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

Extra: How cars shaped modern architecture
Writer Christopher Beanland considers the cultural and architectural impact of cars in shaping our built environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 3, 2025 · 8 min
Timber: Darren Appiagyei, Material Cultures and Oregon lumber
We visit the studio of wood artist Darren Appiagyei, find out why Portland, Oregon, has become a mass-timber hub and design organisation Material Cultures shares why timber isn’t the only vital woodland resource. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 1, 2025 · 31 min
Extra: Lahti International Poster Triennial
First held in 1975, the event has grown into one of the world’s most respected poster-design competitions, drawing submissions from top talent across the globe. Petri Burtsoff reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 26, 2025 · 8 min
3 Days of Design: Area Luce, Nau, Forma and ‘Home from Home’
We hear from a global cohort of creatives at Copenhagen’s de facto design week, 3 Days of Design. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 24, 2025 · 29 min
Extra: ‘Eastern Blocks II: Concrete Landscapes of the Former Eastern Bloc’
The second photographic survey from independent publishing house Zupagrafika considers the building style that dominates much of Eastern Europe. Architectural historian Kateryna Malaia tells us more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 19, 2025 · 9 min
‘The Shakers: A World in the Making’, Falé and the Hannah Ryggen Triennale
The Vitra Design Museum considers how Shakers have inspired designers. Then: we head to Senegal to meet the co-founder of Falé, a brand focusing on hand-spun cotton. Finally, the Hannah Ryggen Triennale in Norway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 17, 2025 · 31 min
Extra: ‘Across the Spooniverse’
In San Diego the Mingei International Museum’s latest exhibition explores how the humble spoon is a vessel for human creativity across the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 12, 2025 · 7 min
London Design Biennale, Finnish Glass Biennale, Art Deco in Shanghai
The London Design Biennale’s director, Victoria Broackes, and experiential designer and author Rachel Botsman discuss this year’s event and the latter’s “Roots of Trust” installation, which reimagines a historical design artefact. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 10, 2025 · 30 min
Extra: Mariana Ralo
As part of this year’s Lisbon Design Week, artist Mariana Ralo produced a vast tapestry crafted from nautical rope and rubber for the courtyard at Locke da Santa Joanna hotel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 5, 2025 · 5 min
Marina Tabassum, Lisbon Design Week, Dan Thawley
Architect Marina Tabassum discusses her inspiration for this year’s Serpentine Pavilion. Then: a report from the third edition of Lisbon Design Week. Plus: we meet Dan Thawley, artistic director of Matter and Shape. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 3, 2025 · 32 min
Extra: ‘Visibly Invisible – Artek’s Drawing Office 1936–2004’
The in-house design team at Finnish furniture company Artek is the focal point of The Alvar Aalto Museum’s summer exhibition. Petri Burtsoff reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 29, 2025 · 8 min
The fabric architecture of Do Ho Suh, Romanian Design Week
South Korean artist Do Ho Suh discusses his ongoing fabric-architecture series and the laborious process of producing these structures. Plus: a recap of Romanian Design Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 27, 2025 · 29 min
Extra: Designmonat Graz
The second edition of Designmonat Graz has taken over Austria’s second city. It explores the melding of analogue and digital worlds under the theme “The New Real”. Alexei Korolyov reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 22, 2025 · 9 min
Venice Architecture Biennale – Part 2
The second of our two episodes dedicated to the Venice Architecture Biennale’s international showcase. We stop in at the pavilions of Australia, Germany, Togo and the USA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 20, 2025 · 26 min
Extra: ‘Embracing Craft, Connecting Culture’
We visit Crafts On Peel’s exhibition, Embracing Craft, Connecting Culture, which showcases rattan, neon and metalsmithing among other practices. It’s one of many events taking place during London Craft Week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 15, 2025 · 8 min
Venice Architecture Biennale – Part 1
In the first of two dedicated episodes, we visit the pavilions of Denmark, Brazil and Switzerland at the Venice Architecture Biennale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 13, 2025 · 29 min
Extra: Inner-city Ikea
We visit the Swedish homeware and furniture giant’s newest retail location on London’s Oxford Street. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 8, 2025 · 9 min
Monocle Design Awards 2025
We’re celebrating the fifth edition of the annual Monocle Design Awards by discussing highlights from this year’s cohort of winners. We hear from medallists Manuel Cervantes and Eva-Marie Eriksson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 6, 2025 · 29 min
Extra: On the Sq
In east London a four-storey house has been renovated and transformed into a design wonderland, with bespoke works made in response to the site. The project’s curator, Irenie Cossey, tells us more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 1, 2025 · 9 min
'Morris Mania', Ethnicraft, MAKE Southwest
The William Morris Gallery celebrates the versatility and popularity of the designer’s patterns in its latest exhibition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 29, 2025 · 28 min

Monocle on Design

Extra: How cars shaped modern architecture

Timber: Darren Appiagyei, Material Cultures and Oregon lumber

Extra: Lahti International Poster Triennial

3 Days of Design: Area Luce, Nau, Forma and ‘Home from Home’

Extra: ‘Eastern Blocks II: Concrete Landscapes of the Former Eastern Bloc’

‘The Shakers: A World in the Making’, Falé and the Hannah Ryggen Triennale

Extra: ‘Across the Spooniverse’

London Design Biennale, Finnish Glass Biennale, Art Deco in Shanghai

Extra: Mariana Ralo

Marina Tabassum, Lisbon Design Week, Dan Thawley

Extra: ‘Visibly Invisible – Artek’s Drawing Office 1936–2004’

The fabric architecture of Do Ho Suh, Romanian Design Week

Extra: Designmonat Graz

Venice Architecture Biennale – Part 2

Extra: ‘Embracing Craft, Connecting Culture’

Venice Architecture Biennale – Part 1

Extra: Inner-city Ikea

Monocle Design Awards 2025

Extra: On the Sq

'Morris Mania', Ethnicraft, MAKE Southwest