News 04.03.2021

Need To Know

Ocado’s B Corp grocery aisle, intelligent hygienic supermarket touchscreens and China’s e-commerce sales are set to reach a historic high in 2021.

A hygienic interface for the touchscreens of tomorrow

Moving Buttons by Special Projects, UK

UK – Innovation agency Special Projects has created an algorithmic concept that dramatically reduces our contact with public self-checkouts.

The concept, Moving Buttons, allows up to 50 people to use a touchscreen without ever tapping the same spot, giving customers a safer way to use shared interfaces such as self-service checkouts. The technology, which requires only a software update, works by intelligently moving the position of buttons around the screen for each new customer. The system then alerts staff when it is ready to be cleaned.

The concept is designed to provoke businesses to look to algorithms in order to combat the spread of Covid-19 and other germs, as consumers become increasingly aware of how they navigate shared environments. According to Adrian Westaway, principal of Special Projects, the agency ‘wanted to visualise how this transaction could be made safer through innovative interface design and put customers at lower risk of coming into contact with other customers’.

To find out more ways designers are reframing the visual language of social distancing, read our design direction, Positive Barriers.

Amazon’s Build It democratises product development

Amazon Build It, US Amazon Build It, US
Amazon Build It, US Amazon Build It, US

US – The online retailer’s latest crowdfunding project, Build It, encourages consumers to vote on its next Alexa-enabled product.

The new venture is part of the Day 1 Editions programme, which invites consumer feedback on upcoming devices. As part of its research and development process, Amazon presents a series of concept designs to consumers. Each product has a pre-order goal to meet within 30 days, so in order for a customer to vote, they pre-order their favourite idea. The winning one then goes into production and consumers are only charged if a product meets their target.

By creating Build It, Amazon intends to meet consumer needs directly, by only making products that its user base would buy. Opting for a crowdfunding approach allows the firm to save money on concepts that will not make a profit. Current concept ideas include a smart sticky note printer, a smart nutrition scale and a cuckoo clock.

Brands like Amazon are treating consumer interactions as a valuable opportunity to improve their offer. For more, discover Feedback Frontiers.

Ocado’s sustainable aisle spotlights B Corp brands

Ocado B Corp Aisle, UK Ocado B Corp Aisle, UK

UK – The pureplay grocer has launched a dedicated aisle for B Corp-certified suppliers designed to give its customers greener and more sustainable choices.

According to the retailer, the aisle features more than 1,100 products from more than 35 B Corp-certified suppliers, such as Pip & Nut, Alpro, Method, and Teapigs. The move is part of Ocado’s wider commitment to sustainability, which includes achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. To achieve B Corp status, brands must meet some of the highest standards in social and environmental performance.

‘Our B Corp aisle is a really positive step for both our customers and our sustainability efforts,’ says Jo West, head of sustainability at Ocado. ‘We’re delighted to be making greener choices easier for Ocado customers by gathering all these amazing brands that have made a commitment to building a more sustainable future in one easy-to-find place.’

In an age of Post-purpose Brands, consumers are becoming more wary of greenwashing and are seeking certifiably sustainable options.

Stat: Digital innovation drives China’s e-commerce boom

Pop-up X Department Store, exploring a non-contact retail experience by Nikita Kay Pop-up X Department Store, exploring a non-contact retail experience by Nikita Kay

According to research by eMarketer, by the end of 2021 over half (52%) of retail sales in China will be made online, making it the first country to reach this milestone. Online retail sales in the country rose by 27.5% in 2020, and the analytics firm predicts e-commerce will grow by another 21% by the end of this year. By contrast, bricks-and-mortar sales fell by 18.6% in 2020 and are expected to decline by a further 9.8% in 2021.

The research cites digital platforms such as Alibaba and WeChat as the reason for this surge. Their accessibility, ease of use and reliability have encouraged users to adopt digital retail at a much faster rate than in Western markets.

As the retail industry continues to evolve in 2021, we explore the growing digital landscape in our forthcoming Retail Futures 2021 online event. Buy a ticket here.

Previous News Articles
Flexibility defines Today Design’s Melbourne office

News

Flexibility defines Today Design’s Melbourne office

In the heart of Collingwood, Melbourne, digital agency Today Design has transformed a 900-square-metre area within a 12-storey block into a hub of ...
Design : Sustainability : Workplace
Youth movement Flor champions nature and biodiversity

News

Youth movement Flor champions nature and biodiversity

Bringing today’s hyper-connected youth closer to nature is no small feat. Youth organisation Flor has made the challenge of getting young people in...
Youth : Design : Society
Aesop blends tradition and modernity with music-inspired gift kits

News

Aesop blends tradition and modernity with music-inspired gift kits

Australian cosmetics brand Aesop is ringing in the holiday season with a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Packaging : Design : Beauty
Stat: US teens are more price-conscious when choosing a university

News

Stat: US teens are more price-conscious when choosing a university

Scared by big student debt and high prices, US students are becoming more price-sensitive when it comes to higher education.
Education : Finance : Youth
Bacardi and The Future Laboratory unveil 2024 Cocktail Trends Report

News

Bacardi and The Future Laboratory unveil 2024 Cocktail Trends Report

Bacardi, in collaboration with The Future Laboratory, unveiled its fifth annual Cocktail Trends Report in December 2023. The research draws on insi...
Drink : Alcohol : Spirits
Balmain introduces hyper-realistic virtual try-ons powered by Bods

News

Balmain introduces hyper-realistic virtual try-ons powered by Bods

From the runway to the avatar realm, luxury house Balmain has called on fashion-fit technology company Bods to create a next-level virtual try-on t...
Fashion : Luxury : Technology
Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple and Boitown collaborate on ‘blessed scent’

News

Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple and Boitown collaborate on ‘blessed scent’

Visitors to the Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Temple) in Shanghai, China, can now take home a bottle of ‘blessed scent’, designed to bring good fortune ...
Scent : Spirituality : Youth
Stat: Study finds that businesses are lagging behind in carbon strategy

News

Stat: Study finds that businesses are lagging behind in carbon strategy

New research indicates that almost half of businesses have not yet formulated a plan to cut their carbon emissions.
Sustainability : Design : Finance
Uno single-cup bra line champions post-mastectomy confidence

News

Uno single-cup bra line champions post-mastectomy confidence

Breast cancer survivor Katy Marks of Citizens Design Bureau has introduced Uno, a bespoke one-cup bra line for post-mastectomy women.
Fashion : Inclusivity : Womenhood
Vape brand Ripple branches out into incense aromatherapy

News

Vape brand Ripple branches out into incense aromatherapy

Ripple, best known for its botanical and better-for-you vapes, is expanding with the launch of sleek, drop-shaped incense cones.
Scent : Wellness : Youth
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

What do we use cookies for?

We use cookies to enable the use of our platform’s paid features and to analyse our traffic. No personal data, including your IP address, is stored and we do not sell data to third parties.

Learn more