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Military action tends to have a more visceral impact when it comes to forcing through change but it is the subtle influence of soft power that drives the most meaningful resolutions. In our fifth annual survey we gauge the soft-power strengths of our top-ranking nations.

In a saturated market it can be hard to find original fashion that doesn't scream or shout. Monocle films visits a trio of womenswear designers in London, Brussels and Copenhagen that are daring women to dress differently. All three share a strong sense of identity and an uncompromising eye for detail.

The Forecast is Monocle’s new annual publication packed with stories that look further, think bigger and look closer at the ideas shaping global affairs, business, urbanism, culture, design and beyond. Monocle films takes a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how the editorial team put this first new edition together. [Buy now](https://monocle.com/shop/magazine/other/the-forecast-2015/).

The second edition of the Istanbul Design Biennial distilled the city’s disparate cultural influences into a single powerful event. Monocle films visited to discover the region's desire to rewrite its contemporary design manifesto.

Biennale Interieur is a furniture fair with a difference. Every other year the Flemish city Kortrijk plays host to a design extravaganza that is as cultural as it is commercial. A provocative guest curator, diverse discourse and imaginative uses of space make this trade fair anything but run of the mill.

The Mokotow district in Warsaw has recently turned into a magnet for the capital's creative community. Monocle explores how a shared spirit is at the heart of the area's vibrant neighbourhood.

Home to a diverse creative community, architect Kazuyo Sejima's housing complex is designed to enlighten residents with its sense of serenity.

Norway’s capital has one of the fastest-growing populations in Europe and as talented entrepreneurs, architects and designers flock here, Monocle takes the temperature of this fast-changing city.

The second part of our biannual Design Directory can be found in the November issue, covering everything from choosing a neighbourhood to selecting your steak knives. You can also make yourself at home with our usual mix of revealing reports and insightful interviews – and a comprehensive Oslo City Survey. [Available to order now at The Monocle Shop.](/shop/magazine/other/issue-78/)

Bikini Berlin is a newly redesigned complex mixing retail, culture and creative thinking about the public space. Once a fading relic of the Cold War, intelligent ideas from its new tenants are helping to redefine the shopping mall model.