By Design, a talk series at Sir John Soane's Museum in partnership with Luke Irwin, sees leading designers discuss an object that has inspired them in some way, and through it discuss and dissect their own design practice.

Will Gompertz, former Arts Editor at the BBC, and Alice Rawsthorn, design writer and critic, co-host the series exploring how design has impacted the lives of six internationally-renowned designers, framed around one item which has informed their careers.

The series reflects on the power of objects – large or small, mundane or exceptional, aesthetic or utilitarian – to spark new ideas, and act as a spur for different forms of creativity.

Below, you can listen to all our By Design talks from seasons one, two and three. Alternatively, you can watch all four talks from our second season on YouTube, using the links provided.

Listen: season three

You can now listen to all the conversations from season three, which took place during the autumn of 2022.

Listen: Cornelia Parker

Listen: Stephen Jones

Listen: Sophie Hicks

Listen: Martin Brudnizki

Watch: season two

All of the conversations from season two are available to watch via YouTube.

By Design: Phyllida Barlow

By Design: Amanda Levete

By Design: Erdem Moralıoğlu

By Design: Ilse Crawford

Listen: seasons one and two

All our By Design talks to date are available here, via Soundcloud.

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