A sense of place with Dan Witten-Hannah and Sophie-Lou Jacobsen

In this special episode of Monocle on Design, produced in partnership with Fisher & Paykel, host Nick Manese explores the concept of 'sense of place' through conversations with Auckland-based CEO Dan Witten-Hanna and French-American designer Sophie Lou Jacobson. Witten-Hanna reflects on how Fisher & Paykel’s New Zealand origins—marked by isolation, raw nature, and a pioneering spirit—have deeply influenced its design philosophy, emphasizing human-centered innovation, sustainability, and the kitchen as a social ritual space. He discusses the brand’s immersive Milan exhibition, Nature Ritual, which fuses natural inspiration with human rituals. Jacobson, meanwhile, shares how her Milan-based collection Disco Aperitivo draws from 1970s and 80s Italian aperitivo culture, using sculptural glassware and crystals to elevate everyday rituals into performative, emotionally resonant experiences. Both guests emphasize that design is not just about function, but about creating meaning, memory, and connection through objects rooted in place and time. The episode underscores how global design can be both locally inspired and universally relatable. Key takeaways include: 1) Design should begin with human rituals and emotional experiences, not just product function; 2) A strong sense of place—whether from geography or culture—can be a powerful source of innovation and authenticity; 3) Rituals, not just objects, are the heart of meaningful design; 4) Sustainability and longevity are essential to future-focused design; 5) Global relevance is achieved not by erasing local identity, but by translating it with empathy and creativity. The episode concludes with a celebration of design as a bridge between personal memory, cultural heritage, and shared human experience.