News 14.12.2020

Need to Know

Architecture to boost Iranian tourism, Matter alleviates our touch fears and shoppers drive further support for black businesses.

Architecture to rebuild Iranian tourism

Hormuz Island, Iran
Hormuz Island, Iran
Hormuz Island, Iran

Iran ­– Architecture studio Zav Architects has unveiled an urban development plan in Hormuz Island, Iran, in a bid to benefit the area’s economy.

The project, Presence in Hormuz, is made up of multi-purpose domes. The colourful domes are to be used as communal living spaces for residents to do laundry, eat and pray, as well as a tourism information centre. In order to establish the space as self-sufficient, the studio has made the structures out of the island’s local resources, educating inhabitants how to build future domes as the community grows.

The architectural project hopes to restore Hormuz island as a coveted destination for travellers. By training the community in construction as well as using Iranian resources, costs are reduced for inhabitants, allowing for bigger future tourism gains.

With architects increasingly considering the needs of indigenous residents, we're seeing a larger push towards Empowered Travel.

Folx is healing broken queer healthcare systems

Folx, US Folx, US
Folx, US Folx, US

US – Folx is a new digital healthcare system aimed at the queer and trans+ community.

While mainstream healthcare systems remain discriminatory and mostly inaccessible to LGBT+ communities, Folx is providing tailored support through a dedicated team of queer and trans+ clinicians. Through a digital subscription, Folx will provide personalised services that include gender-affirming hormone therapy (HRT), erectile dysfunction, PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV), and STI testing. Plans are available for £44 ($59, €48) per month.

Challenging the idea that LGBT+ people are often treated as a problem in healthcare, Folx places holistic wellbeing at the centre of its values. As AG Breitenstein, founder of Folx, says: ‘I think that companies like Folx and others that come into the space are going to start to hopefully decolonise and demedicalise [access to care] for a lot of communities.’

Brands in the health and wellness space are beginning to lead conversations about Trans+ inclusion, moving away from the sector’s cisgender, heteronormative ideals.

An anti-microbial coating to ease fears about touch

Matter by Designsake Studio Matter by Designsake Studio

US – Strategic agency Designsake Studio is launching Matter, an anti-microbial coating to provide protection from high-touch surfaces.

The coating, which integrates advanced silver ion technology, protects against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Recognising the environmental impact of increased use of disinfectant wipes, soaps, gloves and hand sanitiser amid Covid-19, Matter provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution that can be applied to a variety of materials, from textiles to glass.

Unlike throwaway disinfectant materials, Matter’s anti-microbial coating lasts for the lifetime of a product and is fully recyclable after product disposal. While Covid-19 was the catalyst for this innovation, Matter is responding to a longer-term shift towards safer products and environments.

While heightened awareness of hygiene and safety is prompting new rituals, more long-term, intelligent material solutions are needed to address the ecological damage of protective products.

Stat: Shoppers seek intersectional local businesses

Shoppers are continuing to spend based on their social values, according to review platform Yelp's 2021 Trend Forecast report.

Searches for black-owned businesses on Yelp this year rose by 6,500%. Meanwhile, mentions of women-owned businesses soared by 114%. The catalytic socio-economic events of 2020 had an impact on these behavioural shifts, with the search rate 25 times higher for black-owned businesses and 50 times higher for women-owned businesses than last summer.

Collating its data to offer predictions for food trends for next year, Yelp’s findings indicate that social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter caused a surge in support for black businesses, and this will continue in 2021.

Our microtrend Moral Commerce explores this further, as consumers look to brands as allies in the wake of the anti-racism movement.

Previous News Articles
Burberry revives archival outerwear for National Geographic documentary

News

Burberry revives archival outerwear for National Geographic documentary

Burberry’s latest archival display at its London Regent Street store celebrates Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary 1914 Antarctic expedition.
Luxury : Pop-culture & Media : Fashion
Gob launches mycelium-based earplugs

News

Gob launches mycelium-based earplugs

Gob is revolutionising the earplug market with a mycelium-based alternative that promises to eliminate the environmental impact of traditional disp...
Sustainability : Health & Wellness : Design
Brenda Lee’s holiday classic enters the AI era with Spanish re-release

News

Brenda Lee’s holiday classic enters the AI era with Spanish re-release

Brenda Lee’s iconic holiday song, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, has been re-imagined as Noche Buena y Navidad in a Spanish-language release po...
Technology : Pop-culture & Media : Society
Stat: US Gen Z are the most likely to hide their voting choices

News

Stat: US Gen Z are the most likely to hide their voting choices

An October 2024 Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll reveals that nearly half of Gen Z voters (48%) in the US have lied about their voting prefere...
Society : Youth : Politics
Camdom is the world’s first digital condom for safer intimacy

News

Camdom is the world’s first digital condom for safer intimacy

This Sexual Health Awareness Month, condom brand Billy Boy and creative agency Innocean Berlin unveiled Camdom, an app that acts as a digital condo...
Health & Wellness : Technology : Pop-culture & Media
Resting Reef memorialises pets as eco-friendly marine reefs

News

Resting Reef memorialises pets as eco-friendly marine reefs

Eco-friendly funeral company Resting Reef has launched a pet memorial service that blends pet ashes with crushed shells to create eco-friendly unde...
Design : Health & Wellness : Sustainability
Netflix new unveils Moments feature to save and share scenes

News

Netflix new unveils Moments feature to save and share scenes

Netflix has launched a new feature called Moments, allowing subscribers to bookmark, save and share their favourite scenes from shows and movies.
Technology : Pop-culture & Media : Society
Stat: Mars’ study reveals strong pet devotion

News

Stat: Mars’ study reveals strong pet devotion

Mars has unveiled ‘the largest global pet parent study to date’ of more than 20,000 pet owners across 20 countries.
Pets : Society : Retail
Samsonite’s new durable suitcase can survive travelling to the edge of space

News

Samsonite’s new durable suitcase can survive travelling to the edge of space

Samsonite has unveiled its latest innovation, the Proxis Space collection, setting new standards in travel gear with sustainability and advanced te...
Luxury : Travel & Hospitality : Design
The Saudi Investment Bank celebrates national identity with bespoke typeface

News

The Saudi Investment Bank celebrates national identity with bespoke typeface

The Saudi Investment Bank and creative agency Impact BBDO have launched I am Saudi, a campaign celebrating national heritage with a bespoke typeface.
Design : Advertising & Branding : Finance
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN