With corporate brands more powerful than country brands, there’s a lot of work out there for agencies keen to rethink a nation’s identity. Over the next 40-plus pages *Monocle* looks at the construct of countries.
There are many ways for a nation to make a name for itself and build international brand equity. From winning a place on the Olympic podium to positioning itself as a must-stop hub, the options are plentiful, but the res…
The national identity of countries can shift radically and at a speed that leaves their inhabitants gasping: think of the former Soviet Union. Here leading thinkers consider what might, or should, change in the way nations…
Tuesday 7 February
Funny, how a brand can be such a key part of a nation’s identity and yet the majority of citizens don’t really understand its significance until it’s gone.
The rebranding benefits of geographical name changes are weighed up in South Australia, plans to harvest storm water for consumption are questioned in the New South Wales city of Orange, and Tokelau announces plans to…
Word games: what’s in an urbanist’s dictionary and how does language affect how we see our cities? From branding slogans to the word on the street, we look into the identity of the places we live.
In a radical shift from its traditional brand identity, Sugamo Shinkin Bank has adopted an innovative and colourful design for its new Niiza branch. It looks more like an art gallery than a bank, and that seems to be having…
Georgia’s second city is in the midst of a frantic transformation from sleepy resort to major tourist and investment hub. Intent on branding itself as a European-style cultural hotspot, it also aims to become a Caucasian…
The national identity of countries can shift radically and at a speed that leaves their inhabitants gasping. As the United States continues to suffer from low approval ratings all over the world, Paula Scher, one of the…
Wednesday 17 February
The recent Academy Award nomination for Ajami marks the third time in as many years that Israel has scored an Oscar nod for best foreign language film.
Monday 9 January
The Somme area in northern France has chosen a new name. Authorities voted to ditch the title that’s so synonymous with one of the First World War’s bloodiest battles in favour of a new one.
Monday 20 May
With shrinking budgets and ever more competitive markets, airline brands need CEOs who are ready to make a fresh impression – such as a cross-dressing Richard Branson.
Tuesday 14 June
Whether it is Piccadilly Circus in London, New York’s Times Square or Tokyo’s Ginza, neon billboards in the heart of a big city are no ordinary advertising spots – they are part of a city’s identity. Which means that when…
Wednesday 29 September
Ailing Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferré may have just found its saviour.
Saturday 9 January
When it comes to brainstorming, most will agree two heads are better than one.
Wednesday 9 March
Japanese “gyaru” (gal) fashion works to a different set of rules.
Tuesday 19 June
After almost two years of studying and working in the UK, I still smile at the curious pop culture differences between the States and my adopted homeland.
The biannual Pitti Uomo menswear show is a highlight of the fashion calendar but its host country isn’t the force it used to be. That necessitates an unfamiliar focus on expansion into foreign markets – and Japan is first…
Saturday 20 November
It’s a good thing for Ireland’s bankers that Reykjavik is just a short hop across the chilly North Atlantic from Dublin.
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