Anthony Burke's By Design
Hosted by Anthony Burke, Professor of Architecture at UTS and a leading voice on building better futures, this podcast explores the clever ideas and human stories behind the spaces, systems, and objects shaping our everyday lives. Each episode dives into a theme through engaging interviews and real-life case studies from across Australia, covering topics like prefab housing, smart homes, and the future of open-plan living. The show ends with The Extraordinary Everyday, a segment uncovering the cultural and social history of familiar objects. With an informal, accessible tone, By Design makes design visible, relatable, and relevant for everyone.
Episodes
How the stand mixer changed Australian kitchens
Before the stand mixer, baking meant hard work and sore arms. How did the Mixmaster come to Australia, reshape home cooking and become one of the most recognisable objects on the kitchen bench?
Can good design save a house from fire?
With bushfire season almost upon us, would your home survive a fire? From the most appropriate exterior cladding to structural tweaks, we explore the best ways to build and retrofit fire-resilient homes.
How sneakers became the world’s favourite shoe
From the running track to the runway, sneakers have become the world's most popular shoes. We explore the history of the sneaker, from its earliest designs to the styles worn by millions today.
What if Australia built like it belonged here?
We've been building houses for over 200 years, but do our buildings truly belong in their landscape? Designing with Country is a First Nations framework for understanding and shaping place, but when applied to the built environment it opens up a new way of thinking about design and what it can bring to communities.
How spectacles changed the way we see the world
The most powerful technology on your face isn’t a smartphone. From the earliest magnifying lenses to pince-nez and today’s designer frames, spectacles have transformed the lives of billions. Once reserved for monks, scholars and the wealthy, glasses gradually became one of the world’s most accessible and empowering technologies. We trace the fascinating design evolution of eyewea
Can contaminated land help solve Australia's housing crisis?
Can we build homes on toxic land? There are an estimated 200,000 contaminated sites across Australia, most of them within city limits. As the housing crisis deepens, could cleaning up former industrial land unlock space for new homes? And how do you even do it?
The secret symbolism of chopsticks
There is evidence that chopsticks existed in the Neolithic period. That's around 10,000 years of evolution in design. From a cooking tool to a symbol of status, identity and social customs, the chopstick has remained a tried-and-tested utensil, but what do its various evolutions say about the people who used it and the times they lived in?
Designing homes for a robotic future
Robots are moving beyond the factory and into the home. From vacuum cleaners to companion robots, how might domestic robots reshape housing design, and are our homes ready for what's next?
How sunscreen went from niche remedy to public health essential
Protecting our skin from the sun is a design challenge that spans centuries. From glacier cream to Slip! Slop! Slap!, how has sunscreen evolved to meet changing lifestyles, technologies and health concerns?
Designing recovery: What comes next for Nepal?
The decisions made after a disaster can shape a community for generations. A month after devastating floods tore through Nepal, more than 5,000 people are still missing. As Nepal moves from emergency relief to long-term recovery, what role can architecture play in rebuilding communities and reducing future risk?
What did babies wear before nappies?
Cradles with holes in them, moss and safety pins: all of these items played a part in keeping babies dry and clean across different cultures and centuries. Modern nappies rely on sophisticated absorbent technology, but how did our ancestors keep their babies dry? And could any of their methods work today?
How your home is silently affecting your health
Is the air you breathe at home safe? Mould, ventilation and temperature all have a significant impact on our health, and our homes control the quality of the air we breathe. So how can design make our homes healthier and safer?
Inside our love affair with photo booths
It’s a human-sized booth that creates long-lasting memories. The photo booth was first invented in the late 1800s, but it’s gone on to record thousands of moments: from friendships to lovers and even as tickets to adventures overseas. But in a digital age, why are they enjoying a resurgence?
Not just for presidents: bunkers designed for entire populations
Bunkers aren't just for leaders. Long before the White House expansion, some nations were building underground shelters for civilians. How do they function, how long could people survive in them, and does Australia have any shelters capable of protecting us in a crisis?
Before fridges: How hessian sacks kept food cool
Before electric refrigeration, how did we keep our food from spoiling? Most Australians didn’t have access to a fridge until the 1950s, so how did people battle the heat and insects before then? From the Coolgardie safe to the smart fridges of today, the evolution of refrigeration in Australia is a fascinating story.
What wealthy nations can learn from doing more with less
Necessity drives innovation. As conflict and climate pressures displace millions creating safe, dignified places to live has become an urgent global challenge. What can wealthy nations learn from architects working with fewer resources? The Aga Khan Award for Architecture seeks out design projects that improve lives, through creative, human-centred architecture.
Why books are humanity’s most enduring technology
Despite the invention of many new technologies, the book still thrives. From ancient codecs to today’s lightweight paperbacks the written word has found its way into many hands, thanks to the evolution of its design. And even while e-books and audio books flood the market, the hard copy remains a popular option for many.
How the digital revolution has reimagined libraries
With information at our fingertips today, why do we still have libraries? While the internet and personal computers mean we can access pretty much what we want, when we want it – technology can’t give us what we truly crave: connection and community. Libraries today have to work much harder to create a space that serves diverse community needs – but with innovative design these s
Lipstick – A double agent for beauty and power
It's small enough to fit in a pocket, but lipstick has left an outsized mark on history. Far from being a simple beauty product, it has symbolised privilege, protest, glamour and independence across centuries and cultures.
How Scandinavians build differently and why it works
In Scandinavia, nature is the ultimate design guide. Clean lines, light-filled spaces and a seamless connection to the outdoors are hallmarks of the region's architecture. Award-winning Norwegian architect Kjetil Thorsen from Snøhetta talks about what feeds into the unique approach to design in Scandinavia and the ultimate inspiration: nature.
Aging in place — how smart design keeps you home longer
Where would you prefer to age: in an institution or your own home? The recent Four Corners episode The Waiting Game investigated how the current aged care system is failing thousands of Australians who want to stay in their own home as they age. It’s a dire situation with many vulnerable older people being left in precarious scenarios. But what if good design could make ageing in
The hypodermic needle: A prick of genius
Hypodermic needles. They may provoke anxiety, but behind their infamous sting lies a remarkable design story.Born from centuries of experimentation, the hypodermic needle transformed medicine by delivering drugs safely, accurately and effectively beneath the skin. From glass syringes to disposable plastics and needle-free alternatives, this is the evolution of a device that resha
Habitat loss is driving wildlife inside our homes
Urban growth is threatening endangered species that live around cities at the same time that many of them are finding sanctuary in the rooves of our houses or under our floorboards. So is it time for us to start designing homes that have specific species in mind?
Sheet happens: The design evolution of toilet paper
It’s hard to imagine modern life without it, but toilet paper as we know it has only been around in the West since the mid-19th century. While paper was being used for personal hygiene in China centuries earlier, the humble loo roll has undergone a surprisingly fascinating design evolution.
The bee's knees: rethinking how we design our gardens
Bees are in trouble, but the fix isn't the one most of us reach for. Most of Australia's 1,700-odd native bee species are solitary, and many nest in bare ground rather than a colony. So what does help? It might be the messy corner of the backyard, the bare patch of dirt, the herbs you let run to flower.
Concrete: The world's most useful ugly material
Few materials are as loathed, or as unavoidable. Concrete built the Pantheon and the Opera House, then spent the back half of the twentieth century being blamed for everything ugly in the city — a reputation brutalism earned it, fairly or not. But raw concrete has also produced buildings people travel across the world to stand inside. So why is this environmentally disastrous mat
You’ve got to be kitten me: The rise of the Catio
For many Australians, pets aren't just animals, they're family. And increasingly, our homes are being designed with them in mind. From luxury dog lounges to elaborate catios, we explore how pet-friendly design is changing our living spaces, and how new cat containment laws are inspiring owners to rethink what a happy home for Mr Whiskers really looks like.
How high vis became biz as usual
It’s hard to imagine a worksite without them, but high viz vests are a relatively modern invention. From its earliest incarnation on the railways of Glasgow to the early 2000s when every politician appeared to be fronting a camera in one - the high viz vest has come to mean so much more than safety.
Meet your new interior designer: the algorithm
Are algorithms controlling your interior purchases and also driving your home renno? We know that influencers and content creators have their own “brand”, but they’re also incentivized to support different products. So, when inspiration is collated from influencers online how much is about individual taste, and how much comes down to the back-end marketing streams that flow from
The invisible infrastructure that keeps us alive
It’s a vital resource that keeps us alive, but how often have you thought about how we manage to have water readily available to us? From the first wooden pipes laid by early settlers to the invention of the tap - we trace the design evolution of our water systems.
What if data centres weren't so ugly?
They're big, ugly and noisy, and no one wants to live near them. But what if we've got the design of data centres all wrong? What if we started from the premise that data centres need to live within our environmental and social boundaries? Instead of accepting what is, what if we imagine what could be?
How plastic bags redesigned us
Humans were trained to think of plastic bags as disposable. Before they were invented, we were more accustomed to using sustainable means to carry our groceries - like in boxes or material bags. The invention of plastic transformed everyday life forever - in both good ways and bad.
Cars that change colour: the next design revolution
Why settle on one colour when your car could wear hundreds? New automotive technologies are making colour-changing vehicles a real possibility, challenging long-held assumptions about personalisation, resale value and the role colour plays in car design.
Extraordinary Everyday: How the Aussie lawnmower shaped our identity
What can a lawnmower reveal about the Australia that emerged after World War II? More than a machine for trimming grass, the Victor lawnmower became a powerful symbol of suburban aspiration, backyard pride, masculinity and Australian ingenuity. But where did it start? And how did it evolve?
Extraordinary Everyday: What's Really in Your Cup? The 5,000-Year Journey of Tea
Australians love a good cuppa, but do you know the twists and turns this little leaf has taken over the years? From being brewed in medicinal bowls to being “jiggled” in a tea bag - the distilling of tea has its own fascinating history.
The Home Front, Lessons from afar
In episode five of our special series The Home Front, around the globe, architects and designers are reimagining housing with bold, inventive solutions - from sprawling multi use compounds in Indonesia to compact cooperative models in Europe. These global experiments offer fresh perspectives on affordability, sustainability and community. But could they work in Australia? In this
Extraordinary Everyday: Do locks really keep you safe?
Locks have existed as long as we’ve had something to keep safe. From ancient Sumeria to the lock on your front door - the design evolution of locks is a series of twists and turns. So how well do locks today stand up against their predecessors? And what is the future of safety in a world of AI?
The Home Front, Money money money
In episode four of our special series The Home Front, we all know that house prices have gone through the roof - but what’s driving them, and what can actually be done?In this episode we dig into the money behind the housing crisis; from tax policy and global market shifts to government targets and the growing role of intergenerational wealth.We explore how renters and homeowners
Extraordinary Everyday: How the toy industry rebranded dolls for boys - and struck gold
They weren’t dolls—they were a revolution. Once, dolls were seen as toys for girls—until clever companies reimagined them as “action figures” and made them irresistible to boys. With that simple rebrand came explosive success: from G.I. Joe, the original “action figure,” to the galaxy-spanning rise of Star Wars, the muscle-bound power of He‑Man, and the shape-shifting dominance o
The Home Front, One roof, many lives
In episode three of our special series The Home Front, Australia’s homes are doing more than sheltering families - they’re accommodating multigenerational households, solo dwellers, single parents, and shared living arrangements.But is our housing stock too rigid to reflect this diversity? Is it failing behind the way we actually live?In this episode, we meet the architects and d
Extraordinary Everyday: The invention that eliminated a day’s hard labour
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
The Home Front, Lessons in Living
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
Extraordinary Everyday: Why today’s bikes are still stuck in the 1800s
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
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 tha
How the sari became fashion’s ultimate chameleon
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 fe
How an interior designer really sees your home
What do designers notice the moment they walk through your front door? Interior designer Adelaide Bragg and photographer and author Robyn Lea reveal how they read a room—translating light, objects and atmosphere into deeply personal stories. We explore their collaboration on City, Coast and Country and what it takes to style and capture uniquely Australian homes with meaning, not
How was the fork an instrument of evil?
It sits quietly on the table, beside the knife and spoon, rarely asking for attention. But the fork hasn’t always looked — or behaved — the way it does today. From scandalous novelty to everyday necessity, this small object has played a powerful role in shaping how we eat, how we gather, and how manners became habit.
Public toilets: The design, history and politics of who gets to go
‘The sewer is the conscience of the city’, or so the French writer Victor Hugo once claimed. It’s a confronting idea, but a revealing one: the way a society deals with waste can tell us a lot about its values, priorities and politics. And yet our toilet habits are something we’re usually taught to ignore, avoid or feel embarrassed about. We look at one everyday object that sits r
Extraordinary Everyday: The dressing gown
Today, the dressing gown is as likely to appear over pyjamas during a dash to the bins as it is at a lazy breakfast table — but it wasn’t always this casual. Once, this was a garment that signalled leisure, status and a certain velvet‑chair‑owning elegance. In this episode, we wrap ourselves up and trace the surprisingly stylish design history of the dressing gown, from indulgent
Mary Featherston: Design, disruption and advocacy
When we think about design in Australia today, it’s impossible not to trace its evolution back to pioneers like Mary Featherston, AM. A leading force in shaping a more human‑centred approach, Mary has spent decades reimagining design as something embedded in our everyday environments — not just objects, but experiences.From transforming the way we think about learning spaces to h
Extraordinary Everyday: The esky
From cricket sidelines to camping trips, the esky is an essential tool of getting out and about, making sure cold drinks are always within reach. It’s so familiar it feels stitched into Australian life. But where did the esky actually come from? And is it really an Australian design, or something we simply made our own?
Will the budget finally make it easier to buy a home?
What does the federal budget really do for Australia’s housing crisis? Peter Martin from The Economy, Stupid joins Anthony Burke from By Design to examine whether changes to tax settings will make it any easier to buy a home. And what impact it will have on rents.
Inside Eurovision’s high-stakes world of spectacle design
Once a punchline, now a powerhouse. For decades, Eurovision lived on the fringes of Australian culture — loved by some, dismissed by many. But when Australia entered the competition in 2015, perception began to shift. What was once mocked for its camp excess and theatrical scale moved steadily into the mainstream. After 70 years of spectacle, ambition and visual escalation, how h
Extraordinary Everyday: Umbrellas
The umbrella has seen more than rain.For centuries, its silhouette has barely changed — but its story is anything but ordinary. From ancient status symbol and sun shield to political prop and covert weapon, the umbrella has quietly intersected with power, fashion and invention. In this episode, we trace the dramatic design evolution of an everyday object we only notice when it ra
How do you design your way out of a sinking city?
It sounds like a dystopian story - a city sinking lower every year, streets flooded by tidal waters.. But this is the lived reality of many cities across the globe, particularly in Jakarta, where the city is sinking at a rate of 200 mm per year, the fastest in the world. So far there have been plans to relocate the political community to a new city, and walls to keep out the risi
Extraordinary Everyday: Men’s ties
If you stop and think about today’s item, it’s one of fashion’s strangest inventions. We loop it around our necks, pull it into a neat little noose, and call it an accessory. Yet the humble men’s tie - this decorative strip of fabric - has survived centuries of reinvention. And somehow, it has come to symbolise masculinity more strongly than almost anything else you can wear.
Why neurodivergent minds need better design — and how our spaces exclude them
Flickering lights, windowless offices, overwhelming noise — bad building design affects everyone, but for neurodiverse people it can be exhausting. We explore how everyday design irritations are amplified for neurodivergent minds — and how the built environment can quietly work against the brain. We ask what neuro‑inclusive design really looks like, and why changes made for some
Extraordinary Everyday: The kettle
Australians love a cup of tea. From the boil of a billy by the campfire to “everybody jiggling” a Lipton tea bag, a good cuppa has long been woven into our cultural identity.So it feels only natural that when it comes to delivering this liquid gold, Australians would be at the forefront of engineering the best way to boil water - and it's come a long way since the days of the bil
What is lost when buildings become casualties of war?
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 enviro
Extraordinary Everyday : Gravestones
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.
Is adaptive reuse worth the investment?
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.
Extraordinary Everyday: Pockets
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 wh
How AI is reshaping architecture
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
Extraordinary Everyday: Surfboards
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
Material Cultures: Reinventing Batik in Indonesia
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 fashionGuest: Josephine Komara, Founder Bin House
Extraordinary Everyday: Kites
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: Joh
Material Cultures: Bamboo in Bali
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 liste
Extraordinary Everyday: Beanbags
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 Pa
Material Cultures: Letting Wood Speak in Mumbai
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
Extraordinary Everyday : Swimming costumes
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
The invisible housing crisis hurting older Australian women
As women age, many joke about becoming “invisible”, but in Australia’s housing crisis, invisibility has devastating consequences. Women over 55 are now the fastest‑growing group at risk of homelessness, while the housing system fails to provide safe, secure, and dignified options that meet their needs. But there are those working on this problem now who say the solutions are not
Extraordinary Everyday: Mirrors
Mirrors may show us our reflection today, but for centuries they were thought to reveal far stranger things.Forged through a perilous, mercury‑soaked process, these “everyday” objects hide a mysterious past that’s anything but ordinary.Guest:John Hawkins, antiques dealer
Why we all need to embrace the dark
For years, designers pushed the gospel of “more light, more health.” Then LEDs arrived—tiny, efficient, and bright enough to turn night into a permanent noon—and we discovered a plot twist: human eyes (and brains, and hormones) were never built for this much brilliance. And animals? They’re even less impressed.In this episode, we dig into how our light‑soaked world has scrambled
Extraordinary Everyday: Traffic lights
They are the silent force that guides us through our days, but how much do you know about the humble traffic light? More than just three colours that tell us when to slow down, stop or go, these machines weave complex movements of people throughout our cities. How do they work, what impact do they have and what is the future for traffic lights in a world of smart cars?Guest: Chri
Meet the movement reimagining the future, slowly
Meet the movement reimaging the future, slowlyCraft is cool again. Across Australia — and far beyond — traditional design practices long considered “old fashioned” are experiencing a powerful resurgence. From tapestry as contemporary art, to handcrafted chairs, to the ancient weaving traditions of First Nations communities, slow, tactile craftsmanship is being embraced by a gener
Extraordinary Everyday: Wristwatches
Humans have been tracking time for millennia — but when did we decide to wear it? In this episode, we trace the evolution of the watch, from clunky ticking contraptions to sleek wrist‑bound supercomputers. How did a simple time‑telling bracelet become the indispensable gadget we can’t stop glancing at?Guest: Tania Edwards, Co founder of Collectability, a collecting consultancy a
Designing for power: White House changes and the signal they send
If buildings speak, the White House never whispers — and recent design overhauls have given it a whole new vocabulary. In this episode, we decode the aesthetic signals embedded in its latest transformations: the dramatic palettes, the opulent flourishes, the bigger‑brighter‑bolder touches that reshape how the building presents power. We ask what these stylistic choices reveal abo
Extraordinary Everyday: Corduroy
Corduroy is back—and its story is wilder than you think. From its origins in ancient Egypt to royal courts, retro fashion, and now a modern design renaissance, this humble fabric has lived many lives. In this episode, we unravel how corduroy went from utilitarian to iconic, and why designers are embracing it in clothing and furniture today.Guest:Elaine Evans, Senior Teaching Fell
Is open plan officially dead?
Is the open-plan home officially over? How has COVID and the rise of remote work reshaped the way we live; From privacy-friendly layouts to multifunctional spaces, discover why designers are rethinking open-plan living and what the future of home design looks like.Guests:Dr Libby Sander, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Bond UniversityEva-Marie Prineas, Lead Arc
Extraordinary Everyday: Soy Sauce Containers
Can design save the planet—one soy sauce fish at a time? Meet the innovative minds behind a sustainable alternative to the iconic plastic soy sauce container. Discover how clever design is tackling single-use plastics, reducing waste, and reimagining everyday objects for a greener futureGuest:Angus Ware, Co-founder and Director at Heliograf
