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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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26 episodes
weekly
Avg 30 min
English

Episodes 26

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Tuesday · 33 min
Design on display: Es Devlin of Homo Faber on how good curation brings objects to life
The artistic director of Homo Faber, Es Devlin, discusses her goal of making objects talk to each other. Plus: in light of design events in Paris, London, Venice and Zürich, we discuss what you should look out for and why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
September 8 · 30 min
Highlights from Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference and Manuel Aires Mateus on intelligent architecture
At Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference in Lisbon, we catch up with one of Portugal’s foremost architects, Manuel Aires Mateus. Plus: highlights from the conference at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
September 1 · 30 min
Objects that change the world for the better with designer Sébastien El Idrissi
Is the term “industrial design” frowned upon by design purists? Zürich-based Sébastien El Idrissi thinks so. He joins Nic Monisse to discuss why his goal is positive change at an industrial scale. Plus: what to look forward to at our Quality of Life Conference in Lisbon this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 25 · 28 min
What can designers learn from the principles of Japanese gardening?
Niwaki founder Jake Hobson on why Japanese garden shears demonstrate the key to good design. Plus: Ferrari shocks critics. And: the joy of luxury stationery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 18 · 30 min
A cut above: Allday Goods founder Hugo Worsley on reinventing the kitchen knife
Chef-turned-CEO Hugo Worsley tells us why design-lovers are obsessed with Allday Goods’ knives. Plus: Australia’s new census puts design on the map and why your next hotel stay should be the Chesa Grischuna in Klosters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 11 · 27 min
Narrative design and clubbing with Pirajean Lees
Clémence Pirajean and James Lees tell us about how narratives are essential to designing luxury interiors well. Plus: cooling off with design-thinking and the architecture of clubs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 4 · 31 min
Linda Boronkay on designing for the soul. Plus: late-night kebabs get a chic makeover
Hungarian designer Linda Boronkay on crafting hospitality interiors that ‘nourish the soul’. Then: Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton on luxury kebabs, animism and the object in their house that they would save first. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 29 min
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.
July 21 · 33 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 14 · 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 7 · 31 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.
June 30 · 32 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 23 · 33 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 16 · 32 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 9 · 30 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 2 · 32 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.
May 26 · 31 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 21 · 27 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 19 · 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 14 · 26 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.

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