Kites aren’t just toys—they’re one of the most influential inventions in the history of science. Sure, they look playful drifting across a windy sky, but the humble kite has quietly powered some of humanity’s biggest breakthroughs. From early experiments to world‑shaping discoveries, this lightweight frame of fabric and string has been a surprising engine of innovation. Guest: John Murray, President, Australian Kite Flyers Society
Material Cultures: Bamboo in Bali
23/03/2026 | 27 mins.
Bamboo is nothing short of extraordinary - growing fast, bending without breaking, and carrying the strength of steel. In Bali, it’s more than a material; it’s a philosophy of design grounded in flexibility, resilience, and imagination. This is the second episode in our three part series Material Cultures, in which we meet designers who don’t just shape their materials, they listen to them. Today we’re in Bali, where bamboo becomes architecture: light, strong, fluid, and where craft and engineering meet in astonishing ways. Guest: Elora Hardy, Founder & Director, Ibuku Indonesia With special thanks to the team at Culture By Design (ABC International).
Extraordinary Everyday: Beanbags
18/03/2026 | 11 mins.
They’re squishy, often colourful, mobile pieces of furniture that are forever associated with the late 60s and early 70s. Growing up in the 80s you’re sure to have plonked yourself on one of these while you watched Magnum PI. We're talking about beanbags. Who on earth thought that this malleable, ball-filled piece of furniture would become the success story it did? Guest: Berto Pandolfo, Associate Professor of Product Design at UTS
Material Cultures: Letting Wood Speak in Mumbai
16/03/2026 | 29 mins.
Just how creative can you get with wood? In the first of this new three part series we meet a master furniture maker in Mumbai giving new life to old timbers, letting the wood speak again. It’s our first stop on a South Asian tour with host Anthony Burke, revisiting some of his favourite conversations from filming Culture By Design across the region. Guest: Siddharth Sirohi, BARO studio Mumbai With special thanks to the team at Culture By Design (ABC International). From Indonesia to India, and Sri Lanka to Vietnam, Anthony meets with the ceramicists, street artists, fashion designers, architects, furniture makers and weavers who are pushing the boundaries in developing sustainable, innovative, and ethical design, and tackling global challenges like climate change, resource scarcity and social inequality. Culture by Design Series 1 platforms India and Indonesia’s leading creatives and is available to watch on ABC iview. Season 2 is coming in May 2026, with a focus on Vietnamese and Sri Lankan design.
Extraordinary Everyday : Swimming costumes
11/03/2026 | 11 mins.
Australia’s swimsuit has a wilder history than you think. In this episode, we dive into the design evolution of our beloved togs, bathers, and budgie smugglers, from the days when inspectors patrolled the beach in search of exposed shoulders to today’s sleek, sun-smart designs. How has culture, modesty, technology and style shaped this iconic piece of Aussie design, and what does our swimwear say about us as a nation? Guest: Inger Sheil, Assistant Curator of Society and Water at the Australian National Maritime Museum
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.
Australia