Daily Signals 29.01.2025

Signals

Somerset House celebrates the magic of soil, Pat McGrath Labs launches Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask and workplace stress leads to rise in ‘conscious unbossing’

Somerset House celebrates the magic of soil

Soil: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House. Photography by David Parry, UK
Soil: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House. Photography by David Parry, UK
Soil: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House. Photography by David Parry, UK

UK – Somerset House begins 2025 with Soil: The World at Our Feet, a landmark exhibition running from 23 January to 13 April. Celebrating the venue’s 25th anniversary as one of London’s iconic cultural spaces, the exhibition highlights soil’s vital role in sustaining life on Earth.

Blending science, art and storytelling, Soil features more than 50 works, including new commissions by artists such as Vivien Sansour and Marshmallow Laser Feast. The exhibition is organised around three themes – life below ground, life above ground and hope – exploring soil’s ecological, cultural and societal significance.

‘We need to start thinking of soil as something more than just dirt. It is part of a vast range of processes without which human life would not be possible,’ said the team of co-curators in a press release. ‘Soil offers visitors the opportunity to discover how this extraordinary, essential eco-system – as diverse as the night sky is full of stars – sustains life on Earth, including human life.’

With immersive artworks, historical artefacts and an engaging public programme, Soil aims to inspire change and foster hope for the planet’s future. In How Soil is Inspiring Food Futures, LS:N Global interviewed dining experience designer and lecturer Gabby Morris, who suggests that soil holds the key to building an ethically interconnected food industry.

Strategic opportunity

Develop campaigns that emphasise soil’s capacity for growth, transformation and resilience. Soil’s cyclical nature can inspire branding associated with regeneration – whether in personal growth, business transformation or ecological impact

Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask takes glass skin from runway to reality

UK – One year after make-up artist Pat McGrath’s viral runway moment for Maison Margiela Artisanal 2024, Pat McGrath Labs has launched Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask. The peel-off formula replicates McGrath’s iconic light-catching ‘glass skin’ effect in a single step, delivering an ethereal, hyper-shiny finish.

Enriched with glycerin, rose flower water and allantoin, the mask nourishes and hydrates while blurring pores and revealing revitalised skin.

The mask is applied over bare skin or make-up in thin, even layers. Each layer must dry completely before applying the next. Once fully dried, the mask forms a lacquer-like film that can be peeled off.

In a love letter to the Maison Margiela runway, McGrath describes the mask as ‘beauty re-imagined for make-up lovers everywhere’. The Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask is available exclusively at patmcgrath.com and retails for £36 ($44.80, €42.95). 

From new product launches to inspiring campaigns, head to our Beauty sector to discover the trends affecting the sector.

Pat McGrath Glass 001 Artistry Mask, US

Strategic opportunity

The Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask bridges skincare and self-expression. How can you create multi-functional products that deliver both beauty benefits and creative experiences for your consumers?

Stat: Leadership pipeline under threat as stress drives ‘conscious unbossing’

Centre for Ageing Better, UK Centre for Ageing Better, UK

Global – Business leaders are under mounting stress, with 71% reporting increased pressure since starting their roles – a sharp rise from 63% in 2022, according to a survey by leadership consultancy DDI. Limited time and resources compound the issue, as only 30% of leaders feel they have enough hours to meet their own standards. Alarmingly, 40% of stressed leaders have considered stepping down, threatening a structural breakdown in the leadership pipeline. 

This stress is fuelling a workplace trend dubbed ‘conscious unbossing, where Millennials and Gen Z professionals avoid traditional management roles in favour of entrepreneurship or specialist positions. ‘This constricts the leadership talent pool and is becoming a greater risk to the future of organisational talent pipelines,’ says Stephanie Neal, director of DDI’s Center for Analytics and Behavioral Research. 

Organisations are feeling the strain, with 80% expressing a lack of confidence in their leadership bench. To counteract this, companies must prioritise skills development, stress management strategies and leadership support. Neal urges HR teams to invest in future-ready skills, demonstrating ‘the ROI of advanced skills’ to ensure organisational stability. 

Explore our Work States Futures and Human Sustainability Workplaces reports to understand how to foster a sound workplace environment.  

Strategic opportunity

Redesign leadership roles with greater flexibility, work-life balance and autonomy while fostering a strong workplace culture by offering resilience training, mindfulness workshops and mental health resources to reduce stress and attract and retain top talent

Previous Daily Signals Articles
Iga Węglińska explores the power of sensory restraint

Daily Signals

Iga Węglińska explores the power of sensory restraint

Designer Iga Węglińska’s Perfect Sense explores how design can recalibrate human perception. The project comprises a series of six masks that inves...
Design : Transhumanism : Senses
Foresight Friday: Martin Raymond, co-founder and editor-in-chief

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Martin Raymond, co-founder and editor-in-chief

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, co-founder Martin Ra...
Foresight Friday : Strategic Foresight : The Future Laboratory
Stat: Poor health and education drive female unemployment, new research shows

Daily Signals

Stat: Poor health and education drive female unemployment, new research shows

New research shows young women are increasingly falling out of the workforce in the UK, even as unemployment among young men declines.
Workplace : Unemployment : Women
Heineken turns winter chill into pub footfall with new campaign

Daily Signals

Heineken turns winter chill into pub footfall with new campaign

Heineken has launched a temperature-triggered digital out-of-home campaign designed to guide people out of the cold and into nearby pubs. 
Advertising : Marketing : Campaign
Why the opening of Tramp Health signals the rise of the wellness paradox

Daily Signals

Why the opening of Tramp Health signals the rise of the wellness paradox

London’s renowned private members’ nightclub Tramp is preparing to turn from late-night revelry to longevity culture.
Health And Wellness : Travel And Hospitality : Wellness Paradox
Stat: Canadians join global retreat from alcohol

Daily Signals

Stat: Canadians join global retreat from alcohol

A new report from Statistics Canada reveals that the country has recorded its largest annual decline in alcohol earnings since tracking began ...
Drinks : Satistic : Alcohol
Coach spotlights banned books in Explore Your Story campaign

Daily Signals

Coach spotlights banned books in Explore Your Story campaign

Luxury brand Coach has partnered with publishing company Penguin Random House and a range of independent publishers across Asia-Pacific to create f...
Luxury : Design : Marketing
New collagen research points to a more precise era of beauty claims

Daily Signals

New collagen research points to a more precise era of beauty claims

A review from the UK’s Anglia Ruskin University has confirmed that daily collagen supplementation delivers measurable improvements in ski...
Beauty : Wellness : Health
Stat: Asia’s middle class gripped by financial anxiety, FWD survey finds

Daily Signals

Stat: Asia’s middle class gripped by financial anxiety, FWD survey finds

More than 70% of Asia’s middle-class consumers feel anxious about their financial wellbeing, limiting their ability to plan for the long term, acco...
Anxiety : Midlife : Generation X
Merrell marks 45 years of outdoor footwear with It Starts Outdoors campaign

Daily Signals

Merrell marks 45 years of outdoor footwear with It Starts Outdoors campaign

Merrell is celebrating its 45th anniversary with the launch of its first global brand platform, It Starts Outside, and a new creative direction aim...
Sports : Wellness : Advertising & Branding
You have 2 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN