One of the greatest tragedies of war is the loss of innocent life, and it’s rightly at the forefront of how we measure the cost of conflict. Against that reality, the protection of buildings and monuments can seem frivolous — even misplaced. But organisations like Blue Shield, a non‑profit dedicated to safeguarding cultural heritage, argue otherwise. They believe the built environment carries deep meaning, memory and identity — and that preserving it plays a vital role in the resilience and recovery of communities caught in conflict.

Gravestones may be stark reminders of our mortality, but they’re also powerful records of history, identity and belief. What can the design of these enduring markers tell us about the people they commemorate — and the eras they lived through? From symbolism and materials to craftsmanship and changing cultural values, we trace how grave markers have evolved over time.

Heritage buildings can be pretty … but are they worth the money? Adaptive reuse advocates argue that reworking existing structures isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about unlocking potential. These projects take longer, cost more, and demand far greater creative problem‑solving, but for designers willing to take them on, the value extends well beyond the balance sheet.

Men expect them in every pair of pants, every jacket, every coat. And yet, for women, pockets have been mysteriously withheld, removed, resized, or declared “unnecessary” for centuries. Why?

In this episode, we unpack the surprisingly political, practical, and quietly rebellious history of pockets — from their deliberate disappearance in women’s fashion to the small jolt of joy when a dress actually has them. This is a story about design, power, independence, and the everyday details that shape how we move through the world.

Guest: Nicole Jenkins, Fashion historian, Circa Vintage

Algorithms are sketching, rendering, optimising, and quietly reshaping who holds creative power. In this episode, we ask the uncomfortable questions: Is AI a tool, a collaborator, or a threat? What happens to expertise when clients can generate designs in seconds? And who really benefits when intelligence is automated?

Guests: * Philip Allsopp, Co-Chair, RIBA Expert Advisory Group on AI, Generative Design and Data* James Loder, Wardle

Australia’s surfing story has been influenced from far beyond our shores, from ancient Peruvian reed boards to Hawaiian royalty and the design revolutions that shaped the modern surfboard. So how did we get from the earliest surf boards of heavy wooden planks to the sleek, high‑performance boards ridden today? 

Guest: Andrew McKinnon, Surf reporter and historian

Batik is a material that is both ancient and modern. In the final stop on our South Asian tour, we explore how small, ingenious design ideas are driving big change, exploring the rich tradition of batik - its royal roots, ceremonial uses, near‑decline, and bold return to contemporary fashion

Guest: Josephine Komara, Founder Bin House

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

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). 

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