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Monocle on Design

Monoclemonocle.com
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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Episodes

Extra: Norman Foster

The celebrated architect discusses the future of mobility and his project, ‘Gateway to Venice’s Waterways’, at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 10, 20256 min

IKAT Indonesia, Nordic design news and Hamrei

Didiet Maulana, founder of Ikat Indonesia, discusses bringing historical textile techniques to a contemporary audience. Plus: Nordic design news and we hear from the founder of collectible design brand Hamrei. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 08, 202530 min

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 03, 20258 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 01, 202531 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, 20259 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, 20258 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, 202531 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 05, 20256 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 03, 202533 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, 202529 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, 202510 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, 202527 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, 20259 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, 202530 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 08, 202510 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 06, 202530 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 01, 20259 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, 202528 min

Extra: Bronze-casting in Benin City

Artist and maker Bisila Noha presents a diary of the processes and experiences of learning at famous casting epicentre Igun Street. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 24, 20257 min

Type and textiles

Graphic designer and co-founder of Dinamo Typefaces, Johannes Breyer discusses storytelling through type and rebranding Spotify. Plus: curator and historian Mary Schoeser discusses the link between textiles and people over history See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 22, 202530 min

‘Future Impact 3: Design Nation’

‘Future Impact 3: Design Nation’ is an exhibition produced by Design Singapore Council, which enjoyed its first outing at the most recent edition of Milan Design Week. Curated by Tony Chambers, Maria Cristina Didero and Hunn Wai, it featured both established Singaporean names and rising stars. The event – and Monocle – also brought a host of international talent through the door to discuss the future of design. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 18, 202529 min

Extra: Expo 2025 Osaka: The USA Pavilion

Trey Trahan, the lead architect for the USA Pavilion, discusses the structure on show as part of Expo 2025 Osaka. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 17, 20258 min

‘The Sculptor of Ultima Thule’

‘The Sculptor of Ultima Thule’ is an exhibition celebrating the 110th anniversary of Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala’s birth. Co-produced by the Espoo Museum of Modern Art, the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation and Blue Sheep, it features more than 300 of Wirkkala’s works. It is also headlined by the exhibition’s namesake collection, created in partnership with Finnish glassware specialist Iittala. We’re joined by Petra Wirkkala, Janni Vepsäläinen and Tsuchida Takahiro to discuss Wirrkala’s leg...

Apr 16, 202528 min

Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2025 – Part 2

More conversations from this year’s edition of the fair. We hear from multidisciplinary maker Omer Arbel and visit the cavernous design gallery Nilufar Depot. Plus: a continents-spanning conversation with researcher Wong Eng Geng and Nifemi Marcus-Bello. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 15, 202530 min

Extra: Six N Five

At Milan Design Week, Argentine digital designer Six N Five (Ezequiel Pini) discusses his move into the material realm via a collaboration with the Italian furniture brand Poltrona Frau. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 10, 20257 min

Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2025 – Part 1

The team report from the Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan, with interviews from architect David Rockwell, the CEO of Italian manufacturer Artemide and the design duo behind the studio Formafantasma. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 08, 202530 min
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