Daily Signals 29.04.2021

Signals

The Future Rocks subverts diamond trading, beauty competitors team up to challenge packaging waste and why UK Generation Z might forego parenthood.

The Future Rocks fosters community around jewellery

The Future Rocks by AKQA

US and Global – The platform is serving a gap in the lab-grown diamond market by providing an ethical marketplace with an editorial and community-centric focus.

Launching with a progressive campaign by AKQA, The Future Rocks platform seeks to profile lab-grown diamonds through an inclusive and engaging lens. The marketplace is supporting emerging jewellery designers by providing them with a space to sell products as well as communicate their unique stories and values. Meanwhile, shoppers are provided with a channel to access ethically sourced, quality jewellery.

‘We hope to ignite and capture the hearts of both jewellery lovers and people who’ve never bought jewellery before,’ says Anthony Tsang, CEO of The Future Rocks. ‘We wanted a bold campaign to resonate with a new consumer base, reflecting progressive values that they embody – such as inclusivity, ethics and diversity.’

In a similar vein, editorial platform Dimepiece takes a subversive approach to the luxury watch industry, targeting younger women consumers normally overlooked by watch marketers.

A sauna-art hybrid promising enlightened states

TikTok teamLab Reconnect, Tokyo TikTok teamLab Reconnect, Tokyo
TikTok teamLab Reconnect, Tokyo TikTok teamLab Reconnect, Tokyo

Tokyo – Art collective teamLab is partnering with social media platform TikTok on an exhibition combining art and sauna experiences to alter mental states.

The exhibition, TikTok teamLab Reconnect, is an immersive environment where visitors replicate the process of entering a sauna, having a cold shower and then taking a rest, before engaging with artworks. The intention is for visitors to enter a ‘sauna trance’. According to teamLab, this sensation prompts the senses to sharpen, as well as clearing the mind and allowing people’s environments to be experienced more fully.

‘By taking alternating hot and cold baths, visitors open their minds, experience an ever-expanding physical sensation and become one with the art,’ says teamLab in a statement. The artwork on show takes inspiration from the laws of nature, building on teamLab’s new art project, Supernature Phenomenon.

As we explore in Enlightened States, the notion of Meditative Museums is helping the public to reach a calmer state of mind.

Ren’s beauty campaign invites collective eco-action

US – Skincare brand Ren has announced a collaborative campaign as an environmental call to action for the beauty industry.

For the campaign, #WeAreAllies the brand has formed an alliance with four of its industry competitors: Biossance, Caudalie, Herbivore Botanicals and Youth To The People. Shunning any competitive associations, the brands are working together on a shared goal of improving the environmental impact of the beauty sector. With a particular focus on packaging, the brands are supporting each other in becoming planet-friendly, and ideally operating on a zero-waste basis.

‘Taking action to reduce waste in the beauty industry is a challenge; together we can share ideas and pioneer new solutions to reduce packaging waste while raising awareness and inspiring other brands to join us with their sustainability efforts,’ says Arnaud Meysselle, CEO of Ren.

Recognising that collective action is stronger than individual efforts, brands are engaging in Symbiosis Strategies that allow them to work together on shared goals. Discover this trend within Elastic Brands.

#WeAreAllies by Ren, US

Stat: Gen Z prioritise early retirement over parenthood

LittleHumans by Petit Pli, London LittleHumans by Petit Pli, London

As Generation Z enter the workforce and begin to reflect on their financial futures, new research from Pension Bee reveals a link between child-free lifestyles and the option of early retirement.

According to the research, one in 10 childless 18–23-year-olds in the UK are considering foregoing parenthood, citing an aim to retire early as a key driver of their decision. This compares to 4% of Millennials with the same mindset.

The choice not to have children as a way to bring forward retirement was also found to be more common among people living in London, with 5% of respondents across all generations saying this. Of note, not a single respondent living in the northeast of England expressed this mindset. Opting to go child-free was also more likely to be considered by those in average to higher-paid jobs – particularly those earning £25–55k ($35–76k, €29–63k).

While we’ve previously explored people’s environmental and financial motivations for having a child-free lifestyle, the lure of early retirement and perceived 'freedom' is emerging as a priority.

Previous Daily Signals Articles
Dutch Design Week 2025: kidult aesthetics and serious play

Daily Signals

Dutch Design Week 2025: kidult aesthetics and serious play

On a rainy day in Eindhoven, the design capital of The Netherlands, artists and designers showed us something that really makes us human, that sets...
Design : Dutch Design Week : Play
The Future Laboratory presents The Synthocene Era at TheIndustry.fashion summit

Daily Signals

The Future Laboratory presents The Synthocene Era at TheIndustry.fashion summit

At Nobu Hotel in Marylebone, London, TheIndustry.fashion’s Fashion Retail Reset Summit brought together global executives, industry experts and tho...
Fashion : Global Events : The Future Laboratory
Foresight Friday: Angus Cross, head of business development

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Angus Cross, head of business development

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 : Mobility : Fashion
Stat: UK regenerative coffee sales triple as climate pressures mount

Daily Signals

Stat: UK regenerative coffee sales triple as climate pressures mount

Regenerative coffee sales in the UK have nearly tripled in 2025, signalling a shift toward sustainability in the nation’s £3.6bn ($4.8bn, €4.5...
Coffee : Food : Statistic
Dutch Design Week 2025: Digital afterlives and making space for grief

Daily Signals

Dutch Design Week 2025: Digital afterlives and making space for grief

Dutch Design Week 2025 has so far prompted visitors to question what it means to be human, and what challenges that notion more than death itself.
Dutch Design Week : Design : Global Events
ASOS Live redefines fashion shopping through creator-led video content

Daily Signals

ASOS Live redefines fashion shopping through creator-led video content

ASOS has launched ASOS Live, a new video shopping experience designed to merge inspiration, content and commerce within its app.
Fashion : Asos : Retail
Stat: Gen Alpha face stricter screen time controls at home and school

Daily Signals

Stat: Gen Alpha face stricter screen time controls at home and school

New survey data from Morning Consult reveals that technology bans are already widespread in schools across the US, with more than half of parents o...
Technology : Gen Alpha : Education
Dutch Design Week 2025: Slowing AI and fostering empathy

Daily Signals

Dutch Design Week 2025: Slowing AI and fostering empathy

The 25th edition of Dutch Design Week has kicked off in Eindhoven with this year’s anniversary theme being Past, Present, Possible. The purpose of ...
Dutch Design Week : DDW : Global Events
Oatly’s Future of Taste report spotlights flavours shaping global beverage culture

Daily Signals

Oatly’s Future of Taste report spotlights flavours shaping global beverage culture

Oatly has unveiled its first Future of Taste report, charting the flavours and formats set to influence global beverage culture.
Food : Drink : Flavour
Stat: Size inclusivity stalls on spring/summer 2026 catwalks

Daily Signals

Stat: Size inclusivity stalls on spring/summer 2026 catwalks

The Vogue Business Spring/Summer 2026 Size Inclusivity Report reveals disappointing progress on fashion’s size representation. Of 9,038 runway look...
Fashion : Identity : Stat
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