“Design is so simple. That’s why it’s so complicated.” –Paul Rand

An Introduction to Contractors
Architect-author Dan Maginn of El Dorado Inc. gives us the inside track on one of his favorite subjects: contractors.
An Introduction to Renting
The American Dream, some say, is all about owning a home.
An Introduction to Retail Design
The ancient Greeks did it in the agora; the Romans did it in the forum; Persians did it in the bazaar (“the place of prices”);...
5 Best Retailers in Upcycled Shipping Containers
We have seen shipping containers being repurposed for uses ranging from housing to hotels—so it's only logical that some...
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Designs a Tech-Forward Retail Experience For Reformation
The new concept store in the Mission neighborhood encourages shoppers to browse and reserve items through a digital interface.
An Introduction to Building Codes
Fuss all you like about sprinklers and guardrails, we need building codes. Here's how to get your architect to play along.
An Introduction to Home Gardening
Ever since Adam and Eve’s unfortunate eviction, their descendants have been plunging hands and seeds into the earth in hopes of...
An Introduction to Kitchen Design
The kitchen has evolved from a closed-off satellite to the most open, doted-upon room in the house—and repository of our dreams...
An Introduction to Airport Design
As anyone who has been to Peru, or Bali, or Timbuktu can tell you, travel is not merely the experience of going somewhere.
An Introduction to Universal Design
Mention universal design and see your companions’ eyes start glazing over.
An Introduction to Restaurant Design
Eating has always been a sociable event, from primitive campfire cooking to reclining on lectuli at lavish Greek and Roman...
An Introduction to Landscape Design
The profession of landscape architecture is very much rooted in the European tradition of garden design, and it didn’t germinate...
An Introduction to Product Design
Last night I went to a corner liquor store to buy some toothpaste.
The Power of Design
Preview the Editor’s Letter from our January/February issue, written by Dwell founder and CEO Lara Deam.
Visionary Design
Read the Editor’s Letter from our upcoming November/December edition and look for the issue on newsstands in the first week of...
Groundbreaking Design
It has been nearly half a decade, but the Dwell Home II is back! Construction began this winter in the hills outside Los Angeles,...
Design the Future
Read the Editor’s Letter from our upcoming September/October edition and look for the issue on newsstands in the first week of...
Retail’s Details
Few feelings equal the rush of shopping in the center of the universe with cold hard cash—or credit—burning a hole in the pocket.
Shipping Container Retail Design
I wish I could see this cool new pop-up shop in person, but alas, it's in Manhattan and only until October 31. It's the first...
An Introduction to Prefab
The basic principle of prefab, whereby a home is fabricated in one location and then delivered to another, has been around for at...
Designed In-House
Mill Valley, California, might not be a hotbed of modernism, but it was here, ten years ago, that Dwell came into the world...
An Introduction to Architects
Aside from that mischievous caveperson in France who used a piece of charcoal to draw a line around some stick figures that...
An Introduction to Lighting
One of the oldest proclamations in Western literature—maybe the very oldest, depending on how you see things—is “Let there be...
Ondo by MAMM DESIGN
Ondo is a minimal house located in Tokyo, Japan, designed by MAMM DESIGN.
What if Green Design Were Just Good Design?
Green design should have won 30 years ago.
An Introduction to Manufacturing
If the design world feels like an endless parade of products, then the gnashing maws of industrial production assuredly underpin...
10 Ways to Use Color to Transform a Room
Color has a unique way of transforming a space when used creatively to draw attention or capture a mood.
Idyllic Home Designed for an Artist
In the remote San Juan Islands, an artist and an architect collaborate on a modern residence dedicated to creative pursuits.
Designed to Handle the Heat and More
A thoroughly modern house in Baton Rouge owes its sleek and sustainable form to its vernacular roots.
Landscape Design for All Climates
Seven landscape architects across the United States explain how they mastermind inspired designs showcasing the best of their...
Editor's Letter: Design Matters
Perfection is boring.
Journey by Design: Marfa, Texas
Big names and installations in art and design make this small town in Texas a significant destination.
The Future of Homebuilding: Home-in-a-box
In this episode of Predicting Our Future, I’ll take you along as I explore the future of homebuilding, speaking with founders of...
A Comfortable Patio with a Sharp Design
In coastal Norway, a guesthouse serves as a sculptural refuge.
Journey by Design: Mexico City
Richly layered and elegant with an edge, the capital of Mexico is brimming with incredible art, design, history, and architecture...
Journey by Design: Richmond, Virginia
This historic city’s under-the-radar modernism scene makes it worth a weekend visit.

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