Monocle on Design

Touring Prototype Island with Design Singapore Council 

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 M...

A tour around the 64th edition of Salone del Mobile

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Pushe...

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

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We talk with designer Franck Genser about his work for Louis Vuitton. Then: Mario Milana and Gabriella Campagna of Casa Milana on their apartment-turn...

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

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fernando Augusto Pacheco visits Jig, a new furniture shop in London’s Soho that champions contemporary Brazilian design. Then: Exploring De Stij...

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

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Marant discusses how residencies, cultural infrastructure and site-specific creation are redefining AlUla. Plus: Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton ...

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

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

At a Japan House exhibition in London, curator Nagata Takahiro details the practice and philosophy of craftspeople working across Japan today. Plus: N...

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

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Nic Monisse joins Simone Brewster at the London Design Museum to discuss her latest exhibition. Then: Gregory Scruggs explores the Dominican Republic&...

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

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 J...

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

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sour's Pinar Guvenc discusses how local community is helping shape better buildings. Then: GA’s Jessica Morrison on what luxury hospitality mean...

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

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 pollin...

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

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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....

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

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Moniss...

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

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As London craft-and-design fair Collect gets under way, Nic Monisse chats with director TF Chan about the philosophy of “fewer, better things&rd...

New Materials: Range Rover

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We speak to Phoebe Lindsay, Materiality Senior Manager for Range Rover. Hear how the storied automaker uses materials to shape emotions and tell stori...

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

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you pick a unique brand colour and does it matter? Pantone Color Institute’s vice-president joins to discuss. Then: Tallinn architecture ...

Defining Brand: Range Rover

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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, dra...

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

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As Japan’s train designs race into the future, their plazas return to nature. Ryuma Takahashi speaks to the architect behind new plans for ...

Telling stories through design with Andu Masebo and creative studio Birch

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do designers tell stories with their work? London-based designer Andu Masebo discusses his social approach to “simple, efficient objects&rdq...

Nichecraft and placemaking with Luca Nichetto and David Galullo

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Italian designer Luca Nichetto on nichecraft and the limits of treating design as purely collectible. Then: The office’s future with Rapt Studio...

How does a city affect design? Miminat Shodeinde and Joris Laarman on process and place 

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We round-up Paris Dećo Off and Maison&Objet. Then: collectable design with London-based creative Miminat Shodeinde. Plus: Dutch designer Joris La...

Design in Dubai with ARDH Collective and Some Kind of Practice

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The best of Dubai Design Week. Nic Monisse talks with ARDH Collective co-founders Alyina Ahmed and Max Tettamanzi on turning waste into building mater...

Taking design cues from nature with Altere Studios and Tom Kundig

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Grace Charlton explores how good design can assist new year workouts with Alberto Lambert, CEO and founder of Altere Studios. Plus: making the practic...

The best of 2025

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton share thier favourite moments from across 2025 on Monocle on Design and pick out what they're looking forward to in the...

Moving forward via tradition with Tekla. Plus: Balkrishna Doshi at the Vitra Design Museum

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton on where to get your last-minute design Christmas goodies. Plus: Grace talks to the Tekla team about their new London s...

How to spot timeless design and make DIY chic with SCP and MG&Co

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with British designer Sheridan Coakley of SCP about his journey into furniture-making and his philosophy about what makes design last. Then: ...

Design Miami with Jen Roberts and Moderne Gallery

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton report from Miami. Plus: Grace discusses the rise of collectible design with Design Miami’s CEO, Jen Roberts...

Making the bed: The importance of design for our bedrooms with Thuma and Rise & Fall

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are the key ingredients to a well-designed bedroom? Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton discuss their must-haves. Then: modern bedroom-furniture maker...

Yinka Ilori and Kjetil Thorsen on the role that design can play in shaping mood and memory  

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

British-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori discusses childhood joy and co-design with Nic Monisse. Then: Snøhetta’s Kjetil Thorsen talks about...

The aesthetics of functionality with Nifemi Marcus Bello and Wes Anderson

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss usage with Lagos-based designer Nifemi Marcus Bello and explore a new book on Wes Anderson’s approach to colour. Plus: Nic Monisse an...

‘Designers on Sofas’ special: Why the couch is so often overlooked, with Ilse Crawford and Eran Chen

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate the release of ‘The Monocle Book of Designers on Sofas’, editors Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton discuss their highlights from...

Rethinking timekeeping for the 21st century with luxury watchmakers Ressence 

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Benoît Mintiens, founder of luxury watchmakers Ressence, explains the out-of-the-box thinking that goes into reimagining the mechanics of timeke...

Frieze Connect’s Charlene Prempeh on the unexpected effects of good art and design

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nic Monisse discusses the social benefits of good art and design with Frieze Connect’s Charlene Prempeh. Then: New Delhi-based craft entrepreneu...

‘A fingerprint isn’t a flaw’: Michael Anastassiades on the art of small details

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cypriot born London-based design pioneer Michael Anastassiades discusses the importance of noticing smaller details. Plus: furniture maker Seitz unpac...

Extra: ‘Bad Language’

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Photographer Max Creasy discusses the relationship between architecture and pictures, and his new exhibition at the Architectural Association in Londo...

Driving Forward: Range Rover

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We speak to Andy Wheel, Director of Production Design at JLR at Range Rover House Daylesford. Hear how a strong brand identity and an innovative appro...

Lessons learned

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We reflect on what can be gleaned from years of design discussion and studio visits, featuring highlights from Do Ho Suh, Faye Toogood and Bisila Noha...

Extra: St Wolfgang station, home to the Schafberg cog railway

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit Austria’s St Wolfgang station. In addition to being the starting point for the vertiginous Schafberg cog railway, it has also received ...

Artek at 90, Michael Bennett and Dennis Cheung

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We celebrate Finnish brand Artek at 90 and athlete-turned-spatial designer Michael Bennett shares how creativity can be found everywhere. Plus: Dennis...

Extra: Dulwich Picture Gallery

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We venture to South London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery to marvel at the new pavilion and more recent developments at the UK’s first purpose-...

British Ceramics Biennial, October issue preview and Vienna Design Week

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit the ninth edition of the British Ceramics Biennial and preview the October issue of Monocle. Plus: A stopover at Vienna Design week.See omnys...

Extra: Emre Arolat  

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a conversation recorded at Monocle’s most recent Quality of Life Conference, Turkish architect Emre Arolat discusses the design of the Sancak...

London Design Festival, Studio Brière and Katie Treggiden    

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our highlights from London Design Festival, including everything from material innovation to new furniture and design circularity with journalist Kati...

Extra: POV Budapest 

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit the second edition of the design conference in the Hungarian capital. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helsinki Design Week at 20, London’s Open House Festival and Zurich Design Weeks

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Helsinki Design Week turns 20 this year and we explore this year’s Open House Festival in London. Plus: An interview with the founder of furnitu...

Extra: Willie Williams  

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The designer discusses his work at the National Theatre’s production of ‘Inter Alia’ in London – and how to strike the balance...

Quality of Life Conference design round-up

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A recap of the design-minded discussions at this year’s conference, including Bofill Taller de Arquitectura and a lighting masterclass from Sant...

Extra: Hyu Lim 

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

California-based designer Hyu Lim discusses his brand, Maju, the lamp series inspired by both his Singaporean heritage and the design systems that he ...

World Design Congress and the ‘Richard Rogers: Talking Buildings’ exhibition

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Design Council’s CEO, Minnie Moll, previews the World Design Congress at London’s Barbican Centre. Plus: Abe Rogers discusses his cura...

Extra: Dharma Taylor

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Multidisciplinary maker Dharma Taylor reflects on the similarities between producing fashion and designing textile and furniture works. We also discus...

Obin, haptic feedback and the conclusion to our summer series 

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Indonesian textile and fashion powerhouse Obin discusses bringing batik to contemporary audiences. Plus: Sam Hecht of Industrial Facility discusses ha...

Extra: Cabin Fever 2025

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit the architectural summer school run by the studio Hello Wood. Helena Kardová reports from this year’s one-of-a-kind adventure, w...

Summer schools

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We hear from Alexander von Vegesack, founder of Domaine de Boisbuchet – an international research centre for design and architecture in southwes...

Extra: ‘Perfection’

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vincenzo Latronico’s new novel ‘Perfection’ is a launchpad for Monocle’s associate editor, Grace Charlton, to explore ideas of...

Supermundane, architecture and landscape and another instalment of our summer series

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Artist, illustrator and writer Rob Lowe, also known as Supermundane, joins us in the studio for another instalment of our summer series. Plus: the tea...

Extra: Who was Lorenzo Homar?

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The printmaker and poster designer is celebrated at the Poster House in New York in an exhibition that charts the pioneering work of the creative.See ...

‘Pictograms’ at Japan House and Robert Wilson

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A review of the ‘Pictograms’ exhibition at Japan House in London. Then: we remember the late, great Robert Wilson. And: we kick off our su...

Extra: Bora 

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We head to Portugal to meet João Xará, one of the co-founders of this design collective, to discuss why the group formed and the power o...

‘More Than Human’, Marco Sousa Santos and Bolaji Teniola

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Design Museum in London explores how we might design beyond human needs in its latest exhibition. Then we visit the showroom of Portuguese furnitu...

Extra: On performing good taste

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Monocle’s associate editor of design and fashion, Grace Charlton, muses on the importance of enjoying good design rather than the performance of...

Karimoku furniture, Austrian concrete and ‘Slop Magazine’

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re in Japan to visit furniture manufacturer Karimoku. Then we consider the use of concrete in Austrian architecture and the team behind &lsqu...

Extra: Temitayo Ogunbiyi  

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Lagos-based artist’s exhibition, ‘You will wonder if we would have been friends’, is on at The Noguchi Museum in New York. Ogunb...

The Ralph Saltzman Prize 2025, ‘Xisto’ and Bogdan Ciocodeica

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lulu Harrison, winner of The Ralph Saltzman Prize 2025, discusses her ‘Thames Glass’ project. We also head to Lisbon’s Made in Situ ...

Extra: Norman Foster  

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The celebrated architect discusses the future of mobility and his project, ‘Gateway to Venice’s Waterways’, at the 19th Internationa...

IKAT Indonesia, Nordic design news and Hamrei   

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Didiet Maulana, founder of Ikat Indonesia, discusses bringing historical textile techniques to a contemporary audience. Plus: Nordic design news and w...

Extra: How cars shaped modern architecture 

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Christopher Beanland considers the cultural and architectural impact of cars in shaping our built environment. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Timber: Darren Appiagyei, Material Cultures and Oregon lumber

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit the studio of wood artist Darren Appiagyei, find out why Portland, Oregon, has become a mass-timber hub and design organisation Material Cult...

Extra: Lahti International Poster Triennial

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

First held in 1975, the event has grown into one of the world’s most respected poster-design competitions, drawing submissions from top talent a...

3 Days of Design: Area Luce, Nau, Forma and ‘Home from Home’

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Extra: ‘Eastern Blocks II: Concrete Landscapes of the Former Eastern Bloc’

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The second photographic survey from independent publishing house Zupagrafika considers the building style that dominates much of Eastern Europe. Archi...

‘The Shakers: A World in the Making’, Falé and the Hannah Ryggen Triennale   

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Vitra Design Museum considers how Shakers have inspired designers. Then: we head to Senegal to meet the co-founder of Falé, a brand focusin...

Extra: ‘Across the Spooniverse’  

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In San Diego the Mingei International Museum’s latest exhibition explores how the humble spoon is a vessel for human creativity across the world...

London Design Biennale, Finnish Glass Biennale, Art Deco in Shanghai

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The London Design Biennale’s director, Victoria Broackes, and experiential designer and author Rachel Botsman discuss this year’s event an...

Extra: Mariana Ralo

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As part of this year’s Lisbon Design Week, artist Mariana Ralo produced a vast tapestry crafted from nautical rope and rubber for the courtyard ...

Marina Tabassum, Lisbon Design Week, Dan Thawley

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Architect Marina Tabassum discusses her inspiration for this year’s Serpentine Pavilion. Then: a report from the third edition of Lisbon Design ...

Extra: ‘Visibly Invisible – Artek’s Drawing Office 1936–2004’

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The in-house design team at Finnish furniture company Artek is the focal point of The Alvar Aalto Museum’s summer exhibition. Petri Burtsoff rep...

The fabric architecture of Do Ho Suh, Romanian Design Week

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

South Korean artist Do Ho Suh discusses his ongoing fabric-architecture series and the laborious process of producing these structures. Plus: a recap ...

Extra: Designmonat Graz

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The second edition of Designmonat Graz has taken over Austria’s second city. It explores the melding of analogue and digital worlds under the th...

Venice Architecture Biennale – Part 2

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The second of our two episodes dedicated to the Venice Architecture Biennale’s international showcase. We stop in at the pavilions of Australia,...

Extra: ‘Embracing Craft, Connecting Culture’

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit Crafts On Peel’s exhibition, Embracing Craft, Connecting Culture, which showcases rattan, neon and metalsmithing among other practices....

Venice Architecture Biennale – Part 1

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of two dedicated episodes, we visit the pavilions of Denmark, Brazil and Switzerland at the Venice Architecture Biennale.  See ...

Extra: Inner-city Ikea

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit the Swedish homeware and furniture giant’s newest retail location on London’s Oxford Street.See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Monocle Design Awards 2025 

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re celebrating the fifth edition of the annual Monocle Design Awards by discussing highlights from this year’s cohort of winners. We he...

Extra: On the Sq

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In east London a four-storey house has been renovated and transformed into a design wonderland, with bespoke works made in response to the site. The p...

'Morris Mania', Ethnicraft, MAKE Southwest

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The William Morris Gallery celebrates the versatility and popularity of the designer’s patterns in its latest exhibition.  See omnystudio.c...

Extra: Bronze-casting in Benin City

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Artist and maker Bisila Noha presents a diary of the processes and experiences of learning at famous casting epicentre Igun Street.See omnystudio.com/...

Type and textiles

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Graphic designer and co-founder of Dinamo Typefaces, Johannes Breyer discusses storytelling through type and rebranding Spotify. Plus: curator and his...

‘Future Impact 3: Design Nation’

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

‘Future Impact 3: Design Nation’ is an exhibition produced by Design Singapore Council, which enjoyed its first outing at the most recent ...

Extra: Expo 2025 Osaka: The USA Pavilion 

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trey Trahan, the lead architect for the USA Pavilion, discusses the structure on show as part of Expo 2025 Osaka.   See omnystudio.com/liste...

‘The Sculptor of Ultima Thule’

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

‘The Sculptor of Ultima Thule’ is an exhibition celebrating the 110th anniversary of Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala’s birth. Co-pro...

Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2025 – Part 2

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More conversations from this year’s edition of the fair. We hear from multidisciplinary maker Omer Arbel and visit the cavernous design gallery ...

Extra: Six N Five

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At Milan Design Week, Argentine digital designer Six N Five (Ezequiel Pini) discusses his move into the material realm via a collaboration with the It...

Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2025 – Part 1

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The team report from the Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan, with interviews from architect David Rockwell, the CEO of Italian manufacturer Art...

Extra: Finding relief 

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Architect Hugh Broughton and the artist James Lambert discuss their designs at a newly upgraded public facility on the Victoria Embankment in London. ...

‘Living Modernity’, ‘Solar Biennale’ and ‘Splash!’

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We explore experimental ways of living thanks to a new exhibition in Tokyo and we imagine sunnier futures at the ‘Solar Biennale’ in Switz...

Extra: My First Sony Cassette recorder 

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We take a trip down memory lane to find out why this toy offers a glimpse into a much bigger moment in design history. See omnystudio.com/listene...

Powerhouse, Tej Chauhan and a ‘Konfekt’ preview

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We visit a floating office in Rotterdam and meet industrial designer Tej Chauhan in Helsinki. Plus, a preview of some of the design stories in the lat...

Extra: Orla Kiely: ‘A Life in Pattern’

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny, Ireland, celebrates the bold patterns and organic shapes found in Orla Kiely’s work in its ...

Vince Frost, ‘The Craft of Carpentry’, Mirkku Kullberg

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Graphic designer Vince Frost reflects on his decades in practice; plus Japan’s carpentry culture is front and centre at a new exhibition in Lond...

Extra: From fashion to furniture

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Monocle’s design editor Nic Monisse reflects on the blurred boundaries between the design and fashion industries.See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Matter and Shape, ‘Brutalist Japan’, Make Play

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Highlights from the second edition of Parisian design salon Matter and Shape. Then: we learn about brutalism in Japan. Plus: we visit the Young V&...