Youth

Implications - In an effort to make brick and mortar retail spaces more of a destination for families, brands are offering in-store customization of toys and products for kids. Encouraging the children of maker parents to add their own personal touch to a product and make it truly unique to them, these brands are creating memorable moments for families to share in, enhancing engagement within the retail space. This interactivity appeals to the Gen Z demographic as they are interested in taking their world into their own hands and creating rather than passively buying. [More]

Implications - With their penchant for self-taught skills and digital prowess, kids are savvier than ever, empowering them to take center stage at their own festivals and events where they can gain new knowledge and show off their creativity. Modern parents increasingly want their children to have an entrepreneurial mindset from a young age, resulting in a huge shift from play-focused family activities towards educational and empowering activities that encourage personal growth. [More]

Implications - Skills like coding and engineering are more in-demand in the digital age. Parents are preparing their children for this through educational toys, but education on STEM practices is useful for those of all ages. Subscription kits that teach STEM open education up to all ages while also enabling streamlined learning. [More]

Implications - Creating a sense of positive brand recognition, brands that are looking to establish a presence on college campuses are doing so by offering career training and networking opportunities. This is especially poignant for members of Generation Z who are more career-focused and linear in their thinking than the Millennial generation. [More]

Implications - Modular furnishings have become a favorite as homes get smaller and the need for customization gains prominence. When it comes to raising kids in these homes, savvy parents are opting for pieces that accommodate the different stages of childhood. Designs that adapt to user’s changing needs are seen as investments that will last and grow with the family, indicating a desire for smarter purchases. [More]

Implications - Parents of the health and wellness movement are looking to curate creative spaces for their children that encourage physical activity and overall well-being. This shift in priorities indicates an opportunity for home decor brands as well as fitness brands to tap into the youth-centric health movement with a focus on aesthetics and play. [More]

Implications - Millennials are delaying adulthood, achieving adulthood milestones at a later rate than any other generation. The money they are saving by avoiding things like homeownership is spent growing their key values of individuality and memorable experience; as they grow older and attain more disposable income, however, their tastes become more sophisticated. This has caused growth within the high-end nostalgia market. [More]

Implications - Using virtual, emotional and tactile cues, children’s narratives are leaping out of the 2D page and engaging young readers in completely new ways. New parents keen to develop the emotional intelligence of their offspring through sensorial experience, are finding innovative formats to engage short attention spans, spark curiosity and promote intellectual development. [More]

Implications - Giving children a chance to have some flexibility and control of the narrative presented to them in character-driven stories sends a powerful message to young Gen Zs that their decisions have implications and make an impact on the story's final outcome. This not only fosters critical thinking and confident decision making early on, it also encourages young minds to become more invested in the narratives that they’ve contributed to. [More]

Implications - The accessibility of resources like Kickstarter have made the toy market a crowded one. In response to this, both larger companies as well as more entrepreneurial teams are releasing board games focused around highly unusual concepts more likely to go viral than their more traditional counterparts. This appeals to consumers in search of more unique products to reflect their individualism, while tapping into a sense of nostalgia via analog play. [More]