Need to Know
27 : 06 : 23

US – Passionate about bringing space-based deployable solar array technology to Earth, Sego Innovations has crowdfunded over £193,000 ($245,200, €224,600) on Kickstarter for its latest invention: Sego Charger. An innovative solution for power on the go, the device is a foldable origami solar panel designed for portability – it can easily slide into backpacks and pockets.

A convenient choice for travellers, the origami-inspired design features durable and visible hinges for sturdiness and is laminated with weather-resistant plastic, making it virtually dust- and dirt-free. It also comes with a tripod, enabling easy set-up on various terrains, and is built to withstand harsh weather conditions.

Users can effortlessly charge their personal devices by plugging them directly into the panel that boasts a 25-watt power rating. After the first batch, expected to ship in Q2 2024, Sego Innovations plans to offer the foldable origami solar panel in various wattages, including 50-watt, 100-watt and over 400+-watt options, to meet different power needs.

The Sego Charger team drew inspiration from their collaboration with NASA engineers. Their research on the origami technique used for space-based solar arrays led to the development of this Earth-based solution tailored for travellers and backpacking enthusiasts.

In our coverage of Milan Design Week 2023, we highlighted similar brands and creatives tackling the global energy crisis head on with tangible solutions through the lenses of urban – and now nomadic – living.

Italy – Italian clothing company Diesel has opened a shop in Milan dedicated to its 1DR bag. Located next to its flagship store in San Babila, Diesel hopes customers will experience the store as a multi-sensory art concept rather than a traditional retail space.

Designed by Diesel creative director Glenn Martens and the Diesel design team, the shop takes its visual inspiration from the distinctive silver Oval D hardware featured on Diesel’s 1D bag. The space is a 52-square-metre cube with walls, floor and ceiling adorned in crushed silver fabric, enveloping guests in a 3D metallic silver world.

The shop is showcasing an expanded range of 1DR bags, an accessory first introduced by Martens in spring 2022. This includes a palette of signature metallic colours and multiple shapes, many of which are made using lower-impact materials. In addition, a limited edition of 30 unique 1DR bags will be exclusively available in the store. Diesel’s 1DR store will remain open for a year and the company plans to open similar spaces worldwide.

We’ve previously observed how retail pop-ups are evolving, becoming less transactional and more immersive. They exist as places for consumers to develop deeper relationships and a greater understanding of a brand’s value and culture.

Global – According to the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report, TikTok is becoming an increasingly popular news source among Gen Z, with 20% of respondents aged 18 to 24 using the platform for news. This marks a 5% increase on the previous year. The report also reveals that fewer than half of the 94,000 individuals surveyed expressed significant interest in news, a 15% decline since 2018.

Among those who do follow current affairs, platforms like TikTok and Twitter are preferred over traditional news sites, with 30% of consumers visiting social media networks before news sites for headlines. Gen Z, in particular, show less interest in reading news articles and prefer watching or listening to news stories. Trust in news remains low, with only 32% of Americans believing the news, and 56% of all respondents expressing worries about identifying fake news.

In The New News, we saw how young consumers are seeking an alternative to the 24-hour news cycle. Traditional news providers need to become more dynamic to provide news to the younger generation in ways that feel intuitive in terms of how they process information.