What Metropolis Magazine does

Metropolis Magazine is a national trade publication founded in 1981 in New York that serves architecture and interior design professionals in the United States and internationally. Operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SANDOW, a diversified design media and product conglomerate, the publication covers sustainability, projects, products, profiles, and viewpoints across the built environment, with explicit editorial focus on sustainable and healthy design. Core content distribution occurs through monthly print and digital magazine subscriptions sold via the SANDOW Dragonforms platform, supported by the metropolismag.com website and distributed social channels.

The product surface extends well beyond the magazine itself. It includes DesignTV (a SANDOW-owned video streaming platform carrying Metropolis editorial content, author interviews, and event coverage), the Deep Green podcast on sustainability, the Natural Habitat video series focused on Passive House architecture, the monthly Design Optimism Talks virtual workshops hosted by editor-in-chief Avinash Rajagopal, and resource products such as the Climate Toolkit and Interior Design Pledge. Programs include Future100 (emerging talent recognition), Responsible Disruptors (innovation editorial), and CEU Fest (continuing education delivered through SANDOW Design Group's Teachable platform).

The business model combines three revenue streams. First, recurring print and digital magazine subscriptions billed annually to architecture and design professionals, including gift and renewal products. Second, advertising and sponsored content sold through the magazine and digital properties, with manufacturers such as Formica Corporation buying branded content placements. Third, events and awards-based monetization concentrated around NeoCon, anchored by a long-standing partnership with THE MART in Chicago: the annual Sustainability Lab exhibition, which the source states attracts over 10,000 attendees, alongside the MetropolisLikes product awards (in their eleventh year as of 2024) and the Planet Positive Awards program for sustainable design.

Name

Metropolis Magazine

Legal name

Metropolis Magazine

Website

https://metropolismag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metropolis Magazine is a New York-based trade publication founded in 1981 serving architects and interior designers with coverage of sustainability, projects, products, and profiles, operated by SANDOW and supported by subscriptions, advertising, awards programs, and NeoCon events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Design Trade Media

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Architecture trade publication
• Design editorial media
• Sustainable design awards
• Interior design content
• Design industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions sold to architecture and design professionals, with subscription options including renewals and gift subscriptions
2. Advertising and Media: Advertising and sponsored content opportunities within the magazine and on the website, including branded content and product features
3. Awards and Programs: Planet Positive Awards and MetropolisLikes awards programs that recognize sustainable and innovative design products

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Metropolis Magazine publishes a monthly print and digital trade magazine covering architecture, interiors, products, profiles, and sustainability in the built environment. It monetizes this core editorial platform through subscriptions, advertising and sponsored content, industry awards programs (Planet Positive Awards, METROPOLISLikes), continuing education (CEU Fest), video programming (DesignTV, Natural Habitat), podcasts (Deep Green), and live event exhibits (METROPOLIS Sustainability Lab at NeoCon).

Product overview

Metropolis Magazine is a comprehensive design and architecture media platform organized around a core print/digital publication supplemented by multiple programs and digital sub-brands. The core magazine covers sustainability, projects, products, profiles, and viewpoints across architecture and interior design. Supporting offerings include the DesignTV video platform, Planet Positive Awards for sustainable design, Future100 talent program, CEU Fest continuing education, Climate Toolkit resources, and the annual METROPOLIS Sustainability Lab at NeoCon. The publication also produces the Deep Green Podcast, Natural Habitat Video Series, Design Optimism Talks virtual workshops, and the METROPOLISLikes Awards recognizing product innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Planet Positive Awards: Comprehensive awards program for sustainable and healthy design
• Future100
• DesignTV
• Sustainability Lab
• MetropolisLikes Awards
• Deep Green Podcast
• Climate Toolkit

Products and services

• Metropolis Magazine (Print & Digital Subscription) Monthly design and architecture publication covering sustainability, projects, products, profiles, and viewpoints in the built environment, delivered via subscription to architecture and design professionals.
• Planet Positive Awards The most comprehensive awards program for sustainable and healthy design, recognizing excellence in environmentally conscious architecture and interiors; open for entries annually.
• METROPOLISLikes Awards Annual product awards program highlighting innovative products featured at NeoCon and Design Days in commercial interior design.
• DesignTV by Sandow Video streaming platform powered by SANDOW showcasing design content, interviews, event coverage, and Metropolis editorial programming.
• CEU Fest Continuing education program for design professionals offering courses and certifications, hosted on the SANDOW Design Group's Teachable platform.
• Deep Green Podcast Podcast series exploring sustainability and environmental topics in architecture and design.
• Natural Habitat Video Series Video series debuting with a tour of an upstate New York sustainable retreat designed with Passive House principles, showcasing sustainable homes and architecture.
• METROPOLIS Sustainability Lab at NeoCon Annual exhibit at NeoCon on the 11th floor of THE MART showcasing sustainable materials and products, featuring over 20 sustainable offerings for specification.
• Design Optimism Talks Virtual workshop series held monthly featuring thought-provoking guests who are revolutionizing their fields, led by editor in chief Avinash Rajagopal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Planet Positive Awards recognizes excellence in sustainable and healthy design across the built environment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting, editorial and sponsored content.

• SANDOWcoreOthersMetropolis Magazine is owned and operated by SANDOW, a leading media company in the design and luxury lifestyle space. SANDOW provides the publishing infrastructure, distribution platforms (including Dragonforms subscription system), and corporate support for Metropolis operations.
• DesignTV by SANDOWcoreTechnology or IntegrationDesignTV is a multimedia platform powered by SANDOW that showcases design content including Metropolis editorial, author interviews, and design programming.
• THE MARTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolis partners with THE MART in Chicago for the annual NeoCon commercial interior design show, hosting the Sustainability Lab exhibit on the 11th floor. THE MART provides the venue for Metropolis's key industry programming.
• NeoConmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeoCon is the world's leading platform and event for commercial interior design. Metropolis has a significant presence with the Sustainability Lab exhibition, MetropolisLikes awards, and editorially coverage of the annual event.
• Teachable (SANDOW Design Group)supportingTechnology or IntegrationMetropolis programs like CEU Fest are hosted on the SANDOW Design Group's Teachable platform, providing educational content delivery infrastructure.
• MutinaeditorialGTM or Marketing PartnerMetropolis featured Neri&Hu's tile collection collaboration with Mutina, launched at Milan Design Week 2026. The partnership explores weaving, geometry, and chromatic perception through ceramic tile and tableware collections.
• CassinaeditorialGTM or Marketing PartnerNeri&Hu partnered with Cassina to release the Samambu lighting collection, featuring lamps referencing bamboo with metal stems and opal glass diffusers, featured in Metropolis editorial coverage.
• Formica Corporationsponsored contentGTM or Marketing PartnerMetropolis Partners sponsored content featuring Formica Corporation's surface products including natural woodgrains, warm metal laminates, and Everform solid surface materials. Article included product descriptions and designer quotes.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Architectural Record: Long-established U.S. trade magazine for architects, published by BNP Media. Direct competitor to Metropolis in the architecture and design professional media category, with overlapping B2B advertiser base and editorial scope.
• ARCHITECT Magazine: Official publication of the American Institute of Architects, covering architecture practice, design, and products. Closely comparable to Metropolis as a U.S. architecture trade publication with a similar B2B audience.
• Interior Design Magazine: Sandow Design Group's flagship interior design trade publication and a sister brand under the same parent company as Metropolis. Highly comparable in audience, advertiser base, and event-driven programming around NeoCon.
• Dwell Magazine: Modern architecture and design publication with a strong digital footprint. Comparable to Metropolis in editorial focus on contemporary architecture, sustainability, and design products, though with a more consumer-residential tilt.
• Frame Magazine: International trade publication focused on interior design, retail, and hospitality. Comparable to Metropolis in covering commercial interior design and design products, with similar B2B event presence at Milan Design Week and similar NeoCon-adjacent coverage.

Emerging players

• Dezeen: Leading digital-native architecture and design media brand with global reach. Comparable to Metropolis in editorial scope and advertiser base, but differentiated by digital-first distribution, larger audience, and lower production costs.
• ArchDaily: World's most-visited architecture website, publishing global projects daily. Overlaps with Metropolis in covering architecture projects and design products, but competes for architect readership via faster, free digital content.
• Designboom: Digital-first architecture and design publication with global editorial coverage and large social following. Comparable to Metropolis in editorial coverage of design products and architecture, differentiated by online-only, faster publishing cadence.

Regional players

• Azure Magazine: Canadian architecture and design magazine covering contemporary design with strong North American reach. Comparable in editorial focus to Metropolis but with primary geographic concentration in Canada and weaker direct U.S. competition.

Broad incumbents

• Wallpaper*: Established global design and lifestyle magazine covering architecture, interiors, fashion, and travel. Broader in scope than Metropolis but directly comparable in reaching design professionals and design-product advertisers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/metropolismag
• YouTubedesigntvbysandow.com/authors/metropolis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metropolis-magazine
• Instagraminstagram.com/metropolismag
• Facebookfacebook.com/MetropolisMag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metropolis Magazine