LSN : News : Need to Know 27 : 02 : 18

1. Angle Razor revolutionises the grooming experience

Angle Razor by Morrama, London

London – Created by industrial design agency Morrama, the Angle Razor is a new take on the straight razor, redesigned for today’s male consumer. Tapping into concerns around sustainability, the all-metal product tackles the waste plastic produced by its disposable counterparts, 2bn of which are thrown away every year, according to the brand.

Angle is a nod to the traditional cut-throat razor, but redesigned with a weighted handle to give better control. That brings the user as close to holding the razor blade as possible to enable a more precise trim. The modern male beauty consumer is looking for lifestyle products designed with aesthetics in mind, something that Morrama has incorporated into both the elegant design of the product itself and the branding, which mimics the design-led approach more typically associated with women’s beauty products.

2. Nutrigene personalises vitamins based on DNA

Nutrigene, US

US – Health and wellness company Nutrigene is expanding its offering with a new service that enables consumers to upload their DNA data and receive a personalised supplement plan in return.

Nutrigene asks customers to fill out an online questionnaire, choose a plan – such as improved performance or optimised gut health – and upload their 23andMe data, which will offer a full picture of the individual’s nutritional needs. Consumer interest in gut health is on the rise, as researchers explore how a healthy microbiome not only affects physical but also mental wellbeing.

While the science underpinning nutrigenetics is still in its early stages, it is a rapidly growing sector that is piquing consumer interest, something that we will explore in our forthcoming Q&A with Nebula Genomics.

3. UAE’s future workforce will be trained in AI

UAE – The Higher Colleges of Technology has announced a collaboration with US technology company Oracle that will train the first 500 young emirati in artificial intelligence – a move that will pave the way for future AI-related degrees delivered by the partnership.

‘We're focusing on research and development in technology as well as providing the necessary support and training for local youth,’ says Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of Artificial Intelligence, at the launch in Dubai.

As AI becomes increasingly prominent in the workplace, with experts predicting at the World Economic Forum that by 2030, 65% of children now in school will have jobs that don’t yet exist, brands and educational institutions need to ensure their future workforces are equipped with the skills to fulfil these future roles.

Hexalite by Zeinab Al Hashemi, Dubai Design Week

4. OOF magazine combines football with visual culture

OOF magazine, London

London – Published by art journalist Eddy Frankel and gallery director Justin Hammond, OFF is a new biannual print magazine that looks at the intersection between art and sport. Exploring football-related art, from 16th-century Dutch painting to contemporary video installations, the first issue includes a feature examining contemporary artist Chris Ofili’s obsession with footballer Mario Balotelli.

Echoing the need for a multifaceted approach to sports media, as exemplified by Caricom magazine, OOF adds a new voice to the conversation that diverges from mainstream football journalism. ‘Every day, football does with ease what art constantly tries to do: it makes people feel,’ says co-founder Frankel. ‘And because it plays such an important part in the everyday lives of so many people in the world, it has been a recurring topic in fine art for centuries.’

5. Legalisation of cannabis will stimulate the job market

With medical marijuana now legal in 29 US states, as the sector expands it is demonstrating massive employment potential as new jobs are created to meet consumer demand. In fact, research by New Frontier Data predicts that if cannabis were to be legalised in all 50 states, the federal government could garner at least £93.9bn ($131.8bn, €106.9bn) in tax revenue. While cannabis has not been legalised in the UK, a surge in demand for cannabis oil has prompted health food retailer Holland & Barrett to begin stocking the product, demonstrating the interest in this burgeoning industry.

6. Thought-starter: Are digital payments luring us into debt?

Retailers are increasingly promoting point-of-sale personal loans to allow consumers to buy products they can’t typically afford. Creative researcher Rachael Stott argues that brands need to consider the ethical implications of pushing these payment methods, particularly to young consumers.

The average person in the UK owes £8,000 on top of mortgage debt and a recent study by credit checking service ClearScore found that two out of five shoppers had lost track of their spending because of the ease of digital payment methods. Most worryingly, retailers are capitalising on this consumer behaviour, and cash-strapped Millennials and Generation Z are often the target audience.

Brands such as Asos, Lyst and Walmart now all provide credit payment options but with APR rates of up to 30%, providing high-cost debt for unnecessary goods is encouraging the worst kind of spending.

Although some critics blame this generation for poor financial decisions, Dan Ariely, professor of behavioural economics at Duke University, explained to Business Insider that Millennials' spending habits aren't necessarily down to their personalities and have more to do with the unfortunate environments they are in, which often actively encourage them to spend.

Read the full opinion here.