Podcasts · Arts

Monocle on Design

Monocle

100 episodes

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.

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. Monocle’s new ‘Design Directory’ with Peter Zumthor. Plus: Clara Krzentowski on design fair Pad London

    · 33 min

    Our annual ‘Design Directory’ is on newsstands now. Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton discuss their highlights and why a good design story is always about the bigger picture. Plus: Clara Krzentowski on design fair Pad…

  2. Sense of place

    · 14 min

    What impact can a sense of place have on what we make – and how we live? Join us for a discussion examining how a sense of place can combine with cultural DNA to create everything from distinct neighbourhoods to rugged…

  3. Art and design

    · 24 min

    Live from Frieze London: We’re joined by JLR’s Nick Rolls and Collect’s fair director, TF Chan, to ask where art ends and design begins – and whether that line still matters. We discuss working between the two…

  4. The future of car design at the Paris Motor Show

    · 35 min

    We tour this year’s Paris Motor Show with Chris Cermak and Chloé Nakao-Pélata. Renault Clio and Alfa Romeo’s chief designers detail the road ahead for mobility. Plus: Why EV design might finally be turning a corner.…

  5. How to party properly and shop well with Studio Boum and Kartell

    · 32 min

    Grace Charlton speaks with the founders of Studio Boum about design and fashion. Then: Lorenza Luti of pioneering Italian furniture brand Kartell explains why physical retail still reigns supreme. See…

  6. What can architecture do for fashion? Nathan Rich on his design work at The Met

    · 40 min

    We head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to speak with architect Nathan Rich. Then: the architecture of runways at Paris Fashion Week. Plus: how decades of war shape design thinking in Beirut. See…

  7. The architecture of happiness with Omar Gandhi, Alvar Aalto and Louis Kahn

    · 37 min

    Omar Gandhi tells Nic Monisse how a lifelong love of baseball informs the feeling that he strives to create with his practice. Then: Alvar Aalto and Louis Kahn’s design philosophy. Plus: Highlights from Monocle’s new…

  8. Chaos, risk and design with Louise Liljencrantz and Christopher Dessus

    · 29 min

    In light of Paris Design Week, we explore experimental architecture and industrial furniture. Plus: Grace Charlton joins Nic Monisse to reveal some big news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  9. Design on display: Es Devlin of Homo Faber on how good curation brings objects to life

    · 34 min

    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…

  10. Highlights from Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference and Manuel Aires Mateus on intelligent architecture

    · 31 min

    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…

  11. Objects that change the world for the better with designer Sébastien El Idrissi

    · 31 min

    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…

  12. What can designers learn from the principles of Japanese gardening?

    · 29 min

    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.

  13. A cut above: Allday Goods founder Hugo Worsley on reinventing the kitchen knife

    · 31 min

    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…

  14. Narrative design and clubbing with Pirajean Lees

    · 28 min

    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…

  15. Linda Boronkay on designing for the soul. Plus: late-night kebabs get a chic makeover

    · 32 min

    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…

  16. Interior architect Alex Holloway takes inspiration from cinema and online slang

    · 29 min

    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…

  17. What separates luxury interiors from the rest?

    · 33 min

    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…

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

    · 34 min

    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.

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

    · 31 min

    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…

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

    · 33 min

    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…

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

    · 33 min

    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…

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

    · 32 min

    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…

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

    · 30 min

    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…

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

    · 32 min

    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…

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

    · 32 min

    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…

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

    · 27 min

    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.…

  27. Exploring Mexico City’s thriving design landscape with Tatiana Bilbao

    · 28 min

    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…

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

    · 26 min

    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…

  29. Monocle Design Awards 2026 with Jean-Baptiste Anotin

    · 28 min

    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.

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

    · 32 min

    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.…

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

    · 32 min

    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…

  32. Touring Prototype Island with Design Singapore Council

    · 35 min

    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…

  33. A tour around the 64th edition of Salone del Mobile

    · 27 min

    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.…

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

    · 28 min

    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.…

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

    · 29 min

    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…

  36. Just deserts: Exploring AlUla’s pioneering design residencies with curator Emily Marant

    · 29 min

    Emily Marant discusses how residencies, cultural infrastructure and site-specific creation are redefining AlUla. Plus: Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton on the new flat-pack Eames house and Salone del Mobile 2026. See…

  37. What is ‘Hyakkō’? A deep dive into Japan’s thriving craft scene with curator Nagata Takahiro

    · 27 min

    At a Japan House exhibition in London, curator Nagata Takahiro details the practice and philosophy of craftspeople working across Japan today. Plus: Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton flick through the new issue of Monocle…

  38. Simone Brewster on the narrative of objects. Plus: the Dominican Republic’s rising design scene

    · 35 min

    Nic Monisse joins Simone Brewster at the London Design Museum to discuss her latest exhibition. Then: Gregory Scruggs explores the Dominican Republic’s booming design scene. Plus: our take on this year’s Pritzker…

  39. Matter and Shape, part two: Architecture and Genius Loci, Larger Than Life, Through the Looking Glass

    · 45 min

    The final part of our series from design salon Matter and Shape with Dan Thawley and Nic Monisse. We blur the boundaries between inside and out with Jayden Ali and talk about scale and sculpture with Birkenstock 1774.…

  40. Co-design and luxury hospitality: Sour’s Pinar Guvenc and GA’s Jessica Morrison on the creative process

    · 31 min

    Sour's Pinar Guvenc discusses how local community is helping shape better buildings. Then: GA’s Jessica Morrison on what luxury hospitality means in 2026? Plus: Nic and Grace dissect designers from a month of fashion…

  41. Matter and Shape, part one: Investigating Editions, New Cultural Landscapes and Olfactory Oral

    · 39 min

    Across a two-part series, we recap design salon Matter and Shape. We hear from three brands editing new and archival works, talk cross-cultural pollination with Villa Hegra and consider how we can design with scent.…

  42. What can Korean craft teach us about our possessions? Hyo Jung Lee on her book ‘Jeong’

    · 34 min

    Korean craft has long been overlooked. We speak to author Hyo Jung Lee about her book exploring the full scope of the country’s design practice. Plus: Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton discuss the design landscapes of…

  43. Do local materials make objects better? Emmie Massias on the rise of Vietnamese design

    · 29 min

    Design in Ho Chi Minh is on the up: we speak with one designer who is using the city’s signature restaurant stools as a canvas. Plus: Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton pick highlights of The Monocle 100 from the March…

  44. Is it time to go back to human-centred design? TF Chan on Collect 2026

    · 30 min

    As London craft-and-design fair Collect gets under way, Nic Monisse chats with director TF Chan about the philosophy of “fewer, better things”. Plus: buttons and handles are coming back to our vehicles but will Nic and…

  45. New Materials: Range Rover

    · 25 min

    We speak to Phoebe Lindsay, Materiality Senior Manager for Range Rover. Hear how the storied automaker uses materials to shape emotions and tell stories. Plus, taking a holistic approach to design strategy. See…

  46. Honouring brand legacy with the Pantone Colour Institute and the Louis Kahn Foundation

    · 32 min

    How do you pick a unique brand colour and does it matter? Pantone Color Institute’s vice-president joins to discuss. Then: Tallinn architecture students pay homage to Louis Kahn. Plus: Nic and Grace on brand…

  47. Defining Brand: Range Rover

    · 19 min

    We speak to Will Verity, Brand Design Chief for Range Rover, at Design Miami. Hear how sound, scent and space shape our experience of brand. Plus, drawing inspiration from the colour black and modernist architecture.…

  48. Japan’s future plazas with Met Team Architects and sculpture as jewellery with Giles Miller

    · 33 min

    As Japan’s train designs race into the future, their plazas return to nature. Ryuma Takahashi speaks to the architect behind new plans for Iida station. Then: Giles Miller on sculpture as jewellery, plus our view on…

  49. Telling stories through design with Andu Masebo and creative studio Birch

    · 31 min

    How do designers tell stories with their work? London-based designer Andu Masebo discusses his social approach to “simple, efficient objects”. Then: James Allen of creative studio Birch explains how strategy-design in…

  50. Nichecraft and placemaking with Luca Nichetto and David Galullo

    · 31 min

    Italian designer Luca Nichetto on nichecraft and the limits of treating design as purely collectible. Then: The office’s future with Rapt Studio’s David Galullo. Plus: Nic and Grace on Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Arts…

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