Need to Know
11 : 10 : 18

Haining, China – Lukstudio has designed the store for fashion platform Dear So Cute, imagining the retail space as a theatre.

The store, located in Haining, was inspired by the Chinese city’s cultural tradition of shadow puppetry. Lukstudio installed a series of steel boxes to mimic a theatre set, breaking up the open floor into smaller rooms. Windows frame these spaces, giving shoppers a peek of Dear So Cute’s collections, while doorways provide a path for visitors to explore the space.

The store also includes a café, which has been staged to turn diners into an audience that can watch shoppers as they browse. With its voyeuristic approach to store design, Lukstudio is tapping into the benefits of Inspiration Per Square Foot, creating a retail space that encourages discovery while also celebrating local history.

The Netherlands – Elzelinde van Doleweerd has joined forces with a Chinese technology company to create snacks that are 3D-printed from leftover food.

In collaboration with the 3D Food Company – which has been experimenting with the process since 2015 – the snacks include crackers made from waste rice and purple sweet potatoes. To start the process, Van Doleweerd, a graduate from Eindhoven University of Technology, mashes together the ingredients to create a smooth paste, which can then be printed and baked. After baking, the crackers are dehydrated, which means no bacterial activity can take place and the food is safe to eat for a long time.

‘Looking at the growing population, more food is needed in the future, but on the other hand, one third of the food produced is wasted nowadays,’ says Van Doleweerd. ‘With the use of new technologies, I want to explore societal food challenges.’

3D printing is just one method innovators are using to address leftover food, with the ultimate aim of making sustainability delicious.

US – The social network has launched its first technology product – a video calling device that connects families and friends.

Portal is a smart device for the home, complete with webcam and screen, that users can activate with voice commands. The addition of artificial intelligence (AI) means that the camera can follow the caller around the room, allowing for more natural conversation. Users are also able to call friends and family without a Portal device by using the Facebook Messenger platform.

Although Portal is arguably a competitor to Amazon’s home devices, Facebook has chosen to incorporate its Alexa system into the device. This turns the Portal into a home assistant, allowing users to check the weather, request sports scores or order groceries.

According to Bloomberg, Portal was originally scheduled to be launched in March 2018, but was delayed due to the unfolding Cambridge Analytica scandal. To address this, Portal features security measures such as the ability to easily disable the camera and microphone.

As living arrangements diversify, brands are helping families connect through Telepresence Tech.

A new study by JWT analysing consumers in the UK, the US, Australia and China highlights the global movement towards sustainable living. Some 92% of respondents said they try to live more sustainably, while JWT reports that green living, including growth in veganism, is also expanding beyond the West. In China, for example, veganism is expected to rise by 17% by 2020.

This mindset is also extending to dating, with more than two-thirds (79%) of respondents stating that caring about the environment is a trait they look for in a potential partner.

As people lose interest in appearance-driven dating apps, niche alternatives such as Grazer are emerging specifically for audiences such as vegans. Social platforms are also hoping to unite users through their interests, with Facebook recently launching its Dating feature.