Stuart Husband
Bigger than Björk
Magnus Scheving, creator of ‘LazyTown’, is a global phenomenon and reluctant Icelandic icon. Presidents take his calls and children in 128 countries listen, but he thinks he has outgrown his small nation.
Making a splash
How do you make rubber suits fun? That’s the challenge facing a diving industry tired of its staid image. At Boot 2011, they showcased a new, more accessible and fashionable approach to the sport.
Voice of a nation
Though retired, singer Nana Mouskouri’s songs remain inseparable from Greek culture. A staunch nationalist who lived through Greece’s democratic transition, she is determined her proud country will recover from its financial crisis.
Poised to strike
For our World Cup series, we visit Puma, the brand most associated with African football. As the competition heads to the continent, will its long-term strategy make it the big marketing winner?
River God
Slovenian hero Martin Strel has swum the entire lengths of the Danube, Mississippi, Yangtze and Amazon. He's become the embodiment of his nation's spirit: plucky, brave and up for anything.
You lift me up
As skyscrapers grow taller, the demand for complex elevator systems increases. Leading manufacturer Schindler is investing in double-decker lifts and sky lobbies to meet the challenges of moving thousands of people in minutes.
A head for flights
Turkey’s aviation market is growing faster than China’s. Turkish Airlines is turning Istanbul into a hub to rival Dubai, with CEO Temel Kotil explaining how Turkish hospitality has been key to his success.
Vinyl frontier
The Eklund family has made the world’s most desirable vinyl flooring for over half a century. Now their seasonal collections are winning praise from the worlds of fashion, architecture and design.
2. Copenhagen
There’s no shame coming second, particularly when your new metro is expanding, your airport is a joy, you can bike safely through the city and you have so many stunning residents.
What a scoop
In our regular series on the world’s more obscure yet inspirational trade fairs, Monocle despatched a team to Rimini to cover Sigep, one of the biggest ice cream trade conventions in the world.
