
Hugo Macdonald
Hugo is a design critic, curator and the co-founder of Bard, a gallery in Edinburgh dedicated to Scottish design and craft. A long-serving member of the Wallpaper* family, he has also been the design editor at Monocle and the brand director at Studioilse, Ilse Crawford's multi-faceted design studio. Today, Hugo wields his pen and opinions for a broad swathe of publications and panels. He has twice curated both the Object section of MIART (the Milan Contemporary Art Fair) and the Harewood House Biennial. He consults as a strategist and writer for clients ranging from Airbnb to Vitra, Ikea to Instagram, Erdem to The Goldsmith's Company. Hugo recently returned to the Wallpaper* fold to cover the parental leave of Rosa Bertoli as global design director, and is now serving as its design critic.
Latest articles by Hugo Macdonald
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Five of our favourite furniture reissues from 3 Days of Design 2025
At the Copenhagen event, several brands brought masterpieces from the past back to life – here’s our pick of the furniture revivals, from sofas to lighting
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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3 Days of Design 2025: live updates from the Wallpaper* team
From 18-20 June, design is taking over Copenhagen. Follow along with the latest news, launches and other goings-on from 3 Days of Design, as seen by Wallpaper* editors.
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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20 emerging designers shine in our ‘Material Alchemists’ film
Wallpaper’s ‘Material Alchemists’ exhibition during Milan Design Week 2025 spotlighted 20 emerging designers with a passion for transforming matter – see it now in our short film
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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The beauty of jet lag
Wallpaper*’s design director, Hugo Macdonald, argues why it’s time we turn endurance into enjoyment
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Eleven great things to see at 3 Days of Design 2025
The scale and scope of 3 Days of Design has expanded dramatically since its inception 12 years ago. Here, we share our pick of standout exhibitions and events from the upcoming edition (18-20 June 2025)
By Ali Morris Published
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A love letter to the hammock
Looking to simplify the act of relaxing? Then consider a hammock
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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O Milano! Design's epic annual spectacle in photos
Call us biased, but we believe that Milan Design Week is, at this moment in time, the greatest show on earth
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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The animals came in two by two, hurrah!
Jonathan Baldock’s ‘WYRD’ menagerie takes up residence at Scotland’s Jupiter Artland for the summer
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Haller-lujah! USM is reimagined by Buchanan Studio
The Swiss modular furniture brand has collaborated for the first time with a UK-based design studio, and the tessellating results are spectacular
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Maserati joins forces with Giorgetti for a turbo-charged relationship
Announcing their marriage during Milan Design Week, the brands unveiled a furniture collection, a car and a long-term commitment
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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‘Why is it that an object has an aura?’
We sit down with the dynamic duo behind the celestial showcase by Hermès during Milan Design Week
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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Tectonic modernity makes for fine dining furniture from Knoll
The new ‘Muecke Wood Collection’ by architect Jonathan Muecke for Knoll brings artistry to the table
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Elegance personified, the 'Riley' sofa is a handsome beast
A new sofa by Hannes Peer for Minotti has us swooning, not slouching
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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At Milan Design Week, 'Material Alchemists' marks the Wallpaper* Class of '25
Our own exhibition brings together 20 emerging designers from around the world giving matter form with magic
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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At Milan Design Week 2025, Turri launches a circular dining table fit for ceremonial feasts
The new ‘Kenobi’ by Marco Acerbis for Turri is the kind of dining table we like to get around
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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The 'Moonbeam' lamp makes light use of leather
A new range of table lamps by Six N. Five is a delightful novelty for Poltrona Frau for Milan Design Week
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Milan Design Week: Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s monastic marvel of a chair returns to life
Molteni & C’s reissue of the ‘Monk’ chair has us worshipping at the altar of its designers, Afra and Tobia Scarpa
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Milan Design Week: these porcelain lights mimic paper lanterns
An exclusive first look at Lee Broom's ‘Cascade’ lighting for Lladró, launching at Euroluce during Salone del Mobile 2025
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Where next for Salone del Mobile? Maria Porro on the future of the world’s biggest furniture fair
Ahead of Salone del Mobile 2025 in Milan, we sit down with its president to talk design, data and forging the event’s future in a fast-changing world
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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What to see at Milan Design Week 2025
A guide to some of the events the Wallpaper* team is checking out at Milan Design Week (7–13 April) – from public installations and major launches to standout venues and must-see exhibitions
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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Milan Design Week: Philippe Malouin's ‘Great’ sofa for Hem more than lives up to its name
Three years in development, the Canadian designer’s new sofa for Hem is an elegantly modern, comfortable beast
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Salone exclusive: Enzo Mari’s ‘Boomerang’ desk flies back into production
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna brings a lesser-known, marvellous Mari creation back to life as part of its Salone del Mobile 2025 collection to be unveiled in April
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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First look: Fritz Hansen kicks-off the 70th anniversary celebration of Arne Jacobsen's ‘Series 7’ chair with a dawn chorus of colour
The Danish classic is reborn with a limited edition palette called ‘7:14 AM’, derived from the colours of the Danish sunrise
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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'It’s indisputable that craft has enormous value socially, culturally, economically': interrogating the case for craft in contemporary life
Ahead of next week's 21st edition of Collect, the world's leading fair for collectible craft, we sit down with Natalie Melton, executive director of the Crafts Council, to talk about making a living from making
By Hugo Macdonald Published