Acceleration

Implications - Providing consumers with additional value and benefiting from an angle of self-care, brands are launching typically single-purpose products and bolstering them with aromatherapy diffusion functionality as well. As consumers become increasingly interested in reducing the amount of products they own, this hybridized approach to product design is well-aligned with the modern consumer.

Homework Question - How could you integrate an element of self-care to your existing offering? [More]

Implications - As consumers become increasingly invested and self-directed when it comes to their wellness, supplements have grown in popularity. Catering to this growing interest in betterment as well as satisfying a craving for novelty, companies in the vitamin space are releasing supplement products in inventive new formats.

Homework Question - Think of a tried-and-true offering in your space. How could you completely reinvent the way that product is packaged? [More]

Implications - Coffee brewers that use connected technology to operate are on the rise, with brands innovating in this space in order to better personalize their offerings. These items come as consumers increasingly expect a level of customization and convenience from even the smallest aspects of their daily rituals.

Homework Question - Consider how your brand could use, or better use, connected technology? [More]

Implications - A number of new skincare products have spotlighted the latest in chemical exfoliants: PHAs. An acid known for its gentler exfoliation and moisturizing benefits, PHAs are also ideal for those with sensitive skin or that boast darker skin tones compared to BHAs and AHAs. This progression speaks to the new direction of skincare super-ingredient products are being designed around, with many focusing on skin types that may not react as well with previously popular ingredients.

Homework Question - What new ingredient can you explore that serve consumers your current selection may not in order to stay ahead of competitors? [More]

Implications - The incorporation of elements of various insects in cocktails or packaged alcoholic beverages is on the rise, functioning as unique awareness-raising platforms for what the future of the culinary industry may look like. This shift appeals to consumers for its ability to pique interest due to its novel nature, while simultaneously creating a narrative around eco-friendly consumption.

Homework Question - How could your brand incorporate eco-friendly narratives into its product/service? [More]

Implications - Looking beyond brand influence, consumers are seeking out input and advice from peer-to-peer networks for more approachable levels of engagement. Popping up not only in fashion but with cooking and the automobile space as well, P2P networks help create online communities allow people of various backgrounds and interests to connect and collaborate with others in real time. Whether it comes to finding the right outfit, picking a car or simply sharing recipes, these P2P examples not only speak to the growing power of the consumer, but the increased desire to connect with others in a more authentic way.

Homework Question - In what way can you adopt a P2P network into your product and service offerings? [More]

Implications - The modernization of well-known mascots is on the rise, as brands seek to better appeal to younger, contemporary consumers who are currently less likely to stay loyal to companies based on branded recognition alone. These modernized mascots and collaborations better fit into a world in which the personal interests and rituals of Millennials and Gen Z must be catered to before they consider loyalty to a brand.

Homework Question - How could your brand revamp to cater to Millennials and Gen Z? [More]

Implications - Speaking to the social and financial realities of many millennials today, brands of all kinds are releasing products and content celebrating the virtues of living a more home-bound, introverted life. Many millennials today are opting out of traditional leisure experiences like going to nightclubs in favor of staying at home. By aligning themselves with the realities of this generation's preferences, brands are able to connect with consumers more deeply.

Homework Question - What's a facet of your target customer's personality that your brand could better recognize and strategize around? [More]

Implications - Partnerships between K-Pop bands and beauty brands provide the opportunity and inspiration for today's youth to express themselves freely through beauty. By reflecting the post-demographic beauty aesthetic often present in K-Pop, these partnerships are bringing this cultural development to masses of youth while providing them with an opportunity for individual expression.

Homework Question - How has the development of culture and art impacted your business? [More]

Implications - The growing prioritization of community building is increasingly being facilitated in areas that include intentional architectural design and focused apps. This shift comes as consumers increasingly play a part in creating and enhancing spaces for the betterment of larger and more diverse groups of people.

Homework Question - How could your brand facilitate community-building programs? [More]