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
New Austrian fashion
Ditch the dirndls and leave out the lederhosen, there’s a fresh crop of fashion designers in the Austrian capital who are taking the nation’s wardrobe in new directions. Alexei Korolyov cuts a dash around town to investigate the city’s sartorial success.
On Design 47: How did the T-shirt become an American icon?
We trace the evolution of the American T-shirt from humble undergarment to ubiquitous wardrobe staple.
Israeli design special
At only 69 years old, Israel is a young country with countless identities. But what does this mean for the nation’s contemporary designers, artists and makers? We take a design-minded tour of the country to find out.
On Design 46: What can Düsseldorf teach us about urban planning?
In transitioning from a city designed for cars to a city designed for people, Düsseldorf proves that even sacred cows – in this case the city’s beloved ‘Tausendfüssler’ overpass – can sometimes be sacrificed for the greater good.
New frontiers of design
We take a look at how the design industry is exploring new frontiers: the RIBA’s new venue in Liverpool, the advent of outdoor lighting with the chief executive of Flos and what to watch out for in the menswear industry.
On Design 45: Did Norman Foster invent the modern office in Ipswich?
The Willis Corron building in Ipswich launched Norman Foster’s career and set the standard for modern offices in the unlikeliest of settings.
California: designing freedom
London’s Design Museum looks at the Golden State’s influence, we speak to the co-chief executive of one of the biggest architecture and design firms in the US and we meet one of the people responsible for some of the most recognisable rock art of all time.
On Design 44: Vertical gardens: a breath of fresh air for overcrowded cities?
As a city grows, the need for greenery becomes ever more acute while the space available for it becomes ever scarcer. How to solve this paradox? One solution is to grow upwards.
Illustration: the state of the art
We talk to two leading illustrators about the past, present and future of the art form. Plus, eyewear innovation in Vienna and modern office furniture from Another Country.
On Design 43: What works about the workers’ jacket?
The utilitarian and ubiquitous blue-hued French worker’s jacket – or ‘bleu de travail’ – is enjoying a sustained revival after years of obscurity. But will its popularity continue after the world has reached peak workwear?
