Need to Know
13 : 09 : 19

UK – LifeCredit is a game that imagines a possible dystopian future in which a social credit system is run by a private company in the UK.

LifeCredit, which was created by multidisciplinary designer Diana Ganea, gives players a chance to experience how it feels to be subject to social scoring. Set in the year 2050, players assume the role of an office worker. Throughout the game, they face complications as they try and change their job placement. Loosely based on China’s social ranking system, players are scored and ranked based on their actions with the game designed to raise larger questions about the societal consequences of such a system.

‘A discussion of political structures and social systems in China and the UK are beyond the scope of this project,’ says Ganea. ‘However, it is possible to imagine that even in a democratic society such as the UK, a social credit score could exist. It is possible to envisage a somewhat different set-up compared to China, where several companies could operate different types and levels of scores in a rather competitive market.’

As brands and consumers re-evaluate the power of innovation, the project highlights the need for a moral code fit for a digital era.

London – Imperial college London graduate Nicole Stjernswärd has created the Kaiku system to transform food scraps into sustainable pigments for paints, inks, and dyes.

The user boils the peelings from fruit and vegetables like avocados, pomegranates, beetroot and lemons in water to create the dye. This is then forced through an atomising nozzle into a glass vacuum cleaner where the water evaporates to leave behind dry particles that can be used as a non-toxic pigment.

‘Since many synthetic pigments today are toxic or made of ambiguous materials, colour is typically considered a 'contamination' in the Circular Economy principles,’ says Stjernswärd. ‘I hope to change this paradigm.’ These natural pigments have the potential to replace those derived from petrochemicals, which are commonly used in products today.

As consumers become more concerned about unsustainable consumption patterns, brands are rethinking waste as a covetable item. In this vein, new retail concepts are emerging that transform waste into a consumer-facing currency.

Kuala Lumpur – A Malaysian radio station has launched a petition calling for the inclusion of Malaysia in Netflix’s Street Food documentary series.

Spearheaded by the radio station BFM 89.9 and independent advertising agency Fishermen, the #BersatuforMakan (Unite for Food) campaign is a response to Malaysia being left out of the Netflix series, despite being renowned for its food. To date, the petition has attracted more than 20,000 signatures, including more than 65 of Malaysia’s leading brands.

To convince Netflix to feature an episode on Malaysia, Fishermen and BFM are producing a self-funded 30-minute video made to match the style of the Street Food series. The video, which celebrates the stories of local street food businesses, will be available for viewing via YouTube from 16 September 2019. In support of the campaign and video production, Malaysia Airlines and Tune Hotels have stepped forward as respective flight and accommodation sponsors.

With streaming platforms such as Netflix now required to fill a quota of native content in the EU, the petition reflects how this shift is reverberating globally as consumers demand more local content.

US – A new report from INRIX concludes that cities such as Chicago, Charlotte, New York, Portland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and San Francisco would all benefit from investment in micro-mobility options to alleviate congestion.

Shared dockless bike and scooter options offer commuters more flexibility, lower operational costs and faster journey times than a car, yet governments have been slow to capitalise on their full potential. INRIX transportation analyst Trevor Reed explained: ‘To entice drivers out of their vehicles and onto bikes/scooters, the experience needs to be superior than that of driving. Good coverage and a network of protected lanes are the most powerful steps forward.’

As cities look for ways to increase the efficiency of day-to-day travel, innovative new micro-mobility options are fast becoming available. Look out for our upcoming microtrend here.