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 has this year returned to the Wallpaper* fold to cover the parental leave of Rosa Bertoli as Global Design Director.
Latest articles by Hugo Macdonald
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Alain Delon’s forgotten fling with furniture
A giant of French cinema and a man of many talents; as the world mourns Alain Delon, we revisit his 70s furniture collection which showcased a deft talent for design
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Exclusive first look: Knoll brings the mighty Tugendhat Chair back to life
Knoll is reissuing Mies van der Rohe’s Tugendhat Chair, and they took it back home to the Villa Tugendhat in Brno to celebrate its resurrection.
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Exclusive: Lesire collection by Mabeo Studio for Design Within Reach
We interview Botswanan designer Peter Mabeo as his new collection hits Design Within Reach stores across the USA
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Our highlights from the Edinburgh Art Festival as it celebrates its 20th anniversary
X MUSE, Scotland's home-grown young vodka brand, is taking the art world by storm; a perfect partner then for the Edinburgh Art Festival's 20th anniversary.
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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First Look: Kelly Wearstler’s ‘Lotura’ collection brings heavy metal to interiors
With a new range of lighting inspired by brutalism, Kelly Wearstler proves that light and weight are beautiful bedfellows
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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The Wallpaper* guide to Edinburgh
As festival season returns to Edinburgh, we task Hugo Macdonald, Wallpaper’s design director and trustworthy local, for his go-to hotspots around the city
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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First look: Solange Knowles on designing her new glassware collection, ‘Small Matter: Form Glassware 001’ for Saint Heron
We interview Solange Knowles, who tells us about her desire to democratise good design and its power to elevate mundane gestures into ceremonial moments
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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First look: clay meets paper and textiles in Henry Holland's new collection for Harlequin
Henry Holland, the fashion designer-turned-ceramicist, has teamed up with Harlequin for a range of playful, tactile wallpapers and textiles
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Well hung? We interview Martino Gamper about his new book of (around) 1,000 hooks
Italian maverick designer Martino Gamper doesn't hang around. He has a new book featuring 1,000 hooks made by hand. We ask him how and why...
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Heath Ceramics’ first lighting is inspired by ‘catching fireflies and letting their light shine through your hands’
Heath Ceramics launches its first collection of ceramic lighting, designed by Tung Chiang, director of Heath Clay Studio
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Take off: Mathieu Lehanneur's Olympic Cauldron rises into the Parisian night sky
The Paris 2024 Olympics’ opening ceremony was closed with a soaring cauldron spectacle that will go down in history
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Designing the Olympics: Wallpaper* interviews Joachim Roncin, director of design for Paris 2024
How do you begin to design the Olympics? We pulled up a pew with the director of design for Paris 2024 to learn more about gender-free mascots with a genital likeness and medals made from the Eiffel Tower
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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We remember Kenneth Grange, the British industrial designer, who has died aged 95
Kenneth Grange was a colossus of post-war design. With a career spanning six decades, his mission for improvement touched everything from trains to fountain pens, taxis to toothbrushes
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Maison Bardot sails into port on Antiparos
As the hordes head once again to the Greek Islands to bask on the beaches, Antiparos’ new gallery Maison Bardot offers a welcome dose of shade and culture combined
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Tai Ping’s ‘Biophilic’ carpets are a breath of fresh air underfoot
Tai Ping launches two biophilia-inspired carpet ranges using natural, undyed materials to spectacular, soothing effect
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Molteni&C softens up The Rock in Punta del Este
Molteni&C is masterminding the interior furnishing of a new coastal development in the Uruguayan resort, set to launch in 2026
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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Nendo makes a splash with new designs for Flaminia
Nendo launches two new product families – a countertop washbasin with wings and a tub-like lamp – for Flaminia’s 70th anniversary
By Hugo Macdonald Published
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The Dalmore and Zaha Hadid Architects’ whisky collaboration up for auction
The Dalmore 49 Year Old Luminary No.2 The Rare, a collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects is on auction at Sotheby’s (until 31 May)
By Tianna Williams Published
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Eddie Redmayne talks tech, time and Wallpaper* Design Awards 2016
'Pillow + Ball' is Lucy Hardcastle's latest adventure in her unique brand of tactile design
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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World View: Letter from London
Our new series shines light on the creativity and resilience of designers around the world as they confront the challenges wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic. Working with contributing editors across eleven global territories, we reach out to creative talents to ponder the power of design in difficult times and share messages of hope. Here, contributing editor Hugo Macdonald catches up with designers Ilse Crawford, Erdem Moralioglu, Frith Kerr and Philippe Malouin, who reflect on philosophy, the power of camaraderie, and the responsibilities that lie ahead.
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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Very Good and Proper
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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Piece corps: Wallpaper* and Sotheby’s join forces to reveal what great design is made of
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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The long game: B&B Italia’s Giorgio Busnelli dreams big for the future
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated
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Interview with Renzo Rosso, owner of Diesel
By Hugo Macdonald Last updated