News 20.10.2020

Need to Know

Via Maris redesigns Judaica for a modern audience, $RAC is a community cryptocurrency for music fans, and Generation Z are ready to rebuild society.

Via Maris is a modernist Judaica brand

Tools for observing traditions by Via Maris, New York
Tools for observing traditions by Via Maris, New York
Tools for observing traditions by Via Maris, New York

US – Via Maris aims to modernise Jewish cultural objects, re-engage Jewish people with their faith and introduce Judaism to a wider audience.

Departing from the baroque aesthetic of traditional Judaica, the brand has created a collection of contemporary tools for observing traditions. From block chanukiahs to Shabbat candles, each item is manufactured using modern techniques and materials, such as recyclable aluminium.

As way to encourage connections with modern-day Judaism – even for those who do not identify as Jewish – Via Maris intends to distinguish itself from the vast majority of Judaica brands available. ‘We wanted it to feel really fresh and contemporary in terms of how people could choose to interact with these objects,’ says Dana Hollar Schwartz, founder of Via Maris.

Re-imagining religion through up-to-date design can help to establish inclusivity for those who are spiritually inclined. For more on this explore our series on Intersectionality.

A community cryptotoken that rewards music fans

$RAC by Zora, US $RAC by Zora, US
$RAC by Zora, US $RAC by Zora, US

US – Portuguese artist André Anjos is rewarding his fans through a community token built on alternative ownership platform Zora.

Built on Ethereum, $RAC is a form of cryptocurrency that can be earned by Anjos’ most loyal fans. Centred on the artist’s community, tokens will be rewarded according to levels of loyalty – allowing access to various perks and exclusive content. Launching with retroactive distribution, the coin will be awarded to 1,545 Bandcamp supporters dating back to 2009, as well as fans who have previously purchased merchandise.

Going forward, the $RAC coin will be awarded to EGO token holders and Twitch supporters. ‘Artists have historically been deprived of capturing their value by a sea of intermediaries like corporations and platforms that have a monopoly on creative ownership,’ explains André Anjos in a blog post on Zora.

Brands, platforms and products are increasingly exploring new models of Deep Ownership, allowing people to participate in value creation and have an active role as partial owners.

Microsoft to make AI-based tools more inclusive

Seeing AI by Microsoft Project Insight, US Seeing AI by Microsoft Project Insight, US

US – The technology firm is working with the Team Gleason Foundation to make AI-based tools like computer vision and voice interfaces more inclusive for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Project Insight aims to address the lack of representation in existing computer vision and machine learning datasets for those who have ALS. To make this technology more accessible, Microsoft will collect face imagery of volunteer users with ALS. This data will then be integrated into Microsoft’s existing cognitive services, but also released as an open-source dataset, so others can improve their own algorithms.

‘Imperfect AI systems still have value, but they could provide so much more and work so much better if they were trained on more inclusive data, explains Meredith Ringel Morris, senior principal researcher at Microsoft.

Working to make AI more inclusive is one of the ways in which organisations can push Intersectionality to the forefront of their operations.

Stat: Generation Z feel ready to rebuild society

Domestik Domestik, Indonesia Domestik Domestik, Indonesia

In a recent report released by Spotify, Generation Z have been found to display positive and forward-thinking mindsets in response to the global unrest of 2020.

While this group have been displaying entrepreneurial habits for many years, the uncertainty born from the global pandemic and looming recessions has accelerated this behaviour. Among Generation Z respondents, 62% say their generation is ready to rebuild society from the ground up. Meanwhile, 65% of respondents plan to be, or already are, their own boss.

Generation Z are actively working against anxiety in turbulent times, making their own paths and rejecting traditional systems. For more on Gen Z mindsets, read our forthcoming youth macrotrend.

Previous News Articles
Dutch Pavilion re-imagines the sports bar at Venice Architecture Biennale

News

Dutch Pavilion re-imagines the sports bar at Venice Architecture Biennale

Curated by Amanda Pinatih and designed by Gabriel Fontana, Sidelined re-imagines the traditional sports bar as a welcoming, non-binary social space.
The Netherlands : Venice Architecture Biennale : Design
Primark’s Never Basic campaign champions quality and style at affordable prices

News

Primark’s Never Basic campaign champions quality and style at affordable prices

Primark is spotlighting affordable fashion essentials with the launch of its new spring/summer campaign, Never Basic – Standout Quality.
Primark : Fashion : Value Redefined
Stat: Clubbing culture enters its Flat Age era

News

Stat: Clubbing culture enters its Flat Age era

A new survey by YouGov challenges stereotypes about age and nightlife culture.
Nightlife : Clubbing : Flat Agers
Olivier Rousteing re-imagines whisky with Johnnie Walker

News

Olivier Rousteing re-imagines whisky with Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker has unveiled its first collaboration under its new luxury platform Johnnie Walker Vault, partnering with French couture de...
Fashion : Luxury : Drink
The global happiness curve is flattening for Gen Z

News

The global happiness curve is flattening for Gen Z

The long-established U-shaped happiness curve – high in youth, dipping in midlife and rising again in old age – appears to be flattening.
Gen Z : Health : Wellness
Stat: The human touch is still crucial for luxury shoppers

News

Stat: The human touch is still crucial for luxury shoppers

Despite the growing presence of AI in customer service, new research from Ventrica suggests the human touch remains a key driver of posit...
Luxury : Retail : Stat
Koto NYC weaves humanity into Uniqode’s digital-first brand identity

News

Koto NYC weaves humanity into Uniqode’s digital-first brand identity

Design agency Koto NYC has reimagined QR code management platform Uniqode’s brand identity.
Design : Technology : Branding
Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, senior foresight analyst ...
Foresight Friday : Fashion : Design
Stat: US consumers turn to buy now, pay later for groceries amid recession fears

News

Stat: US consumers turn to buy now, pay later for groceries amid recession fears

One in four Americans are now using buy now, pay later (BNPL) services to finance groceries, up from 14% last year, according to a recent LendingTr...
Retail : Finance : Food
Sweaty Betty champions body confidence with Wear the Damn Shorts campaign

News

Sweaty Betty champions body confidence with Wear the Damn Shorts campaign

Sweaty Betty is back with a powerful new chapter of its Wear the Damn Shorts campaign, confronting women’s leg-related insecurities head-on.
Advertising : Sports : Wellness
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