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Why Make Books

Matthew Blunderfield 6 Episodes Mar 6, 2026

This podcast explores the role of books in architecture, featuring conversations with women publishers, designers, editors, and authors. Inspired by Women's Day and the Architecture Foundation, it delves into their motivations and advice for creating architectural books. Each episode offers a ten-minute introduction to these women, revealing the impact of design, value, money, and time on book-making.

Episodes

Pamela Johnston, editor Mar 6, 2026 10:46 For many years, the work of translator and editor Pamela Johnston has played a behind-the-scenes but essential role in architectural publishing. Based in London, Pamela spent over 30 years at AA Publications, and she shines a light on the enjoyment, changes and challenges she experienced there. She tells of the empathy and collaboration necessary in making a good book, before touching upon the imp

Ilka Ruby, Ruby Press Mar 6, 2026 12:38 Berlin-based publisher, curator and architect Ilka Ruby gives insight into her journey into publishing at Ruby Press, and her creative aversion to the monograph, which leads her to seek new formats and perspectives. With a political and social perspective, Ilka describes her enjoyment of bringing different voices together in a meaningful way, and compares the process of making a book to curating a

Emilia Terragni, Phaidon Press Mar 6, 2026 12:34 Emilia Terragni, born in Como but long-time citizen of London, gives insight into her journey from project editor to publisher at Phaidon Press. Responsible for the food, design and architecture titles, she explores the importance of the human subject, whether chef or architect. Alongside discussing the value of good design, she reflects on the slow process of making a book, concluding with an ins

Shumi Bose, KoozArch Mar 6, 2026 12:52 Educator, editor and curator Shumi Bose, who grew up in Kolkata before returning to the UK to enter deep into the flow of architectural culture, reflects upon the intertwined nature of her multi-faceted work. Amongst various themes, she considers issues of engagement and communication, the relationship between money and compromise, and the sacred role of the book for her culturally. Hosted on Acas

Morgan Crowcroft-Brown, MACK Mar 6, 2026 10:23 Trained in anthropology, Morgan Crowcroft-Brown moved from Australia to London in 2017 to become, over time, the designer and production director at MACK. Her feeling for the relationship between cultural ideas and their representation, availability and dissemination underlies her explanation of how she grew into her role and the inseparability of design and production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.

Claudia Mion, Caryatide Mar 6, 2026 12:07 Based in Paris, Italian-born architect Claudia Mion is the publisher of Caryatide, a small platform for reflection on architecture, art and design that produces books and events. Interested in collective and collaborative work, Claudia reveals the inspirational path that she has taken from the youthful provocations of Cosa Mentale to the responsibilities of running a sustainable, yet perfectionist

Why Make Books

Episodes

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