‘Future Impact 3: Design Nation’

‘Future Impact 3: Design Nation’

Author: Monocle April 18, 2025 Duration: 28:45

‘Future Impact 3: Design Nation’ is an exhibition produced by Design Singapore Council, which enjoyed its first outing at the most recent edition of Milan Design Week. Curated by Tony Chambers, Maria Cristina Didero and Hunn Wai, it featured both established Singaporean names and rising stars. The event – and Monocle – also brought a host of international talent through the door to discuss the future of design.

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There's a conversation happening about the objects, spaces, and systems that shape our lives, and Monocle on Design is right in the middle of it. This isn't just a survey of pretty things; it's a thoughtful exploration of how design intersects with commerce, culture, and daily living. Each episode feels like a dispatch from a global network of creators, offering a tangible sense of place whether reporting from a bustling Milan studio, a quiet Japanese workshop, or a forward-thinking urban planning office. You'll hear directly from the people behind the products and buildings, understanding the business decisions and cultural currents that inform their work. The scope is refreshingly broad, treating a finely crafted chair, a revolutionary fabric, and the layout of a city park with equal seriousness. By weaving together elements of art, entrepreneurship, and society, this Monocle podcast provides a nuanced, on-the-ground perspective. It’s for anyone curious about why our world looks and feels the way it does, and who believes that thoughtful design is fundamental to a better, more enjoyable life. The discussions go beyond aesthetics to consider function, sustainability, and the stories embedded in everything from furniture to fashion.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Monocle on Design
Podcast Episodes
Karimoku furniture, Austrian concrete and ‘Slop Magazine’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:55
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.c…
Extra: Temitayo Ogunbiyi   [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:30
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…
The Ralph Saltzman Prize 2025, ‘Xisto’ and Bogdan Ciocodeica [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:11
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 om…
Extra: Norman Foster   [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:52
The celebrated architect discusses the future of mobility and his project, ‘Gateway to Venice’s Waterways’, at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
IKAT Indonesia, Nordic design news and Hamrei    [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:49
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 omnystu…
Extra: How cars shaped modern architecture  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:13
Writer Christopher Beanland considers the cultural and architectural impact of cars in shaping our built environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Timber: Darren Appiagyei, Material Cultures and Oregon lumber [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
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 omny…
Extra: Lahti International Poster Triennial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:40
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 priv…