News 21.04.2022

Need to Know

Adidas launches a tool for personalised avatars, how clothing can inspire optimism, and global pollution levels reach new heights.

Adidas offers personalisation for AI avatars

adidas and Ready Player Me, Germany

Global – Aligning with the growing importance of personalised avatars, the sportswear brand is launching a personality-based artificial intelligence (AI)-generated avatar creation platform. Created for cross-game avatar platform Ready Player Me, the platform accompanies the launch of its Ozworld apparel collection.

To generate users' unique digital avatars, adidas will ask users a series of questions to assess their personal taste, recognising the need to empower users with digital tools that reflect their personal values. A statement from adidas explains: ‘Championing new possibilities to create, collaborate and belong, the Ozworld platform launch is the next bold step in adidas Originals’ ambition to create a truly open and optimistic metaverse for all.’

With this initiatve, adidas facilitates the creation of Affirmative Avatars, an idea that is especially pertinent at a time when consumers are looking to brands to create a Betterverse.

Strategic opportunity

When creating metaverse experiences, brands must tune in to the interests of digital users and empower them with identity-based tools that enable positive self-expression

This clothing line visualises positive global trends

Beautiful Numbers by Stefan Sagmeister, US Beautiful Numbers by Stefan Sagmeister, US
Beautiful Numbers by Stefan Sagmeister, US Beautiful Numbers by Stefan Sagmeister, US

New York – Visual artist Stefan Sagmeister is harnessing data to design clothing that inspires radical optimism. Sagmeister123 is a clothing line composed of seven, gender-neutral garments that visualise positive global trends.

The Lightning Jacket, for example, is a water-resistant bomber with a graphic that illustrates the dramatic decrease of Americans killed by lightning from 1915 to 2020. While the Progress Shirt, which features 99 embroidered dots, depicts a decrease in childbirth mortality rates in the US from a century ago to today.

The artist’s long view of history also extends to his approach to craftsmanship, materials and construction. To ensure endurance, the collection is made with Italian Merino wool and Egyptian cotton that has been hand-gathered without chemicals or mechanical processes.

Although the 24-hour news cycle perpetuates and amplifies bad news, Sagmeister is harnessing data to show how things have improved. In a similar vein, we highlight ways in which joyscrolling can promote positivity during difficult circumstances.

Strategic opportunity

As we emerge from the pandemic and face the cost of living crisis, there may not seem to be much reason to be optimistic, but brands can use encouraging infographics to demonstrate how they are striving to remedy these problems

Disney builds civic housing for low-income workers

US – Taking action against Orlando’s rising rent costs, the entertainment company has unveiled plans to introduce 1,300 units of affordable housing. While still pending government approval, the development, which is set on 80 acres of land next to Disney World, will be available to income-qualifying candidates from the general public, as well as the brand's own employees.

Through this project, Disney is directly supporting both its workers and local residents. It also draws on its existing expertise of building theme parks and resort hotels, but reframes this knowledge to benefit local communities. Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, says: ‘With this initiative, we’re lending a hand to make a real and meaningful impact in our community by tapping into the best of our company’s strengths.’

This announcement draws on the concept of Branded Cities, showing how affordable options offer ways for brands to offer equitable solutions to societal issues.

Villages Nature by Euro Disney SC and Pierre & Vacances Group. Photography by Damien Guillaume, France

Strategic opportunity

From retailers to hospitality venues, companies can make use of their existing infrastructures to benefit local communities. Consider how specific projects could benefit your employees too

Stat: Global air pollution reaches frightening heights

 AirBubble by Otrivin, Warsaw  AirBubble by Otrivin, Warsaw

The global air pollution crisis is escalating to new levels. According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the planet’s population breathes poor-quality air that is hazardous to their health.

The research reveals that low- and mid-income countries are subjected to the highest exposure of poor air quality, which contains dangerous levels of fine particulate matter like PM2.5, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide. Agriculture, transport, power plants, garbage burning and industry are all contributors of particulate matter.

Across the globe, poor air quality is causing millions of deaths and contributing to a pollution inequality crisis. ‘After surviving a pandemic, it is unacceptable to still have 7m preventable deaths and countless preventable lost years of good health due to air pollution,’ explains Dr Maria Neira, WHO director.

While the pandemic has demonstrated the efficacy of worldwide collaboration in combating health threats, it has also highlighted how global organisations are failing to address the intersection of sustainability, climate change and air pollution.

Strategic opportunity

Companies must find ways to address the air pollution crisis as part of their sustainability endeavours, particularly when it comes to how these are affecting the Global South

Previous News Articles
James Turrell brings light and space to Saudi Arabia’s Wadi AlFann

News

James Turrell brings light and space to Saudi Arabia’s Wadi AlFann

Saudi Arabia’s Wadi AlFann (Valley of the Arts) is holding a landmark exhibition celebrating James Turrell’s mastery of light and perception as par...
Design : Travel & Hospitality : Architecture
Adidas Originals unveils premium line A-Type

News

Adidas Originals unveils premium line A-Type

Adidas Originals has introduced A-Type, an evolving collection that re-imagines the brand’s most iconic designs with premium craftsmanship.
Luxury : Sports & Leisure : Fashion
Stat: Europeans prioritise wellness over sustainability in food choices

News

Stat: Europeans prioritise wellness over sustainability in food choices

A new survey from the EIT Food Consumer Observatory reveals a declining focus on sustainability in European diets, with only 9% of respondents prio...
Sustainability : Food & Drink : Society
Aesop’s new Hainan store uses algae to elevate the luxury retail experience

News

Aesop’s new Hainan store uses algae to elevate the luxury retail experience

Luxury cosmetic brand Aesop’s latest store, in Hainan, is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design, using algae to create an immersive, ocean-i...
Retail : Beauty : Design
Conceivable Life Sciences is transforming IVF with robotics and AI

News

Conceivable Life Sciences is transforming IVF with robotics and AI

Conceivable Life Sciences – the biotech company using AI to revolutionise IVF – has secured £14.3m ($18m, €17.2m) in funding led by Artis Ventures,...
Technology : Health & Wellness : Society
Stat: Fragrance becomes the second-largest luxury beauty category in 2024

News

Stat: Fragrance becomes the second-largest luxury beauty category in 2024

Fragrance took centre stage in beauty retail in 2024, emerging as the second-largest category in prestige beauty behind make-up, according to year-...
Beauty : Luxury : Retail
LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

News

LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

Meet our new AI tool, Ember.
The Future Laboratory
Opera Air turns browsing into a mindful experience

News

Opera Air turns browsing into a mindful experience

Norwegian software company Opera is reimagining web browsing with the launch of Opera Air, a first-of-its-kind browser designed around mindfulness.
Health & Wellness : Technology : Pop-culture & Media
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Every Friday, we wrap up the topics, issues, ideas and viral moments everyone’s been discussing. This week, deputy foresight editor Dan Hastings de...
Society : Pop-culture & Media : Technology
Stat: Consumers admit to choosing inaction on climate change due to eco-guilt

News

Stat: Consumers admit to choosing inaction on climate change due to eco-guilt

More than a quarter of people (28%) in 31 countries fall into the category of ‘anxious inactives’, according to the latest GlobeScan Healthy & ...
Society : Sustainability : Retail
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