By Susan Yashinsky, Sphere Trending VP, Innovation Trends
With climate change accelerating, there is a new urgency for action and consumer demand for sustainable lifestyles as well as products. At the same time, and not unrelated, we understand how important nature is to our wellbeing. There is more mobility to rural areas, greater indoor/outdoor living spaces, an understanding of biophilic design principles and an appreciation for weekend camping and hiking.
By Emily Siwek, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Architectural Design
As 2024 emerges, so do fresh wellness strategies bringing a new start to the new year. From cold plunges and ice baths to saunas and steam rooms, new lifestyle chemistry runs hot and cold. Influencers like Wim Hof (aka the Iceman) are sharing their strategies for building physical and mental health in the New Year.
Ice Bath Influencer Wim Hof
Maybe we’ll start off with a face plunge first! Stay with us as we explore more lifestyle chemistry in the new year. Click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.
In 2024, we are exploring new schools of thought that reveal emerging behaviors and interestsconnected to our trend forecasting. This video is a preview of the changing consumer attributes and personalities that will be critical to understand and embrace in the year to come. Please join us as we dig deeper into these new schools of thought this season – home philosophy, lifestyle chemistry and brand archeology. We look forward to hitting the books and diving deeper into these themes throughout the year.
By Riann Henkel, Sphere Trending Trend Futurist, Director of Interior Home
In a world of screens, AI-everything, bots and having almost anything you need available at the blink of an eye without ever leaving your house, sometimes it’s refreshing to get out and go analog – and get rewarded with a dose of inspiration.
As trend forecasters, we are constantly looking for inspiration all around us, from a color palette inspired by an amazing sunset to patternwork in a building’s architectural façade. Retail in one of many tools in our toolbox, but post-pandemic it is a reminder of how you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. At the end of the day, there is nothing like getting out in the middle of a city and immersing yourself in the pulse points to observe consumer patterns and product trends.
Retail as Art
Exhibit-style evolving retail keeps the shopping experience fresh and interesting. Recent exhibits while retail trendspotting in Paris included “at my grandmother’s house – ‘chez ma grand-mere-” at Merci and Ole, Ole! – a celebration of Spanish design – at Le Bon Marche.
Beyond Brick-and-Mortar–retail all around
Sphere Trendspotting – The Signature 5th Ave Fragrance by Nest
Sensory experiences tie in to product and retail. With scent being so strongly tied to memory, both Nest Candles and Bath and Body Works got creative for the holiday NYC season. Nest featured immersive outdoor scents to reach shoppers on the street, while Bath and Body Works rolled a gigantic candle into the streets to celebrate their annual Candle Day.
By Susan Yashinsky, Sphere Trending Vice President of Innovation
I can’t wait to see what 2024 brings in new material innovation as we push the boundaries in sustainable products as well as manufacturing techniques, style and fabrication.
Fueled by a rising creative class across all industries, today’s experience economy is focused on new material attributes, application and design evolution. Here are three we’re watching:
1. Fully Circular
Archisonic Cotton – Impact Acoustic
ARCHISONIC® Cotton is a circular solution made in Italy from renewable materials. 100% of the acoustic absorbers can be returned to the production process, making it fully recyclable.
2. Climate Solutions
Cooling Ceramic from City University of Hong Kong
A significant breakthrough in developing a passive radiative cooling (PRC) material has been announced by researchers at City University of Hong Kong (CityU). The material, known as cooling ceramic, has achieved high-performance optical properties for energy-free and refrigerant-free cooling generation. Its cost-effectiveness, durability and versatility make it highly suitable for commercialization in numerous applications, particularly in building construction.
3. AI Innovation
GNoME
Researchers from Google DeepMind and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have introduced GNoME, an advanced AI system that has uncovered over 2 million potential materials for applications such as batteries, solar panels, and computer chips.
Stay tuned to hear from the rest of our team on what they are grateful for – click here to connect with us and follow our Instagram and LinkedIn.
