News 03.12.2019

Need to Know

Universal Standard launches a free community space, AI is helping people to find their perfect whisky, and why consumers are gifting second-hand this Christmas.

Orrery rethinks how menus communicate flavour

Orrery bar menu designed by DutchScot
Orrery bar menu designed by DutchScot
Orrery bar menu designed by DutchScot

London – The Marylebone restaurant has a new visual identity inspired by planetary orbits.

Designed by DutchScot, the rebranding centres around the planetary system, playing on the eponymous word orrery – a scale mechanical model of the solar system. As well as a new logo, the studio collaborated with artist Jemma Lewis to create a series of marbled prints for the restaurant’s menus, coasters and wall art.

The prints are inspired by the feel of items on the menu, from cocktails to dishes such as crab and wasabi. The aim for Orrery is to translate the flavours, colours and ingredients of each dish, imagining a new way of representing food and drink in an abstract way that diners will simultaneously understand.

Restaurateurs and designers are experimenting with unusual ways of visualising what we eat and drink, as explored in our design direction Future Foodscapes.

Universal Standard unveils a community clubhouse

Universal Standard 1:1, New York Universal Standard 1:1, New York
Universal Standard 1:1, New York Universal Standard 1:1, New York

New York – The concept store moonlights as a free events space for the local community.

Renowned for its inclusive approach to sizing, Universal Standard’s new store on Mercer Street doubles as a community space, with the option for customers to reserve it for free for their own personal use. As well as lending itself to intimate dinners with friends, book clubs, exhibitions or networking events, the brand will curate regular local programming.

Entitled Universal Standard 1:1, the store concept hopes to make shopping an experience rather than simply a transaction. ‘Universal Standard is about access, period. And the community we see coming together in these spaces all over the country is everything we intended to bring into being when we started our company,’ says Alexandra Waldman, co-founder and chief creative officer.

As we enter the 2020s, the retail experience will change as brands are re-imagined as service providers, repurposing their spaces for a civic purpose after hours.

Diageo turns to AI to galvanise whisky discovery

Global – Drinks group Diageo is helping consumers to navigate the world of single malt whiskies with a little help from machine learning.

Debuting in nine markets, the What’s Your Whisky digital platform asks 11 questions in order to understand individuals’ taste and flavour preferences, from sweet and fruity to smoky and spicy. Questions such as ‘do you like piña coladas?’ and ‘how do you feel about chillies?’ are presented on a sliding scale, with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning used to build a personal FlavorPrint for each respondent. A series of corresponding whisky recommendations are then presented from brands including Talisker, Mortlach and Lagavulin.

What’s Your Whisky is also designed to drive curiosity and discovery with a series of QR codes set to appear in bars, restaurants and shops, encouraging consumers to take part in the survey to instantly find their ideal whisky.

As explored in our new food and drink macrotrend Home Eatertainment, artificial intelligence and machine learning could soon shape our flavour preferences, based on what we see others consuming and sharing online.

Diageo

Stat: Second-hand gifting could rise this Christmas

As concerns about mass consumption multiply, used clothing is increasingly becoming an acceptable gift, according to a survey by Accenture. The US study found that nearly half (48%) of consumers would consider giving second-hand clothing as gifts, while 56% would welcome gifts of these kind for themselves.

With a climate emergency imminent, fashion rental is also booming. One third (34%) of older Millennials say they are likely or extremely likely to rent garments for Christmas parties, demonstrating how Americans are taking a more considerd approach to over-consumption this holiday season.

Fuelled by the spending power of eco-conscious Millennial and Generation Z consumers, the market for reselling fashion is on the rise. For more, read our Market.

Previous News Articles
Joe Wicks’ Activate turns movement into play for kids

News

Joe Wicks’ Activate turns movement into play for kids

Fitness trainer Joe Wicks is swapping live-action workouts for animation with Activate – a lively new series of five-minute fitness bursts designed...
Fitness : Health And Wellbeing : Gen Alpha
IKEA creates open-air library along the Seine in Paris

News

IKEA creates open-air library along the Seine in Paris

IKEA has unveiled the Billyothèque, a pop-up outdoor library transforming a stretch of Paris’s Seine riverbank into a space for slow, serendipitous...
Ikea : Reading Room : Reading Experience
Stat: US teens turn to AI companions for life advice

News

Stat: US teens turn to AI companions for life advice

A new study by Common Sense Media reveals that 72% of US teens aged 13–17 have tried AI companions, with over half now using them regularly.
Technology : AI : Stat
DressX debuts fashion-forward Roblox game with Puma

News

DressX debuts fashion-forward Roblox game with Puma

Digital fashion platform DressX is expanding its creative universe with DressGo, its first game on Roblox.
Technology : Fashion : Gaming
EcoBeautyScore unveils science-backed beauty scoring system

News

EcoBeautyScore unveils science-backed beauty scoring system

EcoBeautyScore, the first science-based environmental scoring system for cosmetics and personal care, has officially launched with support from ove...
Beauty : Accredited Beauty : Beauty Scoring System
Stat: UK adults increasingly feel ultra-processed foods are hurting their health

News

Stat: UK adults increasingly feel ultra-processed foods are hurting their health

A new survey by digital wellness platform Lifesum finds that 68% of UK adults believe ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are negatively impacting th...
Food : Drink : Health
How luxury brands went beyond metaverse hype with immersive tech

News

How luxury brands went beyond metaverse hype with immersive tech

From Balenciaga to L’Oréal, luxury brands are turning to immersive technologies to prototype shows, reimagine retail and bring storytelling to life...
Luxury : Technology : Design
Camper and Issey Miyake fuse sculptural design with everyday wear

News

Camper and Issey Miyake fuse sculptural design with everyday wear

Spanish footwear brand Camper has partnered with Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake to launch Peu Form, a sculptural reinterpretation of the class...
Fashion : Retail : Luxury
Coca-Cola launches Real Thing Records with identity-led design

News

Coca-Cola launches Real Thing Records with identity-led design

Coca-Cola has entered the music scene with the launch of Real Thing Records, a label created in collaboration with Universal Music Group and brough...
Pop Culture & Media : Food & Drink : Music
Stat: Americans are prioritising inner health over looks

News

Stat: Americans are prioritising inner health over looks

According to a July 2025 study by supplements and vitamins specialist Metagenics, 77% of Americans now say they prioritise feeling good overlooking...
Health : Beauty : Wellness
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