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Sonic Heirloom explores preservation of memories through sound

Sonic Heirloom by Map Project Office and Father, UK

UK – Design studios Map Project Office and Father have unveiled Sonic Heirloom, a speculative project exploring the intersection of sound and memory. The collaboration highlights how sound design can transform auditory experiences into tangible, enduring legacies.

At its core, Sonic Heirloom consists of two key elements: a portable recording puck and a playback device with a resonant bell. Users can effortlessly capture meaningful soundscapes with the puck, docking it into the playback device to enshrine memories permanently. Upon playback, the bell emits a harmonious resonance, blending the recorded audio with a tactile soundscape that evokes a deep emotional connection. Over time, the bell’s resonance becomes inseparable from the memory it preserves.

Inspired by historical sonic tools like bells and clocks, Sonic Heirloom invites users to reflect on sound as a primary medium for storytelling, a topic we explore further in Music as Medicine. Designed to be timeless, it’s a keepsake meant to be passed down through the generations.

Strategic opportunity

Design products that transform intangible experiences into lasting, emotional connections, using sensory engagement like sound to deepen storytelling and create multi-generational value for consumers

Merit and Completedworks unite for sculptural jewellery line

Merit and Completedworks, UK

UK – Clean and vegan beauty brand Merit and jewellery brand Completedworks have unveiled their limited-edition jewellery collection to complement Merit’s debut fragrance, Retrospect. The collaboration between the independent, women-owned brands celebrates sculptural design and everyday luxury.

The collection features two earring styles, gold vermeil studs and silver dangling earrings with organic pearls, drawing inspiration from the fluid silhouette of the Retrospect bottle. Available individually or as a set with the fragrance, the pieces merge modernity with nostalgia, offering wearable art for fashion-conscious consumers.

Aila Morin, CMO of Merit, stated: ‘We see fragrance as an accessory, so when expanding Retrospect, we naturally turned to jewellery. Completedworks’ expressive designs beautifully merge modern sensibility with classic materials.’ Anna Jewsbury, founder of Completedworks, said: ‘The earrings are a direct response to the fragrance’s fluid shape, blending structure with organic forms, creating timeless yet unexpected pieces.’

In our Luxury States: New Codes of Luxury 2024–2025 macrotrend report, we analysed how brands need to embrace community, heritage, craftsmanship and responsible behaviour to resonate with a younger, highly discerning consumer base. This smart partnership and strategic approach expand both brands’ product eco-systems, effectively broadening their appeal and enhancing their overall value proposition.

Strategic opportunity

Consider how to develop multi-category eco-systems that position products as part of a lifestyle or brand universe. Could you pair fragrances with jewellery or skincare with wellness tools, for instance?

Pinterest predicts sea witchery will redefine style in 2025

Global – Pinterest’s annual trend report, Pinterest Predicts, anticipates a shift towards maximalism and individual expression in 2025. With an impressive 80% accuracy rate in forecasting trends, the platform has established itself as a reliable source for identifying emerging movements in fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

Sea Witchery draws inspiration from oceanic elements, with Gen Z and Millennials embracing siren-inspired make-up, wet-look hairstyles and moody mermaid manicures. Searches for ‘dark siren makeup’, for instance, have surged by 695%, reflecting significant interest in this ethereal aesthetic.

In the realm of gaming, Player One highlights the growing desire among gamers to curate their digital identities by customising avatars’ hair, outfits and accessories. Search terms such as ‘pfp ideas y2k’, ‘cute outfit codes’ and ‘skirt codes’ are gaining traction on the platform. This pursuit of authenticity in digital spaces was previously explored in our Authentic Avatars market report.

Notably, in 2023, we predicted the rise of the Sea Witchery aesthetic in our Spiritual Cosplay microtrend report, which analysed Gen Z’s fascination with mysticism and its influence on fashion. This movement reflects a blend of pseudo-spirituality and a generational longing for escapism.

Pinterest Predicts 2025, US

Strategic opportunities

Gen Z crave an escape from online sensory overload and the pressures of the current sociopolitical climate. Brands can tap into this desire by crafting fantasy-inspired storytelling that fosters escapism and emphasises the allure of other-worldly aesthetics

Stat: Family-friendly films revive US box office sales

Photography by Mart Production, Russia

US – Family-friendly films dominated the US box office in 2024, with PG-rated titles accounting for a third of ticket sales – the highest share since 1995 – according to Axios analysis of Box Office Mojo data.

Animated movies have led this boom, accounting for 25% of all domestic ticket sales. Disney’s Inside Out 2 became the highest-grossing animated film ever, while Moana 2 broke Thanksgiving records with £173m ($221m, €209m) in domestic sales during the holiday weekend. Universal’s Despicable Me 4 also surpassed £3.9m ($5bn, €4.7m) in global box office sales.

Analysts attribute this momentum to families seeking cost-effective entertainment over pricier trips.

In our Generation Z: Now and Next 2024–2025 report, we identified the rise of ‘kidult’ culture – that is, adults buying Squishmallows, Hello Kitty, Moomin – as a response to traditional markers of adulthood being harder to achieve in an increasingly fragmented and unpredictable world.

Strategic opportunity

Flat age thinking works both ways. Create cross-generational campaigns acknowledging that audiences beyond your core demographic may resonate with your offerings, particularly those seeking comfort and nostalgia from PG-rated content