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Dutch Design Week 2024, Northern Europe’s largest design event, lit up the stage with Europe’s freshest creators. Here’s a peek at top student concepts sparking change:

🧘 NOISE takes mindfulness beyond mobile apps with a tactile, audio-visual device by Benedikt Herzau. 🇩🇪 Winner of the UX Design Award Gold 2024, it’s a soothing escape from digital chaos.

🧵 Screen time has dulled kids’ fine motor skills, but Anna-Maria Nilsson 🇸🇪 weaves a solution with KLURA — a math-meets-embroidery tool to revive dexterity and creativity.

🍆 Sex-toy shopping gets a stigma-free twist with Sander van der Lecq’s 🇳🇱 conceptual store for easytoys_nl, where imagination flows freely.

🦜 Mundo Pemón, a VR tour by Ana Lorena Lodeiros, 🇨🇭 invites users to explore Venezuela’s Canaima region and Pemon culture, raising Indigenous awareness through immersive storytelling.

🧴 Addressing the Sephora kids debate, Nataly Sijtsma 🇳🇱 introduces SkinTwin, duo skincare packs for kids and caregivers that build healthy habits and bonding time.

💧 The Reef by Anton Vervoort 🇧🇪 leverages the filtering power of Dreissena polymorpha mussels to tackle agricultural water pollution. Winner of the national James Dyson Award.

Are your brand’s pain points ready for a student-inspired fix? Explore these projects and more by DDW creators to shape the future of design 🔮

Bridging a gap in women’s healthcare in the Middle East and North Africa, Cairo-based Motherbeing has launched Daleela, an AI-powered health assistant that addresses the often-overlooked needs of Arabic-speaking women. The app provides culturally-sensitive information about sexual and reproductive health through a secure, anonymous platform — tackling social barriers that have historically limited access to essential resources.

What sets Daleela apart is its targeted approach to democratizing healthcare knowledge. The AI assistant draws from its own database of expert-verified information, delivering personalized guidance while maintaining strict user privacy. The core features are free, with additional premium content available for subscribers, including educational videos, articles and podcasts.

While Daleela can’t provide medical diagnoses, the app demonstrates how (generative) AI can be deployed to serve communities that face specific cultural and structural hurdles in accessing information — whether in healthcare or other domains. The launch comes as femtech is gaining momentum, with more startups focusing on developing region-specific solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches to women’s health.

WWF's Living Planet Report 2024 sounds the alarm: average wildlife population sizes have plunged by 73% (!) since 1970, with the steepest declines in Latin America & Caribbean (95%), Africa (76%), Asia-Pacific (60%) and freshwater ecosystems (85%). Ecosystems are nearing their tipping points, from the Amazon’s rapid dieback to coral reefs’ decline.

For 2025, it’s time to take off the carbon tunnel glasses and bring biodiversity into focus. This week’s UN biodiversity conference in Colombia urges brands to act, too!

💡 Ask yourself: how is your brand contributing to biodiversity loss? What can you do to safeguard and regenerate nature? Amid rising climate adaptation demands, consider how you’ll reshape your processes and priorities with biodiversity — and its (mainly Indigenous) guardians — in mind.

ByteDance's publishing arm is making a strategic move into print books, capitalizing on the explosive growth of #BookTok, TikTok's bibliophile community. The Chinese tech giant's 8th Note Press, which launched as a digital-only publisher in 2023, announced a partnership with independent New York-based publisher Zando to bring physical editions to US bookstores starting in 2025.

The expansion comes as TikTok continues to drive unprecedented growth in print book sales. According to the New York Times, print sales for authors with large BookTok followings reached 41 million units in 2024 to date, representing a 23% increase compared to the same period last year. That growth significantly outpaces the broader adult fiction market, which was only up by 6%.

The pivot to print acknowledges a crucial dynamic of BookTok culture: influencers prefer physical books they can display on their shelves and hold up in videos. 8th Note Press and Zando aim to publish 10-15 titles annually, focusing on genres that resonate with millennial and Gen Z readers, like romance, 'romantasy' and young adult fiction — and on topics that align with whatever is (about to be) trending on TikTok.

A new startup is tackling the environmental impact of disposable earplugs with a mycelium-based alternative. GOB has developed what it claims is the world's first plastic-free, compostable earplug. The need for a sustainable alternative is more pressing than one might imagine: manufacturers currently produce around 40 billion single-use earplugs annually, enough to circle the Earth nearly 100 times if laid end-to-end.

Beyond addressing the problem of plastic waste, GOB's mycelium earplugs also focus on health issues associated with traditional earplugs. Made of PVC foam, these may contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, while vinyl chloride, a precursor to PVC, is a known carcinogenic. GOB, meanwhile, uses mycelium foam created by Ecovative's Forager, which can grow 3 million square feet of material a year on one acre of land.

According to GOB, the performance of its product matches or exceeds that of traditional foam plugs: AirMycelium foam provides balanced acoustic dampening while maintaining sound clarity. The material also has memory foam-like properties, conforming to a user's ear shape without causing discomfort. When the earplugs reach end-of-life, they're 100% home-compostable and break down into soil nutrients — a stark contrast to conventional PVC-based alternatives. The company is currently accepting pre-orders, with shipments expected to begin in early 2025.

Accenture's Life Trends 2025 report surveyed consumers across 22 markets and spotlights 5 key trends. One that caught our eye? Cost of hesitations. And this stat in particular: 62% of consumers now say trust is an important factor when choosing to engage with a brand, up from 56% in 2023.

In 2024, consumer trust was put to the test as AI-generated content flooded feeds. Concerns over algorithmic bias, copyright, deepfakes and privacy rose, leaving 59.9% of consumers doubting online authenticity. Platforms that were formerly discovery-friendly spaces became oversaturated with AI-generated content, leaving consumers more wary than ever.

📉 A closer look: 38% of consumers encountered fake product reviews in 2024, while 52.8% regularly question the authenticity of reviews they read. But the problem is bigger than reviews — everything from product visuals to brand identities (Austin's viral restaurant Ethos doesn't actually exist; all the images on its Instagram feed are AI generated 🥐🦛) are under a microscope. Heading into 2025, how can brands rebuild trust and show AI delivers real value, not just quick ROI?

A new collaboration between automated vision testing company Eyebot and online eyewear retailer Zenni will see the rollout of self-serve testing kiosks designed to provide prescriptions in just 90 seconds. Eyebot's S1 kiosk offers a streamlined alternative to traditional eye exams. First, it scans a person's eyes using infrared light. Then it guides the user through a visual acuity chart, providing additional data for a prescription. People can also place their current pair of glasses in the unit's lensometer, which scans lenses in 3 seconds. The entire process is self-serve and touch-free, and offered free of charge.

If a new prescription is needed, the collected data is sent to a tele-doctor in Eyebot's network, who reviews the test session and issues a prescription, which costs USD 20. The Rx is sent to the user via email or transmitted directly to a retailer's ordering system — in this case, to Zenni, which sells glasses starting at USD 12.99. Zenni waives the prescription fee for customers spending USD 49 or more on eyewear. The first two co-branded kiosks are now operational in Boston-area malls, with a further eight to roll out in New England over the coming months.

Eyebot aims to tackle a pressing healthcare issue: 30 million Americans currently live with uncorrected vision problems, with access particularly limited in lower-income communities. One-quarter of US counties lack an eye doctor, making routine vision care challenging for many. By reducing barriers around cost, time and location, automated testing — made viable through partnerships with retailers like Zenni — is a scalable solution that could help reshape how underserved communities access basic vision care. Beyond prescriptions, Eyebot's goal is to expand into diagnosing eye disorders and diseases.

As a greenhouse gas, methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Yet it often flies under the radar. A new tool called Open Methane, launched this month, is set to change that. Working with AKQA, decarbonization non-profit The Superpower Institute has developed a free and open-source tool to track methane emissions in Australia.

Combining advanced satellite technology with in-situ measurements, Open Methane maps emissions across Australia at a 10×10 km resolution, providing data that is accurate, transparent and auditable. Accuracy is key here — agriculture was long deemed Australia's leading source of man-made methane emissions, but it turns out coal mining and natural gas extraction are the dominant contributors. For a sense of scale, a single coal mine inland from the Great Barrier Reef (studied in 2018 and 2019) had the same annual impact on global warming as over 4 million US cars. 

The first results from Open Methane reveal that Australia's methane emissions could be around twice as high as the country's official data. Why the discrepancy? Current numbers rely heavily on self-reporting by the fossil fuel industry, often using outdated methods. And those lower-than-actual numbers inform policy, so legislation isn't based on the real and urgent need to take action, like enforcing the implementation of readily available solutions to curb emissions.

Methane accounts for around 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times, and its atmospheric concentration is accelerating at record speed, partly due to increased fossil fuel extraction and consumption — Australia has 117 new coal and gas projects in the pipeline. On the upside, cutting the fossil fuel industry's methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective ways to limit global warming.

Since, to paraphrase Peter Drucker, you cannot mitigate what you cannot control and you cannot control what you cannot measure, business leaders could have a massive impact by proactively improving their operations based on accurate data provided by sources like Open Methane. There's an opportunity to speak directly to consumers here, too — they've grown understandably skeptical of sustainability claims, and providing data that can help them verify and validate sustainability claims is the most transparent way to build back trust.

Live events are booming, but there’s a disconnect. Performers are frustrated because fans are more focused on capturing content than soaking up the live vibe. Heineken has a fix. Following the buzz around its minimalist Boring Phone (a collab with streetwear brand Bodega that saw impressive demand), Heineken returns with an app called Boring Mode, urging people to embrace the moment, phone-free.

To promote Boring Mode, Heineken used stealth tech at major music events like the Silver Live Out Festival and, most recently, at DJ Barry Can’t Swim’s opening set at Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). The tech made a message appear on attendees' screens if they were using their phone's camera, 'Keep the moment in your memory, not on your phone,' nudging them to stay present.

📈 This push follows a survey revealing that 41% of Gen Z and Millennials across the US, UK and Netherlands are frustrated by excessive phone use at concerts (35% admit to checking their phones too often during social events). And while 55% prioritize filming over being present, only 13% ever watch the videos they made.

With the Boring Mode app, available from October 2024, Heineken brings its be-here-now approach to any phone running iOS or Android. The app silences notifications and makes phone cameras shoot in low definition, reinforcing the brand's mission to spark real-life connections in an always-online world.

📵 Whether to boost crowd engagement and create immersive experiences, or to nurture connections with friends and family, could your brand step in to block distractions? How else might you help your audience be more fully present?

At this month's Japan Mobility Show Bizweek, Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled the latest iteration of its portable hydrogen cartridges. Designed primarily to power fuel cell electric vehicles, the new cartridges are compact enough to be carried by hand or in a backpack, allowing drivers to instantly pop in fuel instead of recharging at a station. Toyota envisions the swappable cartridges becoming a ubiquitous renewable energy source, powering not just cars, but also appliances. As a test case, it worked with Rinnai Corporation on an outdoor stove.

The plug-and-ride portability of Toyota's new hydrogen cartridges solves common pain points for drivers: extending their range and offering peace of mind about getting to a charging station before their battery runs dry. As extreme weather events and accompanying blackouts become more frequent, having a backup power source for household appliances extends that sense of security beyond transportation. 

⚡️ Bigger picture? Transitioning into a society powered by renewable, no-emission fuel requires a coordinated effort across the energy value chain.

Soccer meets social entertainment in a hospitality concept that rethinks how people experience the world's most popular sport. TOCA Social, which launched at London's O2 Arena in 2021 and opened a second location in Birmingham this summer, combines interactive games with a bar and restaurant.

The concept's centerpiece? Private gaming booths equipped with professional-grade ball-tracking technology, where groups of friends can compete in fast and immersive soccer games. Think karaoke for those who'd rather kick a ball than hit a high note.

Backed by a recent USD 100 million funding round, TOCA Social is now preparing to bring its formula to the US in partnership with Major League Soccer. Its first American outpost will open in Dallas in 2025, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, in Europe, the company inked a deal with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to open two new TOCA Socials in 2025: one in Westfield London and another in La Défense, Paris.

A few key drivers:
⚽️ Less drawn to traditional bars than previous generations, Gen Z is seeking alternative reasons and spaces to hang out with friends
⚽️ Competitive socializing is on a roll, spreading from the UK to the rest of the world. TOCA Social taps into that demand while leveraging soccer's built-in fan base
⚽️ With alcohol sales trending down, game-centric venues can make up for lost revenue by catering to families during the day

A study just published by The Lancet Planetary Health explores climate-related emotions among US adolescents and young adults aged 16-25. Six key findings:

🙁 Of the study's 15,793 respondents, 85% reported being at least moderately worried about climate change and its impacts, with 58% being very or extremely worried, which is notably higher than in previous studies and suggests climate concerns are intensifying rather than diminishing among young Americans.

🗳️ The distress cuts across political lines. While Democrats showed higher levels of concern, a majority of young Republicans also reported significant worry about climate change, challenging assumptions about partisan divides. Nearly one in four (73%) said they're likely to vote for candidates who support aggressive climate policies, indicating this issue could influence future voting patterns and policy.

👶 Climate anxiety is impacting major life decisions: 69% said climate change will influence where they choose to live, 67% expect it will affect their career choices, and 52% report being hesitant to have children due to climate concerns.

🧠 Mental health impacts are significant, too: 43% indicated climate change is affecting their mental health, while 38% reported that climate-related feelings negatively impact their daily functioning, including the ability to focus at work/school, sleep, eat and maintain relationships.

🏭 Those surveyed primarily place responsibility with corporations and industries (89%) and with the US government (86%) for both causing and addressing the climate crisis, suggesting they expect systemic solutions.

💼 Corporate climate action matters to young talent: 67% report they plan to choose employers based on commitment to sustainability and reducing climate impact, which will no doubt affect future workforce dynamics.

After a bit of an uptick during COVID lockdowns, the percentage of Italians who read for pleasure dropped back to one of the lowest rates in Europe. In 2022, just 35.4% of people over the age of 16 read at least one book for a reason other than school or work. Aiming to help everyone rediscover the joy of reading, Italian hypermarket chain Bennet is turning everyday food packaging into a pint-sized literary platform. Its new Good To Read Packs provide a taste of celebrated novels, with excerpts printed on milk cartons, boxes of rice and tea, cans of beans and packs of biscotti. Authors currently on offer include Flaubert, Salinger and Murakami.

As Bennet underscores in an accompanying campaign, books are vital nourishment for human minds. Beyond the new packaging, the retailer has also expanded its in-store book selection to include a broader range of classics and contemporary bestsellers. The move exemplifies the evolving role of brands in consumers' lives, delivering value beyond their core offerings; by wrapping groceries in literature, Bennet demonstrates that everyday customer touchpoints can be reimagined as channels for cultural engagement and personal growth.

A new feature on Taco Bell's app puts customer spending control front and center. The app asks, "How much are you looking to spend?" After the user inputs their budget — with a USD 5 minimum and USD 25 maximum — the app generates combinations of menu items fitting that constraint. Drinks, combos, party packs and certain other items are excluded, but customers can pin preferred items to their cart and continue randomizing other options to complete their order.

The fast-food chain's budget-oriented innovation comes as the industry continues to grapple with a slump in sales. While the usual response to inflation is price adjustments (both up and down, as with PepsiCo's recent de-shrinkflation), Taco Bell presents a new tactic for dealing with heightened price sensitivity. By allowing customers to mix and match a menu within a specific spending limit, its tool can transform budgeting into an engaging experience.

That said, feedback on social media points to the feature not serving up the types of bargains consumers could get simply by selecting a fixed meal deal. One to keep in mind as you tweak your own brand's customer journey to help navigate financial constraints 💸

Spotify’s Culture Next report is here and it spotlights how youth across 16 countries are remixing culture. The three trends shaking up the soundscape?

👯 Blendships: music and podcasts are Gen Z's go-to for deeper connections

🎸 Playlist Diary: hyper-personalization gives Gen Z that main character energy

🎶 Mainstreaming: Gen Z is (re)embracing the mainstream. In fact, 80% of US Gen Z say niche and underground culture are going mainstream, with near-identical percentages in the UK (81%) and Australia (84%). By comparison, 74% of Gen Z labeled themselves as mainstream in 2023, up from 59% in 2021