Gen Z

Born 1997–2012, Gen Z are digital natives, socially minded and a rebellious force to be reckoned with.

Youth Culture in 2025

From immersive experiences to creator-driven content and innovative storytelling, pop culture and media innovators are reshaping how audiences engage with entertainment

Big Ideas

Kidult Craze

Adults are gravitating towards playful, non-digital items such as plush toys, collectables and nostalgic characters to reconnect with and heal their inner child

Macro Trends

Gen Z Now and Next

Gen Z are entering adulthood burdened by global challenges, yet lack the tools or role models to drive the change they envision, leaving them paralysed by paradox

Markets

Gen Z Dating Futures

As dating app fatigue grows, in-person social spaces, sports, and college communities are emerging as popular screen-to-scene alternatives

Micro Trends

Erotic-tainment

A backdrop of sex-averse culture is only making audiences thirstier, leading to an explosion of entertainment that brings smut to the masses

Viewpoints

Smartphone storytelling

Youth film-making collective Pickpocket examines why film and tv are stuck in a pre-internet world and how smartphones can create suspense to...

Youth : Media : Entertainment

Micro Trends

Young Believers

The aesthetic, rituals and values of Christianity are being re-assessed and redefined by a younger, more socially conscious generation.

Youth : Generation Z : Branding

Viewpoints

Thermal wellness is a burgeoning sector

Sam Shames, co-founder of Embr Wave, explores the growth of wellbeing based on temperature and how technology can create personalised microcli...

Wellness : Health : Technology

Micro Trends

Next-generation Protein

Food tech companies are pioneering new plant proteins, which better mimic animal products in taste, texture and nutritional profile.

Food : Technology : Sustainability

Viewpoints

Virtual cleansing

Mike Meiré, creative director of Dornbracht, discusses how VR can be used as a tool for meditative and sustainable living.

Design : VR : Health & Wellness

Markets

China Dairy Market

Fuelled by the belief that dairy products are a vital component of any healthy diet, Chinese consumers are adding an increasing selection of milk, ...

Food : Drink : Health

Markets

Gaming Garments Market

Esports and gaming culture are infiltrating the world of fashion, with inspiring brand collaborations and innovation in performance wear.

Fashion : Esports : Leisure

Viewpoints

Will AI take the fun out of fashion?

For an industry that thrives on change, the use of AI might mean homogenisation over innovation, says futures researcher Sabrina Faramarzi

Fashion Futures : Immaterial Fashion : Artificial Intelligence

Viewpoints

Lucy McRae on repairing the bonds between humans

The sci-fi artist questions where the body fits in digital environments, and examines how vulnerable and uncertain places enable legacy-leaving work.

Society : Health And Wellness : Design

Viewpoints

Future-proofing India’s organic cotton farmers

Sustainability adviser Derek Sabori and Volcom chief marketing officer Ryan Immegart on the brand’s traceable organic cotton initiative Farm to Yar...

Fashion : Sports : Sustainability

Micro Trends

Conscious Fur

As the real versus fake fur debate continues, eco-innovators are disrupting fashion production with fur alternatives that are desirable and sustain...

Fashion : Sustainability : Synthetic Leather

Viewpoints

Daniel Freitag on confessing sustainable design sins

The fashion label co-founder talks about how their presentation at Milan Salone was designed to kickstart a debate about the industry's sustainable...

Fashion : Sustainability : Milan Salone

Viewpoints

Science-led surroundings will enhance tomorrow’s productivity

When it comes to the future workplace, architects shouldn’t be thinking about stationary design but dynamic surroundings that drive divergent think...

Workplace : Architecture : Design

Micro Trends

Everyday Cryptocurrencies

As cryptocurrencies gain mainstream traction, finance brands are facilitating their everyday use while educating consumers about how these digital ...

FinTech : Finance : Cryptocurrencies

Viewpoints

Beauty has a responsibility to cater for men of colour

Blake Rascoe and Patrick Boateng, co-founders of skincare brand Ceylon, explain beauty’s representation problem and why brands need to prioritise r...

Beauty : New Masculinity : Skincare

Viewpoints

No more novelties – it’s time for fintech to innovate

If fintech wants to meet consumers’ aspirations it needs to create new products not just novelty apps rooted in traditional banking services.

FinTech : Finance : Banking Apps

Viewpoints

Back to basics: the future of luxury retreats

Dervla Louli Musgrave, founder of luxury booking portal Compare Retreats, on the desire for solo travel, silence and the opportunity for traditiona...

Wellness : Travel : Luxury

Micro Trends

K-beauty Lite

K-beauty retailers are transforming from importers of goods to skincare brands in their own right, with private-label launches inspired by K-beauty...

Beauty : Youth : Retail

Big Ideas

Will DINKs become a priority for truly sustainable brands?

Through the lens of a fictional future scenario, we explore how technology is driving behavioural shifts among brands and consumers. This month, we...

Retail : Society : Branding

Micro Trends

Fitness Auditoria

Amid the rise of collective training, the spatial design of fitness is transforming from boutique sanctuaries to exercise arenas and destination ca...

Health And Wellness : Sport : Wellness Architecture