We’ve seen it with the recent floods and fires, and of course at the height of the pandemic: when crises happen, community-lead mutual aid responds. So where does design and architecture fit into these movements? Marisa Jahn joins Blueprint to discuss how mutualism can inform design practice of all kinds to imagine new spaces of solidarity.  

What draws people out of the house and into the outdoors? Whether it’s a balcony, terrace, or separate pavilion, award-winning garden designer Paul Bangay walks Jonathan Green through what elements combine to create outdoor spaces worth staying in, in all seasons.   Find more of Paul's Garden Rudimentals on the ABC RN website.

Why is it that certain designs become classics and others are soon forgotten? Like the Windsor chair whose history stretches back at least three hundred years and yet it's still got instant appeal and will fit in most modern homes.

In a world of near-infinite searchability, finding a recipe can seem like an overwhelming task… particularly when a search for one recipe might bring up dozens of variations. But has this lead to more complex and diverse dishes at home? The editors at the New York Times Cooking section might say otherwise. Their most popular recipe is the humble beef stew, which has clocked 24 million views since it went live in 2019. Emily Weinstein, the Food and Cooking editor of the Times, joins Blueprint to ponder what their most-read recipes say about readers.  

For many of us, the rotary clothes hoist is as Australian as a kookaburra, even given a starring role in the Sydney Olympics closing ceremony, and so it is natural to assume that it's an Australian invention. In fact, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly who created it. Blueprint's resident architecture and design commentator Colin Bisset explores its many variations. Find more of Colin's iconic designs on the ABC Listen app or on the Iconic Designs page. 

In the past couple of years, the markets have ballooned. While the market’s increased popularity has been helpful to local food vendors, the number of people from outside the Muslim and local community, has also brought its own share of problems — including experiences of Islamophobia and racism. Journalist and long-time night market attendee Soaliha Iqbal joins Blueprint to discusses the richness and complexities of the Ramadan night markets.  

A look back at the kaleidoscopic colours, raised hemlines and emancipatory fabrics that characterised the works of late British fashion designer, Dame Mary Quant.  Quant died aged 93 at her home in the UK this week.  In memory of Mary Quant's life and work, revisit this conversation with Stephanie Wood, fashion historian and curator at London's Victoria and Albert Museum.  The V&A's exhibition, Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary, came to Australia in 2021 at Victoria's Bendigo Art Gallery. 

If you've started the kitchen garden or humble herb patch — and managed to keep it alive — then resident Blueprint chief Annie Smithers is here to help you figure out what's next: How to harvest, and keep the garden brimming for a bigger yield next season. Kitchen Rudimental is Blueprint's regular series where Annie and Jonathan head into the kitchen to chat, cook and bake their way through the skills that will help make you a more confident home cook.

Expression Australia is the country’s oldest deaf society, founded almost 140 years ago. But in that time there has been no purpose-built office for the deaf community… until now.  Last month, the society’s new headquarters opened in inner Melbourne, a building co-designed with the deaf community. Interior designer Sian Neame-Smith and Expression Australia’s outgoing CEO Nicky Long join Blueprint to discuss how the building came together.  

This month there’s a rare convergence among the monotheistic faiths: Easter, Passover, and Ramadan all fall within weeks of each other. To mark this occasion, Blueprint is revisiting conversations on the food rituals associated with these religious festivities. Cameos from Monash University’s Islamic scholar Susan Carland, and Lisa Goldberg and Marilyn Chalmers from the Monday Morning Cooking Club.