Monocle on Design

Monocle’s associate editor of design and fashion, Grace Charlton, muses on the importance of enjoying good design rather than the performance of merely owning it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re in Japan to visit furniture manufacturer Karimoku. Then we consider the use of concrete in Austrian architecture and the team behind ‘Slop Magazine’ discuss graphic design and client relationships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lagos-based artist’s exhibition, ‘You will wonder if we would have been friends’, is on at The Noguchi Museum in New York. Ogunbiyi’s artworks playfully blur the line between functional design and art. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lulu Harrison, winner of The Ralph Saltzman Prize 2025, discusses her ‘Thames Glass’ project. We also head to Lisbon’s Made in Situ gallery to see its ‘Xisto’ collection. Plus: Romanian designer Bogdan Ciocodeica. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A celebrated architect shares insights on the future of mobility, focusing on his innovative project for Venice's waterways. The discussion highlights the intersection of modern transport design with the city's rich history and culture. Listeners are taken through the challenges and inspirations behind creating a user-friendly transport hub in a location steeped in tradition, showcasing how architecture can evolve to meet contemporary needs.

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.

In this conversation, writer Christopher Beanland, author of 'Architecture for Cars,' dives into the fascinating relationship between cars and modern architecture. He explores how automobiles have influenced urban planning, coining the term 'car-citecture.' Listeners will discover quirky architectural examples like Berlin's 'Snake' and Australia's humorous roadside attractions, showcasing how these car-centric designs reflect cultural shifts and shape experiences for both drivers and pedestrians.

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.

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.

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.