Need to Know
13 : 07 : 20

Hong Kong – Island is a driverless tram designed to facilitate social distancing on public transport.

The concept, designed by Andrea Ponti, has been created in response to consumer reticence about public transport following Covid-19. Double decker trams are a key feature of Hong Kong, so Ponti designed a version fit for increased health and safety measures. Its name, Island, refers to the interior design of the vehicle, where large benches facilitate social distancing and passengers sit facing outwards in a radial pattern.

Driverless technology optimises the space available, making it easier to manage travel times and ensure onboard hygiene. Ponti has also designed a tram stop, facilitating payment before boarding and an orderly flow of people.

As explored in our Urban Wellness Market, consumers are demanding that brands consider collective health and develop mobility concepts to create more civic cities.

Sweden and London – Retailer Très Bien has created the ATELJÉ limited-edition garment collection, produced entirely from home in the lockdown period.

Having recently opened a store in London just as Covid-19 hit, the brand has not only adapted its approach by offering store visits via Zoom, but launched an entire collection that is designed and made at home. Each item in the ATELJÉ collection was produced with the support of the brand’s local network in Malmö, Sweden.

With the aim of avoiding industrial machinery and external companies, the collection was sewn by the founder’s mother-in-law; labels for the delivery boxes were printed from home; and an ex-member of the brand’s logistics team was recruited as a campaign model.

As the fashion industry continues to reflect on its sustainability flaws, new designers and initiatives are emerging to upend and challenge existing systems. In our Makers Market, we explore some of the ways creators are engaging with handicrafts to create desirable, eco-conscious goods.

A new study by WPP has revealed the complex relationship many Australians have with data, with many consumers misinformed about their children’s digital footprint.

The study, Secrets & Lies: Humanity + the Machine, shows that 83% of parents would force their child to delete a digital profile if it made them feel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds (63%) mistakenly believe that they own their child’s digital footprint until they turn 18.

‘When it comes to the monetisation of social media, it seems Australian parents are prepared to grade privacy concerns, further reinforcing the conflicting relationship we have with technology,’ says Rose Herceg, chief strategy officer at WPP.

As we examine in Teen Tech Welfare, there is a need for technology companies to step up and educate both parents and children about their digital data footprints.