News 13.09.2019

Need to Know

LifeCredit gamifies social credit systems, Kaiku turns food waste into pigments and Malaysian street food enthusiasts launch a petition against Netflix.

A dystopian game inspired by social credit systems

LifeCredit by Diana Ganea
LifeCredit by Diana Ganea
LifeCredit by Diana Ganea

UK – LifeCredit is a game that imagines a possible dystopian future in which a social credit system is run by a private company in the UK.

LifeCredit, which was created by multidisciplinary designer Diana Ganea, gives players a chance to experience how it feels to be subject to social scoring. Set in the year 2050, players assume the role of an office worker. Throughout the game, they face complications as they try and change their job placement. Loosely based on China’s social ranking system, players are scored and ranked based on their actions with the game designed to raise larger questions about the societal consequences of such a system.

‘A discussion of political structures and social systems in China and the UK are beyond the scope of this project,’ says Ganea. ‘However, it is possible to imagine that even in a democratic society such as the UK, a social credit score could exist. It is possible to envisage a somewhat different set-up compared to China, where several companies could operate different types and levels of scores in a rather competitive market.’

As brands and consumers re-evaluate the power of innovation, the project highlights the need for a moral code fit for a digital era.

A device that converts food waste into pigments

Kaiku by Nicole Stjernswärd Kaiku by Nicole Stjernswärd
Kaiku by Nicole Stjernswärd Kaiku by Nicole Stjernswärd

London – Imperial college London graduate Nicole Stjernswärd has created the Kaiku system to transform food scraps into sustainable pigments for paints, inks, and dyes.

The user boils the peelings from fruit and vegetables like avocados, pomegranates, beetroot and lemons in water to create the dye. This is then forced through an atomising nozzle into a glass vacuum cleaner where the water evaporates to leave behind dry particles that can be used as a non-toxic pigment.

‘Since many synthetic pigments today are toxic or made of ambiguous materials, colour is typically considered a 'contamination' in the Circular Economy principles,’ says Stjernswärd. ‘I hope to change this paradigm.’ These natural pigments have the potential to replace those derived from petrochemicals, which are commonly used in products today.

As consumers become more concerned about unsustainable consumption patterns, brands are rethinking waste as a covetable item. In this vein, new retail concepts are emerging that transform waste into a consumer-facing currency.

Brands unite to celebrate Malaysian street food

Jemput Makan, Netflix, BFM 89.9

Kuala Lumpur – A Malaysian radio station has launched a petition calling for the inclusion of Malaysia in Netflix’s Street Food documentary series.

Spearheaded by the radio station BFM 89.9 and independent advertising agency Fishermen, the #BersatuforMakan (Unite for Food) campaign is a response to Malaysia being left out of the Netflix series, despite being renowned for its food. To date, the petition has attracted more than 20,000 signatures, including more than 65 of Malaysia’s leading brands.

To convince Netflix to feature an episode on Malaysia, Fishermen and BFM are producing a self-funded 30-minute video made to match the style of the Street Food series. The video, which celebrates the stories of local street food businesses, will be available for viewing via YouTube from 16 September 2019. In support of the campaign and video production, Malaysia Airlines and Tune Hotels have stepped forward as respective flight and accommodation sponsors.

With streaming platforms such as Netflix now required to fill a quota of native content in the EU, the petition reflects how this shift is reverberating globally as consumers demand more local content.

Dockless scooters and bikes could alleviate congestion

US – A new report from INRIX concludes that cities such as Chicago, Charlotte, New York, Portland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and San Francisco would all benefit from investment in micro-mobility options to alleviate congestion.

Shared dockless bike and scooter options offer commuters more flexibility, lower operational costs and faster journey times than a car, yet governments have been slow to capitalise on their full potential. INRIX transportation analyst Trevor Reed explained: ‘To entice drivers out of their vehicles and onto bikes/scooters, the experience needs to be superior than that of driving. Good coverage and a network of protected lanes are the most powerful steps forward.’

As cities look for ways to increase the efficiency of day-to-day travel, innovative new micro-mobility options are fast becoming available. Look out for our upcoming microtrend here.

Previous News Articles
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
Louis Vuitton brings La Beauté to life with immersive Soho pop-up

News

Louis Vuitton brings La Beauté to life with immersive Soho pop-up

Louis Vuitton has marked the launch of its first cosmetics line with a limited-time pop-up in New York’s Soho, transforming 104 Prince Street into ...
Retail : Luxury : Beauty
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Foresight Friday
Stat: US adults are losing confidence in capitalism 

News

Stat: US adults are losing confidence in capitalism 

Stat : Statistic : Money
Knight Frank’s research signals the rise of wellness in luxury real estate

News

Knight Frank’s research signals the rise of wellness in luxury real estate

In The Residence Report, released in September 2025, global real estate consultancy Knight Frank explores the future of luxury residential developm...
Luxury : Real Estate : Wellness
Nike changes Just Do It to Why Do It? in new campaign

News

Nike changes Just Do It to Why Do It? in new campaign

Nike has re-imagined its iconic Just Do It slogan for today’s athletes with the launch of its latest campaign, Why Do It? 
Visual : Nike : Campaign
New Zealand’s Department of Conservation merges sustainability and local pride

News

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation merges sustainability and local pride

The Department of Conservation in New Zealand has unveiled a three-year campaign with Deloitte Digital and Deloitte’s Sustainability and Climate te...
Conservation : National Branding : New Zealand
Stat: The majority of Gen Alpha consumers buy clothes to create content

News

Stat: The majority of Gen Alpha consumers buy clothes to create content

Clothing retailer PacSun’s study of more than 6,000 Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers in the US reveals how fashion purchases are increasingly made for...
Gen Alpha : Fashion : Retail
You have 0 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN