News 17.12.2020

Need to Know

Gamifying environmental protection, Vodafone’s empowering smartwatch for kids, and children feel under-represented in the books they read.

Alba is an eco-activist game for kids

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure by UsTwo Games, London

London – UsTwo Games has launched Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, a video game that centres on a young environmental activist.

Targeting younger gamers, it follows protagonist Alba as she discovers wildlife and conservation while holidaying on a fictional island, Pinar de Mar, inspired by the Mediterranean. Players use Alba’s in-game smartphone to document animals as well as learn about 80 different species.

Through the game, Alba takes part in environmental activism, petitioning against a hotel that's set to be built on a fictional nature reserve. Players are also tasked with fixing broken walkways and freeing a bird trapped in plastic waste.

Inspired by the studio’s love of nature, the game teaches players to make tangible changes and encourages more eco-conscious behaviour among younger audiences, in particular in their offline lives. Blurring the lines between learning and play in this way allows Generation Alpha in particular to elevate their playtime and feel inspired to make larger social change. For more, explore Edu-play-tion.

Ribena’s rebranding ramps up its recycling efforts

Ribena rebranding by Seymourpowell, UK Ribena rebranding by Seymourpowell, UK
Ribena rebranding by Seymourpowell, UK Ribena rebranding by Seymourpowell, UK

UK – Design and innovation company Seymourpowell is behind Suntory-owned Ribena's new look, as the drinks brand seeks to better communicate its sustainability credentials.

The project marks a significant shift for Ribena, allowing it to differentiate itself as a drinks brand with an environmental focus. Building on the fact that its bottles have been made from recycled plastic for over 13 years, its ready-to-drink bottles have undergone both a graphic and a structural redesign to modernise the shape and give them a visual appearance similar to glass.

Meanwhile, a ‘recycle me’ message embossed on the neck of the bottle serves as a call to action for consumers as they take a sip. And, while Ribena’s bottles have always been recyclable, the size of its labels have also been reduced to ensure a more seamless recycling process.

As we explore in Bio-bottles, consumers are increasingly mindful of single-serve waste, ushering in a series of material innovations to reflect this demand.

The Neo smartwatch gives independence to Gen Alpha

UK – Telecoms company Vodafone is set to unveil Neo, a smartwatch designed to help children feel more independent.

Focusing on both safety and functionality, the watch can be regarded as a gateway device to smartphone ownership, offering call and chat functionality, an activity tracker that logs movement and can set personal goals, and a front-facing camera.

Providing a degree of control, however, it also incorporates parental protection, whereby parents can approve contacts added to the watch and can limit screen time via a ‘quiet mode’ feature.

‘Designing Neo is about balancing the needs of both kids and their parents for safety, ease of use and wearability,’ explains designer Yves Béhar, who collaborated with Vodafone on this Neo project. ‘We’ve created a product that is inclusive and accessible for both children and their parents, uncompromising on user experience and coupled with a signature industrial design ID that is inviting.’

With tech playing such a supporting role in our daily lives, our Neo-Kinship macrotrend examines the devices and systems seamlessly integrating into familial structures.

Neo by Vodafone, UK

Stat: Children's books are lacking diversity

Habbi Habbi Habbi Habbi

Many young people report feeling under-represented in books, stating they don’t see characters or people who look like them in the texts they’re reading.

Research by the National Literary Trust (NLT) shows that almost 33% of young people aged nine to 18 say they don’t see themselves in what they read, and 40% would like more books with characters who are similar to them. This lack of representation is particularly apparent among black children and young people who identify as gender non-conforming.

‘The struggle to find characters who look similar, or share similar characteristics or circumstances, can impact a child’s engagement with reading and its life-long benefits,’ says NLT. ‘Just one book a child really connects with can spark a love of reading which can change their life story and help them to succeed in school and in life.’

While many young people access books through their school curriculums, a lack of diversity in learning is being challenged, prompting Generation Z to decolonise their education.

Previous News Articles
AI billboard visualises real-time sun damage in UV awareness campaign

News

AI billboard visualises real-time sun damage in UV awareness campaign

A new study by the British Skin Foundation reveals that 38% of Britons have already been sunburnt in 2025 – with Gen Z (35%) and Millennials (30%) ...
Advertising : Health And Wellness : Beauty
Wimbledon elevates fan engagement with AI-powered digital experiences

News

Wimbledon elevates fan engagement with AI-powered digital experiences

The All England Lawn Tennis Club and IBM have unveiled an AI-powered experience designed to deepen audience engagement and enhance match under...
Wimbledon : Sports : Entertainment
Stat: Gen Alpha lead the charge in back-to-school shopping

News

Stat: Gen Alpha lead the charge in back-to-school shopping

Children and teenagers are now the primary decision-makers in back-to-school shopping, according to a new global study by SuperAwesome.
Retail : Gen Alpha : Statistic
The Fashion Innovation Agency debuts 3D garment volumetric capture service

News

The Fashion Innovation Agency debuts 3D garment volumetric capture service

The Fashion Innovation Agency at London College of Fashion has launched Reskinning Reality, the UK’s first 3D garment volumetric capture service ai...
Fashion : Technology : Virtual Fashion
Elemis brings beauty trackside with new Aston Martin F1 collection

News

Elemis brings beauty trackside with new Aston Martin F1 collection

Premium beauty brand Elemis is stepping further into the world of Formula 1 with the launch of four exclusive skincare collections in partnership w...
Aston Martin : Elemis : Formula 1
Stat: US cinema execs predict the end of traditional moviegoing within 20 years 

News

Stat: US cinema execs predict the end of traditional moviegoing within 20 years 

Over half of cinema executives in the US believe the traditional cinema model will no longer be viable within the next 20 years, according to a new...
Movies : Entertainment : Stat
 New clubhouse for women’s sports retail opens in London

News

New clubhouse for women’s sports retail opens in London

A new retail concept is putting women’s sport centre stage this summer.
Sports : Retail : Fashion
Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Foresight Friday : Fashion : Sustainability
Stat: Nearly half of women feel misunderstood by brands

News

Stat: Nearly half of women feel misunderstood by brands

Despite driving an estimated £25 trillion ($31.8 trillion, €29.4 trillion) in global discretionary spending, nearly half of women worldwide say bra...
Branding & Advertising : Brands : Retail
Modem’s Dream Recorder turns sleep into spatial storytelling

News

Modem’s Dream Recorder turns sleep into spatial storytelling

Dutch design studio Modem has unveiled Dream Recorder, an AI-powered device that transforms spoken memories of dreams into cinematic video se...
Technology : Modem : Dreams
You have 1 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN