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A cultural map reclaiming the data of Black communities

The Black Elevation Map by Black & Abroad, US

Atlanta, Georgia – Travel brand Black & Abroad is releasing The Black Elevation Map, a discovery tool and travel platform that maps the cultural impact of Black communities.

Completed in collaboration with creative data advertising agency Performance Art, the website visualises cultural data on an interactive elevation map of the US. Reclaiming the often-biased process of data collection, the website includes demographic statistics, historical landmarks, Black-owned companies and social media activity. The higher the height of the elevation, the more data density there is.

‘We wanted to help Black travellers see the country in a way that prioritises and celebrates the contributions of folks who look like us – and facilitates travel choices that deepen engagement within our community,’ explains Eric Martin, chief creative officer and co-founder of Black & Abroad.

Helping travellers learn more about the complexity of Black heritage in the US, the project takes a data-driven approach to the Black History Travel Market.

Strategic opportunity

Data collection can be used for the public good. Consider how your company could harness data to create a discovery tool for under-represented groups

Designing objects from animal bone waste

Elos by Souhaïb Ghanmi, Switzerland

Switzerland – Tackling the issue of animal waste in the meat industry, designer Souhaïb Ghanmi is repurposing surplus bones into home and electronics goods. The Elos Range is a series of electric switches and sockets made from bone debris from the slaughtering process.

In the past, bone waste from the butchering process was used to create tools and implements like knife handles. Over time, though, the material was replaced by plastic. With 130bn kg of bone waste produced by slaughterhouses every year, however, the problem of animal waste persists today.

Instead of discarding bone by-products, Ghanmi is advocating their use in domestic spaces. He has created the Elos range by grounding bone waste from the meat industry into a powder and then repurposing the material to create electric appliances. In homage of the material’s origins, the sockets have been fashioned to resemble joints from the human skeleton.

Contributing to Whole-system Thinking movement, the project demonstrates how even the most unexpected resources can be used to create more sustainable future materials.

Strategic opportunity

Companies should consider launching design competitions to discover new proposals about how to repurpose production surplus

Canada is prescribing year-long passes to national parks

Canada – Doctors in Canada can now prescribe access to nature, historic sites and marine conservation centres to improve the wellbeing of their patients.

Thanks to a partnership between Park Prescriptions (PaRx) and Parks Canada, healthcare professionals will now be able to offer Parks Canada Discovery Passes for free. From coast to coast, the country is known for its magnificent landscape. And with mounting evidence demonstrating the healing benefits of spending time outdoors, the collaboration is aiming to democratise access to nature.

‘There's a strong body of evidence on the health benefits of nature time, from better immune function and life expectancy to reduced risk of heart disease, depression and anxiety, and I’m excited to see those benefits increase through this new collaboration,’ explains Melissa Lem, a family physician and director of PaRx.

With the rise of Flower Therapy and nature prescriptions, medical institutions are tapping into the healing potential of the outdoors.

Flock Together, UK

Strategic opportunity

To maximise wellbeing in the office, consider offering employees ‘nature leave’ to ensure they can spend time outdoors

Stat: Scientific skincare shoppers are a growing market

Routinely, The Netherlands

Consumers are adopting a more scientific approach to skincare, searching for specific ingredients that can target their needs. According to Vogue Business, searches for beauty ingredients have increased by almost 700% on Net-a-Porter since 2020.

A new wave of Skinthusiasts are disrupting the way we traditionally shop and search for beauty products. No longer attracted by ‘super creams’ that promise all-in-one results, shoppers are opting to buy products that contain ingredients that complement their multi-step routines. Ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide led the surge of searches on the website.

According to Newby Hands, global beauty director at Net-a-Porter, customers are ‘seeking actives that do a specific job. Rather than having one super-cream that promises to do a lot, they’re personalising their skincare regimen with the specific products they need.’

In response, beauty brands are allowing customers to filter their websites by ingredients rather than brands. As the demand for Certified Skincare grows, companies must provide clear and accurate information about product composition.