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Artwork for Monocle on Design

Monocle on Design

Monocle
Design
Architecture
Sustainability
Furniture Design
Milan Design Week
Sustainable Design
Craftsmanship
Interior Design
Collectible Design
Fashion
Lighting Design
Contemporary Design
Copenhagen
Finnish Design
London Design Festival
Design Parade
Furniture
Exhibitions
Venice Biennale
Dubai Design Week

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.

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Artwork for Monocle on Design

Latest Episodes

The artistic director of Homo Faber, Es Devlin, discusses her goal of making objects talk to each other. Plus: in light of design events in Paris, London, Venice and Zürich, we discuss what you should look out for and why.

See omnystudio.com/listene... more

At Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference in Lisbon, we catch up with one of Portugal’s foremost architects, Manuel Aires Mateus. Plus: highlights from the conference at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor... more

Is the term “industrial design” frowned upon by design purists? Zürich-based Sébastien El Idrissi thinks so. He joins Nic Monisse to discuss why his goal is positive change at an industrial scale. Plus: what to look forward to at our Quality of Life ... more

Niwaki founder Jake Hobson on why Japanese garden shears demonstrate the key to good design. Plus: Ferrari shocks critics. And: the joy of luxury stationery.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Manuel Aires Mateus
Portugal-based architect, co-founder of Manuel Aires Mateus Arquitectos
Manuel Aires Mateus Arquitectos
Episode: Highlights from Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference and Manuel Aires Mateus on intelligent architecture
Sébastien El Idrissi
Zurich-based designer who works across furniture, product and exhibition design
Independent designer
Episode: Objects that change the world for the better with designer Sébastien El Idrissi
Jake Hobson
British gardener, writer and founder of Niwaki
Niwaki
Episode: What can designers learn from the principles of Japanese gardening?
Hugo Worsley
Founder of Allday Goods, former chef turned kitchen knife maker
Allday Goods
Episode: A cut above: Allday Goods founder Hugo Worsley on reinventing the kitchen knife
Clémence Pirajean
Co-founder of Pirajean Lees, interior architecture and design studio
Pirajean Lees
Episode: Narrative design and clubbing with Pirajean Lees
James Lees
Co-founder of Pirajean Lees, interior architecture and design studio
Pirajean Lees
Episode: Narrative design and clubbing with Pirajean Lees
Linda Boronkay
London-based interior designer; former design director at Soho House; worked on hotels, clubs, restaurants and homes
Independent design practice; formerly Soho House
Episode: Linda Boronkay on designing for the soul. Plus: late-night kebabs get a chic makeover
Alex Holloway
Founder and Creative Director at Holloway Li
Holloway Li
Episode: Interior architect Alex Holloway takes inspiration from cinema and online slang
Dorothée Boissier
Interior architect at Gilles and Boissier
Gilles and Boissier
Episode: What separates luxury interiors from the rest?

Hosts

Grace Charlton
Associate editor of Design and Fashion at Monocle; frequent host and discussion leader on design topics
Nic Monisse
Host of Monocle on Design; design editor with a focus on storytelling and craft

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 274 ratings
  • Appreciated

    I appreciate this show but because I also subscrive to The Curator, I occasionally have to listen to things I have heard on Section D twice, once here and once on The Curator.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NemofromNorfolk
    United Kingdom9 years ago
  • Love it!

    I enjoy the Monocle podcasts. Well worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Atyrer
    Canada10 years ago
  • Perfect

    A professional, no nonsense, and complete look at the design world. Informational and well done. I listen to this podcast every week. Love it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bxittan
    United States10 years ago
  • Design done well

    Covers design, architecture, fashion and much more. It's a great show. Very cool. Another winner from the monocle crew

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SydneyRecordLover
    Australia10 years ago
  • High quality

    as everything else from Monocle.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hotitem
    Germany10 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the design-forward focus and the depth on craft and storytelling.
Guests are consistently high-caliber and project-focused, which resonates with design professionals.
Some critique the interview style as occasionally surface-level but the content remains strong.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#21
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#19
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#161
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#2
Italy/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#6
Australia/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A cut above: Allday Goods founder Hugo Worsley on reinventing the kitchen knife
Q: What makes a good kitchen blade, and how do you approach manufacturing?
We aim for a three-knife philosophy—one small petty, a santoku for all-round use, and a bread knife—produced by top knife makers in Japan, Sheffield, and Solingen to balance material quality, cost, and local craftsmanship.
A cut above: Allday Goods founder Hugo Worsley on reinventing the kitchen knife
Q: Do you like this idea of chef corps, which is people taking kitchen and bringing it to the street?
It's not the direction I would call chef corps; I think it's more about making cooking culture accessible and not overly elitist, with a focus on inclusive design and approachable aesthetics.
What can designers learn from the principles of Japanese gardening?
Q: How do you balance British and Japanese aesthetics in Niwaki's products?
By focusing on landscape as a concept and embracing a culture of simplicity and respect; tools and collaborations reflect a design language that feels both refined and approachable.
What can designers learn from the principles of Japanese gardening?
Q: What makes a good garden tool and how do you design it?
The key is simplicity, quality materials, and precise forging; unnecessary features are avoided to achieve durability, balance, and ease of use.
Narrative design and clubbing with Pirajean Lees
Q: First of all, can you please explain what narrative design is?
Narrative design is about the emotions and stories behind objects or places, not just visual references; it uses that story to guide everything from form to function in a space.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Monocle on Design

What is Monocle on Design about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers design discourse across furniture, interiors, architecture, hospitality, and branding, frequently pairing studio founders with established practitioners to unpack craft, storytelling, and materiality. Episodes lean into how objects shape daily life, how spaces tell emotional stories, and how design intersects with culture, business, and sustainability. A recurring strength is bringing cross-border perspectives from studios and brands, often tying projects to broader societal themes like care, memory, and accessibility. Notable moments often surface hands-on practice, collaboration, and the human side of design—useful for professionals seeking deeper context behind iconic projects and the people shaping them.

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How many listeners does Monocle on Design get?

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What are the audience demographics for Monocle on Design?

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How many subscribers and views does Monocle on Design have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Monocle on Design has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Monocle on Design?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Monocle on Design:

1. Monocle on Culture
2. The Urbanist
3. The Monocle Daily
4. Monocle on Sunday
5. The Foreign Desk

How many episodes of Monocle on Design are there?

Monocle on Design launched 15 years ago and published 102 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Monocle on Design?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Monocle on Design?

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What guests have appeared on Monocle on Design?

Recent guests on Monocle on Design include:

1. Manuel Aires Mateus
2. Sébastien El Idrissi
3. Jake Hobson
4. Hugo Worsley
5. Clémence Pirajean
6. James Lees
7. Linda Boronkay
8. Alex Holloway

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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