Extraordinary Everyday: The invention that eliminated a day’s hard labour
17/06/2026 | 12 mins.
Laundry once took a full day of hard labour—before the washing machine changed everything.Water had to be carried, clothes scrubbed by hand, wrung out, and then hung to dry. In the mid-1800s, the first washing machines began to appear in the homes of the wealthy, marking the start of a quiet domestic revolution. What once consumed a full day of exhausting work can now be done in under an hour. This is the story of how a single invention transformed everyday life and reshaped domestic labour.
The Home Front, Lessons in Living
15/06/2026 | 41 mins.
In episode two of our special series The Home Front we look at how Australians have lived together in the past—and what those lessons might offer us today. From the tightly packed worker’s cottages of the early 1900s, where strong community bonds helped people get by, to the bold experiments in communal and cooperative living during the 1970s, Australians have long found creative ways to share space. Now, as the housing crisis deepens, one State Government (NSW) is reviving the idea of the housing pattern book—a fast-track design initiative that encourages density, sustainability, and smarter living. But are Australians ready to embrace the idea of “home” not as a private fortress, but where shared space and personal privacy coexist?
Extraordinary Everyday: Why today’s bikes are still stuck in the 1800s
10/06/2026 | 12 mins.
Do you remember your first ride? For kids, it’s a first taste of freedom. For others, it’s transport, fitness—or both. But here’s the twist: for all their variations, the bike’s core design hasn’t changed since the 1800s. So why are those designs still so successful? We go back to where it began—and to the ideas that still carry us today.
The Home Front, Owning the dream
08/06/2026 | 41 mins.
Why do so many Australians see owning a home as the cornerstone of the Great Australian Dream? In this opening episode of our special series The Home Front, we unpack the historical, cultural, and political forces that shaped Australia’s deep-rooted obsession with home ownership. From post-war prosperity to the rise of suburban ideals, we trace how the dream took hold- and why that dream no longer fits the realities of today.
How the sari became fashion’s ultimate chameleon
03/06/2026 | 13 mins.
It’s a single strip of cloth that has shaped centuries of style and identity.Worn for thousands of years across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, the sari is one of the world’s most enduring—and adaptable—garments. From sacred ceremonies to high fashion runways, it has continually reinvented itself while carrying deep cultural meaning. But how has one garment continued to feel fresh, relevant and strikingly modern over so much time?
Hosted by Anthony Burke, Professor of Architecture at UTS and one of Australia's leading voices on how we might build better futures, Anthony Burke's By Design podcast explores the clever ideas and human stories behind the spaces, systems, and objects shaping our everyday lives.
Anthony is well-known as the host of Grand Designs Australia, Grand Transformations, Restoration Australia, and Culture by Design (streaming on ABC iview). His expertise and passion for design make this podcast an essential listen for anyone curious about how design impacts the way we live.
From prefab housing and smart homes to designing cruise ships or animal habitats and the future of the open-plan home, each episode dives deep into a theme through engaging interviews and real-life case studies from across Australia.
Every show ends with The Extraordinary Everyday, a short segment uncovering the cultural and social history of familiar objects: think plunge pools, corduroy, and even the humble welcome mat. With an informal, accessible tone, By Design makes design visible, relatable, and relevant for everyone.
Whether you're curious about architecture, interior design, urban design, product design, furniture or fashion design, sustainability, or the hidden stories behind everyday objects, this podcast reveals why design matters, especially in a rapidly changing world.
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