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Inside Seen Studios’ House of Astrid & Miyu

The House of Astrid & Miyu (HOAM), designed by Seen Studios in partnership with Astrid & Miyu, London, UK

London – As part of the recent London Design Festival (14–22 September) creative agency Seen Studios debuted a retail space focused on creating meaningful connection.

Working with jewellery brand The House of Astrid & Miyu (HOAM), Seen Studio’s brief was to create an experiential flagship space near London’s Carnaby Street that turned the existing two-storey retail environment into a connective journey. Fostering exploration and relationships were key goals, with the result being an inviting, multisensory experience.

A central focus is The Orb, a 3m kinetic light installation that casts ever-changing hues according to live weather data from cities around the world. The light creates an inviting atmosphere to lure in passers-by and offer a moment of awe as they enter the store. Inside, there are various satellite spaces, such as an upstairs design area and a café, connected by tactile and fluid interiors elements.

Overall, Seen Studio’s design results in a flagship shop designed to conjure emotive responses, a core principle around which brands can build engaging physical spaces, which we explore our The Awe Economy report.

Strategic opportunity

Use your retail space or brand events to combat dissonance by offering awe-inspiring experiences that immerse customers in the present moment

Norlys unveils modular EV charging parks

EV charging park by Adept for Norlys, Denmark

Denmark – Danish energy giant Norlys has launched its first electric vehicle (EV) charging park in Odense, with plans to expand nationwide.

Designed by architecture firm Adept, the charging park features a unique modular system designed for disassembly, allowing for adaptation to various locations and future scalability. This green-focused initiative blends sustainable architecture with user-friendly amenities, providing a flexible structure made up of a wooden structure, experiential landscape and green roofs.

Each park will integrate natural landscapes, and asphalt will be replaced with permeable surfaces and greenery covering over 60% of the site. Some parks will also feature self-service cafés, playground and science-based experiences in partnership with Danish science centre Experimentarium. This innovative approach aims to transform charging into an engaging experience while promoting environmental awareness, catering to the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions.

Our Not Your Parents’ Car microtrend report explores how the mobility industry is adapting to a new generation of drivers with sustainability front of mind.

Strategic opportunity

Advertisers should view charging stations as prime opportunities for engagement, using charging time to deliver hyper-local ads for nearby retail offerings and creating a targeted, immersive experience for EV drivers

Foresight Friday: Olivia Houghton, deputy creative foresight editor

AI imagery by The Future Laboratory, UK

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, deputy creative foresight editor Olivia Houghton delves into the latest happenings in biopolitics and explores the emerging vagina economy.

: UK health secretary Wes Streeting published an opinion piece in The Telegraph about the obesity crisis, announcing a £279m ($364m, €336m) investment from pharmaceutical giant Lilly to explore new healthcare delivery methods for those living with obesity. This includes a five-year study of weight-loss drugs (head to our Neozempic Futures report for more). Streeting emphasised that these treatments could help individuals return to work and alleviate pressure on the NHS.

The financial burden of obesity on the UKs healthcare system is undeniable. However, this strategy may merely offer a temporary fix for our flawed food system. In a recent podcast, biochemist Jessie Inchauspé, known as the Glucose Goddess, discussed how modern diets are dominated by sugars and refined starches. She explains that sugar triggers a dopamine rush, fostering an addictive craving cycle that leads to overconsumption. Frequent glucose spikes also disrupt hunger hormones, increasing cravings and contributing to widespread health issues.

The issue is intricate and multifaceted, but should we not consider examining the growing prevalence of dopamine addictions from food and even technology, such as smartphones, before applying these magic fixes?

: Much like the above, governments are facing increased scrutiny for involving themselves in personal matters that many believe shouldn’t be their concern, with women’s bodies at the forefront of this debate.

I have been personally invested in this issue for quite some time and I am grateful for the women advocating for improvements in women’s health and body autonomy, including HerMD, AthenaDAO, Marina Gerner and Agora Health. Education is vital for progress because knowledge is power. This requires collective and professional education to ensure individuals have the information they need to make informed decisions. Currently, governments are taking advantage of widespread ignorance regarding biology.

Quote of the Week

‘[Dr. Sarah] Roteridge analysed 720 studies conducted on mice and rats and found that the majority (58%) of studies which included both sexes failed to analyse their findings by sex. That’s just bad science she says. If sex is not reported as a variable, researchers waste tax payer-funded money when studies can’t be replicated fully – a hallmark of productive research’

An extract from Marina Gerber’s The Vagina Business

Stat: Asia-Pacific drives global culinary trends

Single & Fat, US

APAC – According to Marriott International’s latest report The Future of Food 2025 Asia-Pacific, this region is shaping global food and beverage trends. Chefs are travelling, and bringing with them regional flavours and techniques, significantly influencing the culinary landscape.

Notably, Japanese cuisine is inspiring fine dining in France, while Indian and Korean flavours continue to gain popularity worldwide. Cities such as Busan, Mumbai and Shanghai are becoming sought-after fine-dining destinations, along with Bali.

The report highlights that Asia-Pacific (APAC) is now a key player in culinary tourism, holding 37.8% of the global market which is projected to reach a value of £4.7 trillion ($6.2 trillion, €5.71 trillion) within the next nine years. ‘Chefs in Asia increasingly no longer feel the need to cook Western food to succeed,’ states Kee Foong, a travel and luxury journalist.

‘With gastronomy influencing travel decisions, dining is an essential part of global tourism,’ says Oriol Montal, Marriott’s managing director of luxury for APAC. ‘We are committed to evolving alongside the F&B industry, offering experiences that showcase the region’s rich culinary heritage.’

In our State of Luxury: Singapore report we analysed how affluent Singaporeans are spending their disposable income on the luxury goods market, including on the luxe-culinary travel scene.

Strategic opportunity

With APAC emerging as the epicentre of global culinary tourism, businesses can explore opportunities in luxury food destinations or partnerships with hospitality venues and chefs in destinations such as Bali, Busan or Mumbai