How user-centric design is transforming city life

Hear insights from two leaders driving cultural change through the power of music. Monocle’s Tomos Lewis heads to Havana’s Cayo Hueso district to meet a Grammy-winning resident of the Cuban capital who restored a grand 1930s building into an 11-key hotel with Caribbean rhythm at its core. Plus: Mag Rodriguez talks about his new app, Even, a platform tackling the tough times artists face in the streaming era.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet Sarah Bell, founder of Evermore London, a luxury-candle and home-fragrance brand made from sustainable ingredients, nature-inspired scents and fine UK craftsmanship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore how heritage and a commitment to artisanal quality builds enduring brands with the founders of two eponymous luxury labels. Luca Faloni reflects on a decade of elevating Italian menswear and Oyuna Tserendorj shares how her Mongolian roots inform the ethos of her cashmere brand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet the creator of ‘The Future Flip Book’, a creativity tool designed to spark millions of innovative ideas by allowing users to create combinations that align with their unique goals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss growth strategies from Sweden to South Africa as we meet the CEO of Peak Performance to hear about the importance of bricks-and-mortar retail for building communities. And: why creating meaningful touchpoints with customers in physical retail spaces can help new brands flourish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newlane co-founder Dominic Cotton talks about creating a foldable bike helmet for urban commuters. He shares how a London bike ride sparked the idea, challenges of achieving certification and how key partnerships have propelled their growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore innovative solutions for urban living and enhancing quality of life in cities. First, we meet the founder of Urby, a smart development company that blends apartment living with the hospitality flair of boutique hotels. Then: we catch up with Markus Freitag, founder of compact cargo-bike company Flinc, which is reshaping the way that Switzerland rides.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond its fairs, Art Basel wants to stay top of mind with a foray into retail. Monocle’s Sophie Monaghan-Coombs speaks with chief growth officer, Hayley Romer, at the new Art Basel Shop in Paris to see how its pop-up stores reflect its cities in every product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deborah Honig, chief customer officer for Samsung Electronics in the UK and Ireland, talks about how the multinational technology giant is harnessing artificial intelligence to elevate its product ecosystem, boost accessibility and empower consumers, all while staying true to the brand’s legacy of innovation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yola Jimenez launched Yola Mezcal to preserve her family’s traditional recipe of the spirit from Oaxaca, Mexico. Today the brand is thriving thanks to her commitment to slow growth, sustainable production and staying true to its original roots.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.