Anthony Burke's By Design

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, gla

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

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 faili

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 need

Should native animals have property rights too?

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 f

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 pe

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 th

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 every

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 cat

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

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 als

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 e

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

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 i

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 assu

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

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

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 m

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

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?