For 36 years, Metropolis has set the bar for delivering stories ahead of their time. As the long-time editor in chief, Susan Szenasy has led the magazine for decades to its position as the industry’s most compelling storyteller. Readers expect Metropolis to take them behind the scenes and share innovations, reveal breakthrough processes, and keep them ahead of the curve.
Metropolis magazine is published 10 times per year and covers architecture and design at all scales.
“Susan is the only one, among the major design editors, who has unabashedly made her magazine a forum for tackling grand challenges. What she chooses to publish in each issue cross-pollinates across all of the different design criteria—aesthetic, social, environmental.” - Anna Dyson
December 1984
Susan Szenasy’s first cover story for Metropolis marking the start of the magazine’s interest in workplace design which few others would have considered publishing at the time.
Susan Szenasy’s first cover story for Metropolis marking the start of the magazine’s interest in workplace design which few others would have considered publishing at the time.
October 1991
Metropolis asked designers how they would fix New
York City. Our new tagline, “The Urban Magazine of Architecture and Design,” reflected a more national and international scope.
Metropolis asked designers how they would fix New
York City. Our new tagline, “The Urban Magazine of Architecture and Design,” reflected a more national and international scope.
November 1992
The skewed photographs of stairways with Braille dots spelling out “access” attempt to show the limitations in designing environments and objects that welcome all.
The skewed photographs of stairways with Braille dots spelling out “access” attempt to show the limitations in designing environments and objects that welcome all.
October 2003
With a new study finding that architecture was a major contributor to pollution, Metropolis challenged the profession to turn green, with a strong visual call to arms.
With a new study finding that architecture was a major contributor to pollution, Metropolis challenged the profession to turn green, with a strong visual call to arms.
October 2008
To show a new generation of activists reshaping the world, Metropolis focused attention on the citizen architect with a hand holding up a globe as inspiring ideas spilling out.
To show a new generation of activists reshaping the world, Metropolis focused attention on the citizen architect with a hand holding up a globe as inspiring ideas spilling out.
May 2009
A team of architects and engineers won Metropolis’s Next Gen Competition for adding the windmills they designed to existing electrical pylons.
A team of architects and engineers won Metropolis’s Next Gen Competition for adding the windmills they designed to existing electrical pylons.
2010 Next Generation competition winner—a bioengineered brick, conceived by a young American architect—may be modest in physical scale, but it has the potential for global impact.
June 2011
A nimble design consultancy brings design thinking to political structures in desperate need of reinvention.
A nimble design consultancy brings design thinking to political structures in desperate need of reinvention.
May 2014
Metropolis examines designers who are redesigning the American home for extended families and creating a blueprint for multi-generational housing that works.
Metropolis examines designers who are redesigning the American home for extended families and creating a blueprint for multi-generational housing that works.
March 2015
From potters to politicians, everyone today wants to be called a maker. What can designers really expect from this ideologically hazy movement?
From potters to politicians, everyone today wants to be called a maker. What can designers really expect from this ideologically hazy movement?
