News 04.11.2021

Need to Know

Therapeutic garments combining acupressure with movement, Mastercard’s touch-based inclusivity update and strong consumer interest in holiday travel.

These healing garments target acupressure points

The Healing Imprint by Laura Deschl
The Healing Imprint by Laura Deschl
The Healing Imprint by Laura Deschl

The Netherlands – Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Laura Deschl is exploring the potential for non-invasive acupressure to be integrated into activewear. Her project, The Healing Imprint, presents custom-knit, therapeutic garments that allow small massage balls to be inserted and moved onto specific acupressure points on the body, feet, hands and head.

The full project includes a body suit, gloves, socks and a pillow. Designed to be used in conjunction with exercise and movement such as yoga, this approach to healing is more intuitive. The garment is not only an interface for an individual to access embodied knowledge and self-awareness, but also represents how design can converge fields such as science, business, medicine, psychiatry and textile-making,’ says Deschl.

In an era of Synchronised Care, such projects show how innovations previously seen in Protective Performance Apparel can be reworked as solutions for aftercare and ongoing healing.

Strategic opportunity

Holistic wellbeing is a high priority for global consumers. Both wellness and fashion brands can therefore take cues from this project and consider ways of designing healthcare elements into textiles

The Author Clock brings literature to daily moments

The Author Clock by Mechanical Design Labs The Author Clock by Mechanical Design Labs
The Author Clock by Mechanical Design Labs The Author Clock by Mechanical Design Labs

Pasadena – The Author Clock uses quotes from novels to announce the time, transforming the digital clock into a discovery tool for contemporary and classic literature.

Creator Jose Cardona designed this home clock to present the time through literary paragraphs that mention specific moments throughout the day. Serving as both a literary archive and a conversation-starter, the clock aims to expose home-owners and their visitors to a broad range of genres, from contemporary novels to classic tales. ‘Our hope is that Author will help readers discover new books, authors and even genres,' explains Cardona.

As the product is meant to appeal to readers who enjoy the tactility of books, its simple design adheres to the unobtrusive principles of Discreet Tech. Combining a sustainably sourced white oak frame with two sizes of display – 4-inch or 7.5-inch – the Author Clock manages to evoke a more analogue aesthetic.

Strategic opportunity

When developing smart home technology, companies should consider not only their target audiences' interests, but how to make tech more discreet through design so that it can blend with their furnishings

Mastercard’s tactile update improves card accessibility

US – In a bid to expand its inclusivity efforts, the financial services company is introducing an accessible card standard to support blind and partially sighted people. Mastercard’s innovation, the Touch Card, includes a round notch for credit cards, a broad squarish notch for debit cards and a triangular notch for prepaid cards.

By adding these simple additions, Mastercard shows how existing designs can be updated to suit a broad range of consumers. This accessible card standard has also been developed to work with card machines and ATMs – ensuring it can be deployed at scale. The Touch Card will provide a greater sense of security, inclusivity and independence to the 2.2bn people around the world with visual impairments,says Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer at Mastercard.

As brands across sectors recognise the importance of designing inclusive everyday products, Mastercard is setting an example in the fintech sector by showing how its products and services can better cater for diverse audiences.

The Touch Card by Mastercard

Strategic opportunity

Brands across sectors should take inspiration from this update and use simple design cues to enable greater accessibility. Technology brands could easily integrate a tactile approach into hardware, for example, such as plugs or adapters

Stat: US consumers plan to travel more this holiday season

Trippin Trippin

As the holiday season approaches, a relaxation of restrictions and a rise in flexible working arrangements have led to greater consumer confidence in travel, with 47% of Americans are planning at least one festive holiday this year.

After a year of virtual gatherings and digital parties, new research by Amex shows that people are keen to return to physical events, with 44% of respondents planning to visit their family and friends in person this holiday season. What’s more, the research finds that 63% of consumers are willing to book a trip now even if they are forced to cancel it later.

New workplace policies play a significant role in this increased consumer desire for travel. Among employed respondents to Amex's study, 61% state that working from home gave them greater leeway to avoid busy travel days, while 57% said that it allowed them to extend their trip.

Eager to reclaim the normality denied by the pandemic and to take advantage of flexible workplace policies, consumers are re-embracing the face-to-face family connection, celebrating the principles of Togetherness Travel.

Strategic opportunity

Travel and hospitality companies should focus on friendship and family when creating campaigns this holiday season

Previous News Articles
NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show Europe: Unified commerce and inspirational entertainment

News

NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show Europe: Unified commerce and inspirational entertainment

On the opening day of NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show Europe, the spotlight turned to unified commerce and the evolving role of physical stores in omni...
Retail : NRF : Pop Up Store
The Future Laboratory presents The Synthocene Era macrotrend at Première Vision

News

The Future Laboratory presents The Synthocene Era macrotrend at Première Vision

The Future Laboratory’s co-founder and chief creative officer Christopher Sanderson presented The Synthocene Era macrotrend at the fashion industry...
Global Events : Technology : The Synthocene Era
Gen Z in China are using AI to transform themselves into collectable merchandise

News

Gen Z in China are using AI to transform themselves into collectable merchandise

Gen Z in China are using AI art tools and 3D printing to transform themselves into ‘guzi’ – personalised collectable merchandise.
China : Kidults : Kidult Craze
Stat: Gen Z stay indoors for days as screen time replaces nature

News

Stat: Gen Z stay indoors for days as screen time replaces nature

Two-thirds of Gen Z in Britain confess they can go days without stepping outside, according to new research by Super, Natural British Columbia.
Gen Z : Nature : Health And Wellness
Big W embraces the beautiful chaos of parenting in new campaign

News

Big W embraces the beautiful chaos of parenting in new campaign

Department store chain Big W is shaking up family advertising with a bold new campaign celebrating the chaos, meltdowns and small wins of everyday ...
Advertising & Branding : Parenting : Retail
George at Asda unveils new adult adaptive clothing range

News

George at Asda unveils new adult adaptive clothing range

George at Asda has launched a 28-piece adult adaptive clothing collection, designed in collaboration with the late breast cancer campaigner Nicky N...
Retail : Fashion : George At Asda
Stat: Girls’ sport participation could unlock leadership potential at work

News

Stat: Girls’ sport participation could unlock leadership potential at work

Girls who play extracurricular sport in the UK are 50% more likely to go on to achieve senior professional roles at work, according to Game Changin...
Sport : Women's Sports : Teenage Girls
Vattenfall and Samuel L Jackson’s seaweed snack is grown on wind farms

News

Vattenfall and Samuel L Jackson’s seaweed snack is grown on wind farms

Swedish energy company, Vattenfall has teamed up with actor Samuel L Jackson to launch Wind Farmed Seaweed Snacks, a limited-edition delicacy grown...
Visual : Sweden : Energy
Happy Head debuts DNA-based system for personalised hair growth

News

Happy Head debuts DNA-based system for personalised hair growth

Happy Head has launched StrandIQ, the world’s first dermatologist-developed hair growth system powered by genetic analysis, giving patients tailore...
Health : Wellness : Happy Head StrandIQ
Stat: Luxury consumers’ optimism is improving amid global slowdown

News

Stat: Luxury consumers’ optimism is improving amid global slowdown

Saks’ latest Luxury Pulse survey shows rising confidence among luxury shoppers, with more than half planning to maintain or increase their spending...
Stat : Statistics : Statistic
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