Monocle on Design
Your essential guide to design, covering furniture, craft, and architecture. Discover fresh stories, rising talents, and the latest from top studios.
Latest Episodes
The politics of pattern
We discuss the politics of pattern design with writer and curator Priya Khanchandani and architect Sam Jacob, whose exhibition at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale challenges established norms. Plus: staying in Portugal, we head to Modtissimo, the trade fair in Porto that shows off the nation’s best textiles.
Extra: Best seats in the house
We speak to Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon of London’s Pinch Design about how to create furniture that’s elegant yet homely.
Stanley Donwood
We speak to the artist, illustrator and designer about his new book, ‘There will be no Quiet’, collecting his designs for Radiohead album covers over the past three decades. Plus: production designer Anna Rhodes on making music videos for artists including Kanye West, Rufus Wainwright and Laura Marling.
Extra: ‘Sound in Mind’ with Yuri Suzuki
We speak to the sound designer and audio-branding specialist about his new showcase, currently at London’s Design Museum.
Heart of glass
A visit to Venice Glass Week to speak with makers and experts such as Rosa Barovier and Simone Cenedese, who discuss their delicate and highly skilled work. Plus: Czech sculptor, glass and product designer Rony Plesl.
Extra: The Antwerp Six
In the late 1980s a group of fashion graduates piled into a van with their collections, drove to London and took the British Designer Show by storm, forging the futures of the so-called Antwerp Six.
Form, function and the future
We visit the Mingeikan – the Japan Folk Crafts Museum – to speak to its director-designer Naoto Fukasawa, who has used Japan’s Mingei crafts movement to inform his globally renowned products. Plus: we look at design’s future and the role of artificial intelligence with Daisuke Ishii, Sony’s chief art director,…
Extra: A higher power
In an increasingly secular society, designs for worship are changing to reflect the needs of parishioners, many of whom crave calm in busy cities. Monocle’s Design editor Nolan Giles takes a closer look at modern religious architecture.
London Design Festival
We bring you the best from London Design Festival, including interviews with festival director Ben Evans, experimental designer Marlène Huissoud and Sir Ian Blatchford of the Science Museum, Italian furniture master Patrizia Moroso and sculpture designer Liz West. Plus Paul Cocksedge explains how he made his standout “Please Be Seated”…
Extra: ‘Exploring the city’
Ahead of our full report from the event, we speak to Ben Evans, co-founder and director of London Design Festival, about how temporary spaces can inspire lasting change in a city’s design outlook.
