TrendWatching | MakeShift

Edition #15 | Your weekly inspiration fix • 14 - 20 September 2023

TREND

Solarpunk ethos comes to life to inspire radical optimism

In recent months, Google searches for ‘Solarpunk’ have surged, mirrored across TikTok, Reddit and popular video games. And though this literary movement is rooted in fantasy, Solarpunk innovations are now springing into real life, helping consumers stay optimistic – a radical choice in the face of current socio-environmental challenges. From mobile tram gardens and green rooftops to rotating solar benches, can you develop products or services that inspire radical optimism and fuel consumers’ determination to take action?

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INNOVATION

🇩🇪 Lidl lowers prices of its vegan products to hit price parity with animal-based equivalents

German supermarket Lidl is leveling the playing field for plant-based foods. By price-matching its Venmondo vegan products to their animal-derived equivalents, Lidl is upending the higher pricing model traditionally associated with… read more

INNOVATION

🇺🇸 New Google Maps accessibility feature isn't just helpful for people in wheelchairs

Google just rolled out a set of new accessibility features and updates aimed at making it easier for people with disabilities to use its products. When asking for directions, people can now request… read more

INNOVATIOn

🇳🇱 DIY retailer's app gives customized energy-saving tips based on uploaded photos of rooms

Dutch DIY retailer Praxis is leveraging artificial intelligence to guide its consumers toward greener living. The company just added a feature called 'Sustainability Check' to its free Praxis Plus app, aiming to simplify… read more

INSIGHT

The inevitable rise of in-store digital media networks

Shopping ads may soon grace your cereal aisle. Physical stores are going digital, becoming the next big media frontier for retailers. Sainsbury’s in the UK is adding 800 digital screens, and in the US, Hy-vee is teaming up with Samsung for digital signage installations in all its stores.

For retailers, the logic is clear: in-store advertising has a broader reach than its digital counterpart. However, as this unfolds, brands must think before bombarding customers with more ads. Can you provide insight into your supply chain, nudge consumers toward healthier or more sustainable choices or address consumer concerns with industry knowledge?

INSIGHT

Global political unrest continues to raise grave concerns about misinformation

Content moderation is in the spotlight again, with the Israel-Gaza war and elections in Poland surfacing propaganda material, AI-bias, deepfakes and misinformation. Social media platforms are at the center of the struggle to separate fact from fiction and despite lengthy posts detailing moderation efforts, reinforced community guidelines and more, there’s a clear disinformation problem.

This lends a new urgency to efforts to educate users and help them distinguish between reliable and deceptive sources of information. We’ve recently seen a campaign dissecting deepfake election ads and a language-analysis platform that helps people spot manipulation tactics online.

In times when misinformation can be most dangerous, empowering individuals with the right information is crucial. Can you help consumers discern fact from fiction?

See 20+ more innovations that promote FACTUAL HEALING

THOUGHT STARTER

German town promotes tiny home ownership

The city of Neckarsulm is leasing two municipally-owned plots to citizens for tiny houses that will serve as affordable homes for small households. As property prices and inflation make traditional homeownership out of reach for many, how will you innovate?

TREND

DOCUMENTARY DINING: Streaming culture meets culinary cravings

Set-jetting was only the beginning. Just as fans explored destinations made famous by movies and TV shows, now streaming culture is turning the tables on how and where we eat. In 2022, we told you that 53% of US Millennials were ordering food they’d seen on TikTok. In 2023, consumers are seeking blockbuster experiences for their taste buds:

A map of Canadian hotspots lets film fanatics eat where their favorite shows were filmed
A pop-up restaurant serves dishes by renowned TV chefs
A startup delivers documentary-inspired healthy Blue Zone meals

Proof in the pudding that storytelling still works.

INSIGHT

Moving beyond the AI-assistant trap towards meaningful product integration

Last week, The Browser Company introduced ARC Max, a browser that weaves AI seamlessly into its user experience. Instead of overwhelming users with a plethora of features, ARC prioritizes five essential internet functions, such as '5-second browser previews' and ‘tidy downloads,’ to simplify tasks and scrap unnecessary tech complexities.

To enhance the user experience and help people reclaim their time, consider AI integrations similar to Google’s automated meeting attendance and real-time photo enhancement in Pixel 8.

In a competitive landscape flooded with AI integration, question the necessity of yet another chatbot. Instead, concentrate on what sets your product or service apart, and then amplify or streamline that experience to provide users with truly beneficial intelligence.

See the trend behind the insight: BENEFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

INNOVATION

🇺🇸 Following a carbon labeling trial, Hilton hotels add more low-footprint dishes to menus

In May 2023, hotel chain Hilton started adding carbon labels to restaurant menus at 30 of its UK locations, with Hilton Brussels Grand Place joining in August. Both the British and Belgian initiatives… read more

INNOVATION

🇺🇸 In a 90-minute video, Apple leverages 'study with me' trend for back-to-school campaign

Apple just released a video featuring Euphoria actress Storm Reid, in which she invites others to join while she studies using the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute… read more

Talk to us

Be sure to ping our editor, Galina Yordanov, if you're working on something we should feature on MakeShift.

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