Art & Design Consumer Insights

Trend - Tech companies are making the personalization and sending of gifts more efficient thanks to artificial intelligence. Whether deployed as a means of helping one choose a gift or as a service that tracks return-of-investment, these platforms are increasingly streamlining the experience.

Insight - Whether it is for the holiday season or for a different special occasion, many contemporary consumers often find it difficult to decide what to buy for someone else—especially when they are faced with an overwhelming number of choices. In this space, many emphasize personalization as a way to make a decision, creating a demand for services and experiences that can give them peace of mind, while simultaneously delighting the receiver of a gift.

Trend - Refurbished items are now being treated as desirable products with platform categories and entire stores that offer modern, stylish items that have been previously refurbished. Everything from furniture to technology are offered via these platforms.

Insight - Though consumers are becoming more involved with keeping their personal spaces and products both stylish and functional, accessibility in terms of cost is still a priority. This, coupled with a desire for items with a history have made consumers more likely to turn to vintage and refurbished goods when looking for things like decor and clothing.

Trend - Maternity wards and portable birthing kits are being updated through design and technology. These projects seek to make individuals in labor comfortable by creating a more pleasurable ambiance, catering to convenience, and even confronting stigmas.

Insight - Many maternity wards around the world do not meet the expectations of those giving birth and this can be cause for unnecessary worry. When in labor, individuals want to feel comfortable and accommodated and as a result, they look for spaces that take their needs into consideration. In such cases, environmental anxiety can be alleviated, enabling women and non-binary people to focus on the important task-at-hand.

Trend - Deployed either as an app that utilizes high-end tech features such as artificial intelligence or a small gadget that is convenient and responsive, tech brands are looking to enhance the experience of renting in urban environments.

Insight - A massive portion of the population, especially in North America, are renters. Being in this position has proved to stress many consumers out and as a result, individuals are looking for ways to streamline the experience. Looking to satisfy a need for convenience and peace of mind, many are turning to tech with the hopes of easing their relationship with their landlord or even finding new spaces in the first place.

Trend - Many museums and cultural institutions are adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic by offering immersive outdoor experiences. Whether it is a guided walking tour or an on-site exhibition, these initiatives offer something exciting to visitors.

Insight - Many consumers are looking to engage with recreational activities in a safe way during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, individuals are prioritizing experiences that are first-and-foremost outdoor and socially distanced. Not only does this allow them to partake in entertainment and education outside of the home—but it also grants them peace of mind as they are assured the risk of catching the virus is low.

Trend - Designers, entrepreneurs, and researchers are developing processes that harness pine needles and transform them into tableware, cleaning tools, and even food sweeteners. The employment of this natural material does not only contribute to sustainability but diminishes the abundance of fallen pine needles, which are a fire hazard in forests.

Insight - As consumer consciousness grows and the consequences of climate change become much more apparent, individuals are emphasizing the dire need for making more sustainable lifestyle choices. Aside from this, many are also taking it upon themselves to hold companies to higher standards by making environmentally driven purchasing decisions. This creates a demand for innovative materials that contribute to a circular economy, allowing consumers to feel proud that they are agents of positive change.

Trend - Many companies are reimagining the traditional design of insect repellents. While some brands are incorporating a multi-functional aspect that increases the practical value of the product, others create aesthetically forward designs that capture attention and can be seamlessly integrated into the home.

Insight - Contemporary consumers are placing a premium on aesthetics and because of this, many are taking note of the appearance of a product when making purchasing decisions and evaluating if it matches their personal styles and the ambiance of their space. As this extends both in the case of desires and needs, a demand is created for necessary household products to be aesthetically friendly. When practical goods are seamlessly integrated into the home, consumers feel more at ease, because their design vision of a given space is upheld.

Trend - The popularity of home-friendly video conferencing equipment is on the rise as COVID-19 has forced many individuals to work from their living quarters. As a result, brands are calling attention to products that will enable a premium experience, while seamlessly blending into the environment. Some even boast dual functionality.

Insight - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lifestyles and business restrictions, consumers are advised to work from home when and if they can. In this space, many are trying to adjust to their new reality and remain productive. As individuals identify areas where they don't have substantial support to complete tasks, they form a demand for traditionally office-native products that can be seamlessly integrated at home.

Trend - Brands in the fashion industry are relentlessly looking for new material alternatives that will enable them to build a more sustainable practice. Increasingly, more companies are utilizing cactus leather as a vegan alternative to the traditional.

Insight - Individuals are increasingly conscious about the state of the environment and many are on a mission to refine their lifestyle choices by appealing to the ethical and the sustainable. While some are motivated by guilt, others are driven by curiosity. In this space, many are considering animal-free and ethically sourced alternatives, which allows them to feel at peace with their purchasing decisions and believe that they are doing something good for themselves and the environment.

Trend - Designers are debuting furniture collections that embrace the homebody aesthetic with silhouettes that are stylish and contemporary. The pieces magnify coziness as a key concept through oversized and soft features.

Insight - Contemporary consumers are spending much of their time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and here, many are emphasizing coziness and comfort as important features in their personal spaces. This desire is motivated by a need to find solace in the home, guaranteeing individuals a sense of security in a time when they might experience some anxiety about the uncertainties brought on by the global pandemic.