News 13.05.2022

Need to Know

LS:N Global introduces its European services, Tyson invests in employee futures, and a slump in alternet investments.

LS:N Global celebrates its European launch

The Future Laboratory, Amsterdam
The Future Laboratory, Amsterdam
The Future Laboratory, Amsterdam

Amsterdam – At LS:N Global, we understand the importance of localising trends, foresights and insights to enable businesses to make a better future. That’s why we pay a lot of attention to our local markets, and are proud to announce the launch of our European services.

To celebrate, this week our team gathered in the botanical setting of Amsterdam-based eco-boutique hotel The Unbound – a space where the city meets Dutch nature and architecture. Bringing together 25 thought-provoking Dutch game-changers, we hosted an engaging trends dinner, where we explored the importance of foresight thinking and the future of Neo-collectivism.

As we move to more localised insights for the continent, our European team is ready to take our clients to different levels of understanding.

Strategic opportunity

To find out more about our European Services or to become a member of LS:N Global, please contact hello@thefuturelaboratory

Spotify empowers music creators in Roblox

Spotify on Roblox, US Spotify on Roblox, US
Spotify on Roblox, US Spotify on Roblox, US

Global – The streaming service is inviting fans and artists to connect with each other in gaming platform Roblox. Its digital destination, Spotify Island, will engage users through interactive quests, exclusive content and the option to buy artist merchandise. It also encourages music fans to create their own music, using stations by virtual beat-maker platform Soundtrap.

To further entice users, Spotify enables creators to perform their music on a virtual stage, and work to become top of the charts within Roblox. Through this initiative, Spotify draws on the popularity of gaming to elevate its services and bolster interactivity. ‘We’re flipping the script and empowering players to be the creators and truly feel like they’re the artist performing,’ comments Abby Stewart, director of business development at Spotify.

With young audiences driving a shift towards democratised music communities, such projects enable amateur creators to more easily express their musical talents.

Strategic opportunity

To stand out in a saturated market, streaming services should create accessible and interactive features that appeal to amateur creators

Tyson entices employees with free education

US – With many employers struggling to keep workers amid the Great Resignation, the company is unveiling plans to offer free education to its 120,000 employees.

The scheme, which promotes funding for undergraduate, master’s and associate degree courses at 35 US universities, comes at a time when the meat industry is gearing up for drastic change in the coming years.

As a sector that has struggled to recruit employees in recent times, the incentive reflects the need for companies in the meat industry – and beyond – to invest in the development of workers on both professional and personal levels. ‘Providing equity and opportunity to every single member of our team is part of our goal to make Tyson the most sought-after place to work,’ says John R Tyson, executive vice-president and chief sustainability officer at Tyson Foods.

Elsewhere, we’ve explored how e-commerce giant Amazon has used its status to educate workers, empowering individuals from the American middle class to broaden their horizons.

Black Girls Code. Designed by architect Danish Kurani, US

Strategic opportunity

To attract and retain talent, employers should consider diversifying their company benefits to reflect the personal and professional needs of workers

Stat: Trust in crypto investment is falling

Photography by SHVETS production Photography by SHVETS production

While alternative finance investment has shown promising growth in recent years, activity from fintech and social media platform Robinhood suggests the market is losing steam. According to The Washington Post, in the first quarter of 2022, Robinhood’s monthly active users fell 10% year on year.

Meanwhile, activity on the platform is also flatlining, with transaction revenues having fallen by almost half, and average quarterly revenue per user down by 61%. This slump in trade in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin comes at a time when the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine are prompting more frugal, risk-averse finance behaviours.

For some consumers, investment in Alternet Economies remains an appealing proposition. But brands and businesses must continue to keep track of fluctuating interest in an uncertain economic climate.

Strategic opportunity

Companies that are hoping to engage in the crypto space should also consider implementing security precautions that involve traditional, less risky assets

Previous News Articles
Natural Material Studio crafts decorative wall panels from brewery waste

News

Natural Material Studio crafts decorative wall panels from brewery waste

At Copenhagen Airport, a unique design element stands out in the Åben brewery restaurant: swirly panels crafted from spent grain, a by-product of b...
Food & Drink : Sustainability : Design
Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot create leather from grape waste

News

Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot create leather from grape waste

Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot have introduced a limited-edition collection of bags and bottle accessories made from a grape-based alternative...
Sustainability : Fashion : Luxury
Foresight Friday: Gabriela Białkowska, creative foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Gabriela Białkowska, creative foresight analyst

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, creative foresight analys...
Foresight : Gaming : Technology
Stat: AI is high on fashion executives’ agenda for 2024

News

Stat: AI is high on fashion executives’ agenda for 2024

In the aftermath of generative AI’s explosive growth, the fashion industry is set for a transformative 2024 as executives look to harness the poten...
AI : Fashion : Technology
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
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