Some things are cool – even if you don’t know it yet. Andrew and I have prepared some stories today about some things you are probably familiar with but probably don’t actually know the whole story. We have each selected two things and we are going to share with you what we believe are some amazing stories … Welcome to EP 162: Objects of Design
[Note: If y ... Show More
Oct 5
Ep 186: The Rules of Modernism
Every rule was made to be broken, except in architecture, where even the act of breaking rules seems to come with its own set of rules. Modernism promised liberation from the past, but it quickly wrote its own commandments into the story—flat roofs, open plans, white walls, and e ... Show More
57m 25s
Sep 21
Ep 185: Procrastination – Today’s Problem Tomorrow
It’s one thing to be busy and another to be productive – and most of us are far better at the first than the second. The reality is that architects live in a world of deadlines, meetings, and endless to-do lists, but somehow there’s always time to check Instagram, rearrange your ... Show More
1 h
Apr 2025
The 'New Coke' Debacle
Coca-Cola was approaching its 100th birthday on 23rd April, 1985, when it unveiled a new beverage at New York City's Lincoln Center: the ‘smoother, rounder, bolder’ flavour of ‘New Coke’.
The success of Diet Coke had fragmented the market, and, in response to Pepsi's aggressive m ... Show More
13m 1s
Oct 2024
How the QR code was invented
In 1994, bar codes were in widespread use in businesses around the world, but the Japanese car component company, Denso Wave, wanted something quicker.So they asked one of their engineers, Masahiro Hara, to come up with a solution.After playing his favourite board game, Go, he ca ... Show More
10m 11s
Oct 2024
Tim Blanks and Imran Amed Reflect on the Spring/Summer 2025 Shows
Amid economic uncertainty, a global luxury industry slowdown, and conflicts erupting around the world, designers at the Spring/Summer 2025 shows balanced restraint and expression, resulting in collections that sought deeper emotional and intellectual impact. Megabrands scaled bac ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2024
The Cocaine Craze in Victorian Britain
Many things may come to mind when you hear the word 'cocaine' - and we'd wager that the last thing on that list would be the Victorians. But as it turns out, the Victorians were avid cocaine users, whether it be to remedy ailments and injuries, give them an edge in competitive sp ... Show More
30m 7s