark Haydon and Kim Colin on adaptability in design

Exploring Mexico City’s thriving design landscape with Tatiana Bilbao

Modern luxury: Simone Stephens and Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen on living well

Monocle Design Awards 2026 with Jean-Baptiste Anotin

A sense of place with Dan Witten-Hannah and Sophie Lou Jacobsen

Deyan Sudjic on the legacy of Andrea Branzi. Plus: Designing for Artificial Life with Sacha Leong

Touring Prototype Island with Design Singapore Council

A tour around the 64th edition of Salone del Mobile

Is collectable design on the rise at Salone del Mobile? A selection of highlights from Milan Design Week 2026

The rise and rise of Brazilian design with Jig. Plus: touring the Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht.