Contributors

Gorana Grgic
Writer
— agenda

Our essay on complex international challenges allowed monocle’s new security correspondent Grgic to gain insight into the future direction of geopolitics. But her work also led to some unexpected moments. “I was reporting from my home country of Croatia, where I spent much of my time hiding with my dog, Milka,” she says. “Despite having lived through a decade’s worth of New Year’s fireworks in Sydney, she was terrified of Croatia’s crazy holiday pyrotechnics.”

Any advice for the coming year?
Understanding how complex international challenges affect us as individuals and nation states is crucial. We must be prepared for uncertainty in US foreign policy, where contradictory approaches to world conflict could shape crises across the globe.

Jesse Chehak
Photographer
— business

US-born photographer Chehak grew up in Hollywood and now resides by the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. “I go on surf trips whenever I can,” he says. For this issue, we asked Chehak to capture Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District, a creative neighbourhood featuring more than 70 shops and galleries. “Poking around the grill at BB’s Lawnside BBQ was the real highlight,” he says jokingly.

What are your hopes for 2025?
I want to keep things simple by focusing on what matters most to me and my family. I’m not much of a trend predictor but I’m hopeful that social media will no longer matter to anyone, especially creatives.

Ann Dingli
Writer
— design

Dingli was born and raised in Malta but relocated to London 15 years ago. As well as from writing about it, she learns about architecture and cities by taking long walks. “Observations often come to me when I’m exploring London on foot,” she says. “There’s no better thing to do for marinating ideas.” For her report covering an architect’s studio in Malta, Dingli spent a day immersed in the life of her subject, connecting the structure’s story to her own experience of its home city, Valletta.

What are you excited about this year?
Exploring London’s 2025 exhibition calendar, which will include major shows on Brazilian, Egyptian and Nigerian design, past and contemporary.

Janne Iivonen
Illustrator
— culture

Working from a Victorian townhouse in Brighton, Finnish illustrator Iivonen applied his considerable talents to bringing to life our feature on the world’s best new museums and galleries. “I was listening to an audiobook about producer J Dilla when sketching New York’s upcoming Hip Hop Museum,” he says. “I like his music so I felt the need to add an Akai mpc sampler, a favoured tool of the artist, somewhere on the map.” As for his other interests? They’re a little more up in the air. “I recently picked up disc golf but there unfortunately isn’t a dedicated course for it in Brighton.” Here’s hoping that it gets off the ground this year.

What are your predictions for 2025?
People are going to start listening to their own intuition rather than allowing internet algorithms to decide everything for them.

Lara Olszowska
Writer
— at the fronT

After studying Spanish and Russian at university, Olszowska returned to London, her home city, and travels as often as she can in pursuit of untold stories. For this issue, she interviewed bestselling Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, the founder of an annual literary festival in Reykjavík.

Do you have any goals for the year?
I’m trying very hard to read – for pleasure – at least 20 books. None of the old classics though; I don’t have time. Compact contemporary fiction, please.