

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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 24, 2025 • 5min
Extra: On performing good taste
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.

Jul 22, 2025 • 27min
Karimoku furniture, Austrian concrete and ‘Slop Magazine’
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.

Jul 17, 2025 • 8min
Extra: Temitayo Ogunbiyi
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.

Jul 15, 2025 • 31min
The Ralph Saltzman Prize 2025, ‘Xisto’ and Bogdan Ciocodeica
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.

5 snips
Jul 10, 2025 • 6min
Extra: Norman Foster
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.

Jul 8, 2025 • 30min
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.

5 snips
Jul 3, 2025 • 8min
Extra: How cars shaped modern architecture
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.

Jul 1, 2025 • 31min
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.

Jun 26, 2025 • 9min
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 24, 2025 • 29min
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.