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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: Finding relief

Architect Hugh Broughton and the artist James Lambert discuss their designs at a newly upgraded public facility on the Victoria Embankment in London. Monocle’s Francesca Gilks reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 03, 20259 min

‘Living Modernity’, ‘Solar Biennale’ and ‘Splash!’

We explore experimental ways of living thanks to a new exhibition in Tokyo and we imagine sunnier futures at the ‘Solar Biennale’ in Switzerland. Finally, a cooling dip in the pool as we visit ‘Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style’ at London’s Design Museum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 01, 202534 min

Extra: My First Sony Cassette recorder

We take a trip down memory lane to find out why this toy offers a glimpse into a much bigger moment in design history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 27, 20257 min

Powerhouse, Tej Chauhan and a ‘Konfekt’ preview

We visit a floating office in Rotterdam and meet industrial designer Tej Chauhan in Helsinki. Plus, a preview of some of the design stories in the latest issue of ‘Konfekt’ magazine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 25, 202529 min

Extra: Orla Kiely: ‘A Life in Pattern’

The National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny, Ireland, celebrates the bold patterns and organic shapes found in Orla Kiely’s work in its latest exhibition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 20, 20259 min

Vince Frost, ‘The Craft of Carpentry’, Mirkku Kullberg

Graphic designer Vince Frost reflects on his decades in practice; plus Japan’s carpentry culture is front and centre at a new exhibition in London. We then meet Mirkku Kullberg, CEO of Swedish rug company Kasthall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 18, 202531 min

Extra: From fashion to furniture

Monocle’s design editor Nic Monisse reflects on the blurred boundaries between the design and fashion industries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 13, 20253 min

Matter and Shape, ‘Brutalist Japan’, Make Play

Highlights from the second edition of Parisian design salon Matter and Shape. Then: we learn about brutalism in Japan. Plus: we visit the Young V&A in London to meet designer Charlie Boyden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 11, 202531 min

Collect 2025, Christopher Dresser, Jaipur Rugs and Shyam Ahuja

Highlights from the most recent edition of the Collect 2025 art and design fair, and we preview one of the stories in Monocle’s latest March issue. Plus, we find out more about the designer and theorist Christopher Dresser as a trove of his works go to auction in London. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 04, 202530 min

Extra: Madrid Design Festival 2025

Monocle’s Liam Aldous reports from the 8th edition of the annual Madrid Design Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 27, 202515 min

Design Biennale Rotterdam

Highlights from the inaugural edition of the Design Biennale Rotterdam, featuring experimental and collectible design from local and international designers. Across the city, participants have responded to the overarching theme: “What’s Real is Unfamiliar”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 25, 202533 min

Extra: Diary at the ready

Monocle’s design editor, Nic Monisse, considers some key dates and events to mark out on your design calendar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 20, 20254 min

Extra: Yrjö Kukkapuro

A reflection on the life and legacy of Finnish furniture designer Yrjö Kukkapuro. Petri Burtsoff reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 13, 20255 min

Extra: ‘Distillation of Architecture’

The current exhibition at the AA, London’s eminent architectural school, pairs Japanese architectural studios and artists to rethink a piece of furniture or domestic structure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 06, 20259 min

George Smart, ‘Made in the Middle’ and our Feb issue

We meet George Smart, founder of the architectural archive US Modernist, and visit a contemporary craft exhibition in Leicester. Plus, a preview of the stories hitting newsstands in Monocle’s latest issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 04, 202529 min

Extra: Echoes of the past

Nic Monisse reflects on the importance of historic craft guilds in France and where the remnants of their design legacy can be found today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 30, 20254 min

Nanna Ditzel, architectural acoustics and Mylands

We explore a new exhibition in Copenhagen focusing on the grand dame of Danish design, Nanna Ditzel. Then we learn why 1951 was a key year in architectural acoustics and take a factory tour at Mylands, the oldest family-owned and run paint manufacturer in the UK. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 28, 202530 min

Extra: Maison&Objet: Niwar

The Niwar Collection of upholstered furniture was created by Phantom Hands, a furniture maker based in India. Co-founder Deepak Srinath joins to discuss the brand’s collaboration with Swiss design studio Big Game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 23, 20257 min

Maison&Objet

We round up the Maison&Objet trade fair with interviews from across Paris. We hear from the designers of emerging studio Amca Oval and consider the intersection between furniture and architecture. Plus, we discuss rugs and landscapes with one of France’s top creatives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 21, 202529 min

Extra: ‘Lester Beall & A New American Identity’

This exhibition at Poster House in New York explores how the US graphic designer translated concepts of European modernism into art for local audiences. Curator Angelina Lippert explains the importance and techniques used in three series of Beall posters produced for the Rural Electrification Administration in the 1930s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 16, 202511 min

Clay special

We take a closer look at the earth beneath our feet. Writer Jennifer Lucy Allan delves into the human history of this ancient material, and we visit the maker Bisila Noha at her London studio. Then: Adam Weismann, co-founder of Clayworks, reflects on his journey working with clay as a building material and wall finish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 14, 202531 min

Extra: ‘Never At Home’

We meet the team behind the art initiative that transforms vacant sites for temporary artistic use. Among these is the Funkhaus, a former radio building of Austria’s national broadcaster, ORF. Alexei Korolyov reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 14, 20258 min

Film special

We take a look at some silver-screen releases that take a cinematic view on the built environment. Then we go on a global green architecture tour and take a look at New Zealand’s mid-century brutalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 07, 202531 min

A fresh start

New ideas, bright predictions and the trends that will shape the year to come – we preview some of the design stories found in Monocle’s latest edition of ‘The Forecast’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 31, 202428 min

The best of 2024

The team shares this year’s highlights. Expect conversations with designers Maria Bruun and Farah Marafie, and architectural historian, Iain Borden. Also, we hear from the team behind the ‘Dwellings’ exhibition of birdhouses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 24, 202430 min

Extra: Highlights from the year

Monocle’s design editor, Nic Monisse, reflects on some of the conversations shared with creatives this year as 2024 comes to a close. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 19, 20243 min

Christmas special

In this festive episode recorded at Monocle’s annual Christmas Market, we discuss the art of gift wrapping with author and furoshiki expert Tomoko Kakita. Plus, designer Nika Zupanc on her collaboration with Italian brand Alessi, which incorporates Christmas iconography. Finally, we reflect on the joys of meaningful gift-giving at London’s SoShiro Gallery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 17, 202429 min
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