whoever's job it is to trawl publications and media for possible gaps to exploit with marketing in the Economic Development Board, he/she landed a mini-coup with this one. unlike the disaster (well, it did make for a very good laugh) of the MDA rap, this survey manages to package concrete information about singapore into a deft, sharp and slick read. it focuses on industries, economy and other key areas of development, alongside some faces of the underbelly of the country: small cafes, art galleries, tiny designers and retail spaces.
in keeping with monocle's habit of writing about politics, culture and economy from the perspective of a design-conscious observer, the singapore survey manages to refrain from shoving cold facts into readers' faces. instead, it keeps its edges sharp, looking at people on the ground involved in their individual endeavours and making tempered but pointed observations about each area it surveys.
there is, of course, an overwhelming sense of positive energy practically shining out from the articles - something one might cynically point out as a positively well-sponsored tone. however, it consistently keeps well within the magazine's own generally upbeat vibe, neither belaboring its points nor weighing itself down with too much information.
something of interest, perhaps: the New York Times provides a little walk on the cynical side.
this survey also downloadable in .pdf.
No comments:
Post a Comment