Need to Know
21 : 10 : 20

Croatia – Design studio Boir is releasing a conceptual tableware collection for socially distant dining.

Featuring a series of steel and stone objects that enable food to be shared at a safe distance, the New Normal collection aims to prompt intimacy even amid current restrictions. The collection comprises five items, including a bread basket divided by a barrier, and long spoons that enable couples to feed each other from a distance. Stone and sheets of steel provide a design-led approach to the plexiglass barriers that are increasingly featured in dining locations.

‘Despite coronavirus safety rules, our conceptual tableware retains that important social and cultural dimension of dining – sharing,’ explained Ivan Zidar, founder of Boir. ‘Boir’s tableware bridges the gap between intimacy and distance, enabling safe food sharing and simultaneously connecting and separating the served dishes.'

While consumers are rightfully concerned about their health and safety when it comes to sharing food, brands and businesses are innovating to provide intelligent social distancing solutions. For more, explore our Pandemic Dining Market.

Global – Skincare brand MasqueBAR's sheet mask innovation is designed to be worn under face masks to soothe those suffering from ‘maskne’.

The Shield & Soothe Hydrogel PPE Facial under mask contains a combination of aloe extract, antioxidants, enzymes and vitamins A and C, to help moisturise the skin during and after mask use. In addition, the mask aims to improve skin structure, promote skin cell regeneration and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

In response to the increased use of face masks as a form of protection against Covid-19, MasqueBAR is looking to help people experiencing skin issues like breakouts – known as maskne – as a result of mask-wearing. The brand is also donating a number of the sheet masks to frontline workers, with proceeds from its sales going to charity Donate Beauty, which supports healthcare workers during Covid-19.

The pandemic presents opportunities for brands to innovate products that address Covid-19-specific issues. For more on the future of post-pandemic beauty and wellness, read our interview with Michel Brousset, Waldencast CEO and former L’Oréal president of consumer products.

A survey by IBM Institute for Business Value reveals discrepancies between employers and employees on organisational responses to Covid-19.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of managers say their firms are helping staff to learn the skills needed to work during the pandemic, whereas fewer than two-fifths (38%) of employees agree. The gap is even larger with regard to the physical and emotional support of the workforce, where 80% of executives believe they are doing enough, yet just 46% of workers agree.

The report explains that ‘employers significantly overestimate the effectiveness of their support and training efforts’ when it comes to their responses to training and support during the pandemic. It also notes that an emphasis on using artificial intelligence (AI) to control costs has left many employees feeling replaceable, affecting their emotional wellbeing.

As remote working continues to be the norm for many, employers need to prioritise the protection of their employees. In a similar vein, we previously explored how digital health company BioBeats is aiming to improve workplace mental health using AI.