Need to Know
19 : 06 : 18

Belgium – Architect Didier Fiúza Faustino, best known for his work on the relationship between body and space, has unveiled a lounge, bar and restaurant space that is free from traditional markers of personal and social identity.

The physical space has been designed as a neutral environment to inspire interaction and exchanges between visitors. ‘During a time where social, sexual and gender identities are upturned and questioned, how may one provide a space which is both neutral and sensual, a space free from social markers, without tailoring to a singular identity?’, asks Faustino. Spanning a 360-square-metre area, the location is divided into three spaces – the entrance, an adjoining bar and a smaller open space – which redefine the use and the volumes of such typical social spaces.

In an age of Neutral Culture, brands are challenging rigid classifications of identity markers, replacing them with visions of identity that are more personal and nuanced.

Sydney – Drinks brand Corona has continued its collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, launching three Hawaiian shirts made from upcycled waste plastic.

Echoing projects from the likes of adidas and Net-A-Porter, Corona has teamed up with graphic designer Adolfo Correa on the print of the shirts, while the designs feature Parley Ocean Plastic, an eco-conscious thread created from plastic waste.

From a distance, each shirt design evokes a Hawaiian paradise, but closer inspection reveals the pattern to include plastic items such as six-pack rings and plastic bottles polluting the ocean and affecting marine life. All proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go towards Parley for the Ocean’s sea and beach clean-up programme.

Following the launch of Clean Waves, a limited-edition collection of sunglasses made from ocean waste by Net-A-Porter and Corona, the brand continues to develop fashion-led items to bring awareness to new audiences.

Dublin – Presented at MoneyConf 2018, Pia – an acronym of Personal Investment Assistant – is an AI companion that guides consumers through the often-confusing process of investing.

The virtual assistant provides information and advice in a simple way to make first-time investing easier to understand. Backed by data trends, the platform will offer industry expertise on services ranging from share trading platforms to online wealth managers. While Pia previously made its debut without the assistance of AI, the company now plans to take its use of AI from being a supportive interface to a service interface, with a long-term ambition to achieve a predictive interface.

As younger, digitally driven consumers explore ways to invest, there is a need for new services and devices that help navigate a confusing and complex market. For more, read our interview with Toby Triebel, CEO of Wealthsimple Europe.

Measuring influencer return on investment (ROI) is still one of the biggest challenges faced by marketers. In a recent survey, 46% of beauty brands suggested it is the biggest pain point when it comes to influencer marketing. Despite this, most are happy to continue working with digital influencers as it proves effective for building wider brand awareness.

The findings also indicate that authentic collaborations are a concern for marketers, with a sizable majority (52%) admitting to this, thus raising the question of whether influencer marketing has reached saturation point.