L’Oreal has partnered with neurotech company EMOTIV to create a futuristic perfume consultation that's a first of its kind. Combining the power of science and AI, the tech provides precise fragrance recommendations based on a person’s mood and feelings. Is this the future of luxury perfumes?


L'Oreal x EMOTIV headset

Hugo Boss’s Oxford Street store is adopting avatar-based virtual try-on technology, giving customers in-store and online personalised avatars made to their exact measurements. 

Hugo Boss Avatars

In a bid to disrupt the shopping journey by providing ultra personalised touchpoints, beauty giant Ulta partnered with Haut.AI to built a platform that can scan for skin types and needs, and tailor product selections accordingly. The service can cross-segment on customer preferences including texture, smell, and even values, like sustainable ingredients.

Ulta Beauty, ultra personalised

DNA home testing kits are turning saliva samples into tangible, hyper-personalised information that can be used for reports into potential health risks including cancer, diabetes and genetic conditions. 

DNA decoding

People can now commission their own personalised avatars and purchase them on unlikely platforms, including Etsy.

Bespoke avatars on Etsy

Artist Ben Grosser challenges people to look at their personalised filter bubbles anew with a multimedia artwork that seeks to make them more aware of how algorithmic targeting shapes their preferences and reality

Depersonalization System

What does excellent retail look like today, and what will it look like in the future? Retail expert Chris Walton delves into the industry’s rapidly evolving landscape, exploring the unstoppable rise of e-commerce, social media and AI, and the wider generational shifts reshaping the sector.

Chris Walton on the future of retail

A24 is relaunching its membership program with incentives for members to attend the opening weekends of new films. People are showcasing insider status through their fandoms, and they want brands to deepen connections by creating multiple touchpoints to drive belonging and exclusivity.

A24 acknowledges super-fandom with membership reboot

European grocery shoppers want it all, seeking out physical retail formats that combine convenience with exciting product options, alongside experiential and tech-driven elements as well. With its purpose-led, fresh-produce concept store Oxygène, Franprix is attempting to tick all the boxes.

How Franprix adds fresh life to French grocery shopping

Cinema chain Cinépolis has launched a ‘Junior Theater’ for kids, offering a space specifically designed to cater to their developmental needs. The move highlights a growing acknowledgment of children’s unique needs in public domains, paving the way for more empathetic societal design.

Kid-friendly cinema offers a third space for Gen Alphas

Manchester City FC has launched a design competition for fans to create its future kit using AI. This initiative shows how brands can leverage AI technology and tap into desires for co-creation to give fans a greater stake in product innovation, thereby deepening their connection.

Manchester City invites fans to co-create kit with AI

Courier company Evri has enlisted inclusive tech provider AccessiBe to optimise its website for people with disabilities. It shows how brands can make a difference by foregrounding the micro-moments that are often taken for granted and enabling a sense of autonomy in people’s product experiences.

Evri makes parcel deliveries more accessible for Britons

The rise of #FilmTok has sparked a substantial shift in how young people engage with movies – both new and old. As a result, studios are catching up and attempting to incorporate the platform’s communities into their marketing strategies. But what’s the secret to success in this fast-moving space?

What’s behind the rise of #FilmTok?

Zomato’s Recommendations from Friends feature lets users discover restaurants and dishes based on their social circles. This move aligns with the global shift toward hyper-personalisation, as brands leverage data to foster trust, loyalty, and deeper customer connections in competitive markets.

Zomato launches recommendations from friends feature

Nike has partnered with renowned make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench to create two fresh colourways of the Air Max Dn. The collab draws inspiration from women athletes whose influence extends from the field of play to the fashion world, further blurring the boundaries between fashion, sport, and beauty.

Nike x Isamaya Ffrench collab bridges beauty and sport

Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped campaign has faced significant criticism from users, marking a departure from the typical hype. The controversy underscores the growing demand for culturally aware, data-savvy content that amplifies user experiences authentically – and the backlash potential around AI.

Music fans call out AI fails in Spotify's 2024 Wrapped 

Skims is venturing into the winter market via a high-profile collaboration with The North Face, creating a capsule collection of elevated staples. The partnership joins a growing trend of fashion-sport tie-ups aimed at merging aesthetic appeal with technical performance.

Skims x The North Face collab blends style and function

TNT Sports will broadcast the knockout stages of the Emirates NBA Cup in the style of a video game. The move reflects the shifting appetites among sports viewers. While the lack of interactivity may make the broadcast feel gimmicky, the format speaks to the media interests of younger fans.

TNT Sports introduces video game-style live broadcasts

Against a backdrop of nightclub closures and rising drinks prices, Britons are looking for low-key, affordable ways to party. In response, dating app Bumble and hard seltzer brand White Claw have hosted their own house parties, speaking to a desire for community and intimacy.

White Claw and Bumble tap into British house party scene

Nostalgia, global permacrisis, and a rejection of perfection have led to a sea change and the revival of messier, more chaotic cultural aesthetics. How can brands engage with this ever-shifting trend landscape while maintaining the integrity of their identity and customer loyalty?

Why messy aesthetics signal rebellion against perfection

AI is the predominant tech topic in Australia today but a dearth of workers are properly trained to use it to the fullest. This is due to a long-standing focus on theoretical learning rather than practical. However, AI itself may bridge this gap and empower Australians to bolster their economy and contribute to the country’s collaborative working culture.

Where do Australians want AI in the workplace?

A survey has found that a majority of UK shoppers are planning to spend at least some of their holiday gift budget on second-hand items. In addition to being a money-saving strategy, the findings show people’s desire for unique and personalised gifts that don’t feel mass-produced.

Vinted reveals desire for unique and second-hand gifting

Americans are increasingly embracing beauty routines as essential for wellbeing and confidence. But what shapes their choices when selecting skincare and make-up products, especially under financial constraints? Canvas8 spoke to six people across the country to find out.

How are Americans rethinking their beauty routines?

Britons are increasingly streamlining their beauty routines to cope with busy schedules and tightening purse strings. But what determines their choices when looking for effective and convenient products, especially amid economic pressures? Canvas8 spoke to ten UK residents to find out.

How are Britons rethinking their beauty routines?

Korea’s Gen Zers and Alphas are snapping up smaller-sized cosmetics to affordably splurge on beauty and test new products before committing to them. As mini items flood an already oversaturated market, brands can lean into new, unique modes of personalisation that tiny product design facilitates.

Koreans buy mini make-up for low-cost experimentation

Chanel has launched its first-ever comprehensive beauty house in Paris. Crafted around the brand's mind-body approach and geared towards the desire for personalised experiences, the store offers treatments and tools to immerse beauty lovers in the brand's take on classic Parisian luxury.

Chanel's House of Beauty courts new-age beauty lovers

Adobe Acrobat has used AI to develop unique personalities for its fonts, helping users connect with their digital identities. With rising demand for digital tools that enable self-expression, brands that prioritize personalization can thrive in the increasingly competitive online landscape.

Adobe's font personas tackle tech personalization demand

Indian lingerie brand Zivame has launched a campaign that promotes a shift from traditional bra sizing to profile-based fitting. By packaging body positivity in a culturally relevant manner, it’s helping individual women feel heard at a time when more explicit DE&I messaging can feel dicey.

Zivame ad highlights inclusive lingerie sizing in India

Starbucks Korea has announced a new concept store in Seoul that targets university students. Brands are honing in on unique, memorable shopping experiences to win over Gen Z, and they could benefit from a more niche approach to counter oversaturation in the experiential retail landscape.

Starbucks South Korea courts Gen Z with concept store

Micro-dramas – which can span over 100 episodes, each lasting anywhere from two to ten minutes – have captured the attention of mobile-first viewers in China with captivating cliffhangers, rags-to-riches tales, and revenge plots that offer escapism. But how long will this format stay in style?

Why snackable micro-dramas are thriving in China

Amazon is offering a two-bedroom tiny home for just $12,999, making it among the cheapest going in the growing Accessories Dwelling Unit (ADU) market. The compact home requires no building permits, is easy to install, and drastically helps reduce living costs amid persistent housing insecurity.

Viral tiny homes can be canvases for self-expression

Corporate rebrands abound, and audiences are constantly bombarded with new brand launches and a never-ending pile of names to remember. To better understand how brands can strategically use language to their advantage in capturing attention, Canvas8 spoke to marketing researcher Dr. Tanvi Gupta.

The more, the better!? The science of plural brand names

Gen Zers in the UK are now taking body care as seriously as skincare. To fit into their detailed shower rituals, they’re looking for affordable, non-toxic, and sustainable products that – perhaps most significantly – deliver on their promises. So, how are brands adapting to attract this cohort?

What do Gen Z Britons want from body care?

Hangout is an app that lets users host virtual DJ link-ups and enjoy music with friends. With trust in traditional social platforms waning, brands can lean into customization and personalization to appeal to younger audiences who want greater control and curation over their digital lives.

Hangout entices music fans with virtual DJ spaces

Supper clubs are offering an alternative to the restaurant experience without skimping on quality. In an age defined by digital interactions, some Britons are becoming exhausted by the pervasiveness of screens and are looking for more opportunities to connect IRL over a hearty meal.

How Britons are using supper clubs to beat digital fatigue

The revival of Tom Ford’s Oud Minérale – and its move from the brand’s Private Blend collection to its Signature Line – taps into a desire for self-expression, little luxuries, and ‘smellmaxxxing’, even if on a budget. The scent draws fragrance fans and young men still forming their identities.

How Oud Minérale embodies the essence of personal luxury

TikTok has played a significant role in raising ADHD awareness, with the platform serving as a locus of health-related information for many Gen Zers. Despite its potential to fuel misdiagnoses, people are finding relatable content that both reaffirms their identities and supports self-exploration.

TikTok is fuelling a spike in ADHD self-diagnoses

Loneliness is sadly common among new parents, especially mothers. As social apps emerge to combat the issue by providing supportive communities and peer-to-peer guidance, how can brands tap into the trend authentically and appeal to a new digital-native generation of mums?

How social apps help mums find friendship and community

At The Benemart, Benefit Cosmetics’ virtual shopping experience, people can shop, game, and socialise simultaneously. Brands continue to offer initiatives that blend the physical and digital world to engage shoppers, while also incorporating gaming elements to appeal to younger generations.

Benefit Cosmetics launches virtual shopping experience

A strategic partnership between leading cycling brands in China marks a shift in the country's evolving bike market. As the adoption of cycling as an everyday mode of transport grows among families with young children, bikes focused less on play and more on performance are on the rise.

Partnership brings performance to young bikers in China

Indians are increasingly buying luxury products while travelling abroad, according to spending data from Visa. In response, some brands are creating personalised shopping experiences overseas, aligning with the industry-wide shift towards immersive and curated experiences.

Luxury brands court Indian tourists with VIP shopping

Gen Yers account for a growing share of luxury jewellery consumers in the UK, and the market is transforming to reflect their tastes. High up on the priority list? Purchases that serve as a form of self-care and brands that demonstrate their economic value as well as their social value.

How Gen Yers are remaking the UK’s luxury jewellery market

What do people want from functional clothes in the era of climate adaptability? How are personalisation technologies changing fashion? How are people getting ahead with practical sustainability measures? Why is fashion becoming so playful and unserious?

Fashion and Style Sector Snapshot: November 2024

The insurance industry has a reputation for being traditional and low-interaction. With Youi’s promises of “you-shaped” plans, products, and brand partnerships, Australian Gen Y and Z can build their financial confidence in ways that resonate with their vibrant, digital-first lifestyles.

How Youi ensures financial confidence for young Aussies

In an era of declining consumer trust, an increasing number of brands are embracing strategic self-deprecation to help cut through noise. To better understand how a self-aware approach can help win over sceptical audiences, Canvas8 spoke to consumer psychologist, Vaishnavi Kale.

Who, Me?! The science of self-deprecation

Tatty Devine is a long-standing jewellery brand in the UK. Known for its outlandish, unusual designs and its all-female team, the brand stands out from the crowd by creating fun, pop culture-inspired pieces that appeal to young consumers. How did the brand become such an icon of personalisation?

Why Tatty Devine fosters individuality with pop jewellery

Natura has launched a body care line that aims to enhance the beauty rituals of Afro-Brazilian women. Despite the diversity of Brazil’s population, Black and Brown people continue to be underserved in the beauty sector, presenting brands with rich opportunities to plug these gaps.

Natura tailors body care for Afro-Brazilian women

Fan podcasts are enabling people to fulfill their wildest fantasy: becoming part of the worlds they idolize. Centered on specific celebrities, artists, or TV series, they contribute to the surrounding lore, immerse listeners, and gain fans themselves. But can the fan podcast also build ‘brandom’?

How American fan culture is fuelling the podcast boom

German brand Weleda has been creating botanical formulas for over 100 years, with Rihanna and Julia Roberts among its celebrity advocates. As people grow unsatisfied with simple ‘natural’ claims, the brand’s continued success stems from its adaptation to the need for transparency in beauty.

How Weleda repackages skincare for eco-conscious Germans

To commemorate Black History Month, Gymshark has created a pop-up that offers hairstyling services for visitors with textured hair. The initiative is just one of Gymshark’s many efforts to champion minority voices, showing how brands can meaningfully rise above one-off gestures towards inclusion.

Gymshark pop-up combats textured hair woes at the gym

Gen Alpha is all about building, creating, and making things their own. No wonder they love to game – so much so that gaming is to Gen A what social media has been to Gen Z and Y. As this young generation grows, understanding how they see and use digital spaces will be key to capturing and maintaining their interest.

What does Gen Alpha want from gaming?

Spotify has introduced a creative feature that allows users to design custom cover art for their playlists. The feature empowers listeners to transform their playlists with the artists and songs that hold meaning for them, allowing them to showcase their identities through music and design.

Spotify update lets fans customise playlist covers

Cash Cobain fans are being given the chance to create their own unique MP3 of his viral song 'Problem'. As artist-audience relationships become more fragmented, this presents an opportunity for gamified experiences that foster co-creation, allowing fans to strengthen their connection to the music.

US rapper fosters fan co-creation with unique MP3 verses

The NFL has released a collection of blazers with NY-based brand Veronica Beard for its first official fashion collaboration. People are searching for relatable touchpoints to engage with the world of sports, and cross-sector collaborations can prove pivotal in resonating with casual viewers.

NFL collab speaks to evolving sports fandom expectations

Jacquemus has opened the doors to its first-ever US concept store with a location in New York. The move highlights people's increased appetite for immersive retail experiences that blend hyperlocal connections and unique storytelling to showcase the characters and feelings of various locales.

Jacquemus’ first-ever NY store elicits Parisian pride

Passionfroot is an online marketplace aimed at connecting brands with business-focused content creators. As the creator economy continues to grow, there's an opportunity for brands to level the playing field for creators from diverse backgrounds by offering more ways to monetise their skills.

Berlin start-up launches digital marketplace for creators

Daze is a new messaging app that reimagines texting as a creative canvas with AI-powered tools. The app taps into Gen Z's desire for creative self-expression and customization in digital communications, reflecting the generation's increasing fatigue with traditional social media platforms.

Daze app platforms creative self-expression for Gen Z

TikTok is fast turning into an online shopping destination, and it’s reshaping the way we shop as a result. No industry has been more affected by this online retail revolution than the beauty business. How has ‘shoppertainment’ sent sales of make-up, skincare and hair care soaring?

How TikTok Shop is revolutionising UK beauty e-commerce

To celebrate the launch of a premium kidswear range, H&M has launched an exclusive pop-up experience at Selfridges. It's just one example of how brands are tapping into playfulness and nostalgia to elevate shopping experiences and encourage a sense of discovery and adventure.

H&M taps Selfridges for immersive kidswear launch

The coolest Gen Z adults in Los Angeles aren’t meeting up at bars. Instead, they can be found at LA Chess Club, a meet-spot up where people get together to play a game with an uncool reputation. What can this tell us about young people’s desire for authentic real-world connections?

How LA Chess Club forms a community from IRL competition

From Hanya Yanigihara on suit jackets to Virginia Woolf on evening bags, fashion brands are currently having a literature-inspired moment. But drawing design inspiration from authors is no new phenomenon in the world of style, so what’s driving this resurgence in 2024?

Decoding the fashion world’s literary renaissance

Headspace has expanded its in-app offerings with an AI-powered chatbot known as Ebb, which will provide instant and personalized mental health support to users. This move reflects how brands can help clinicians facing burnout, but there remain risks around relying on tech-driven companions.

Headspace adds AI chatbot for mental health support

AI is changing the way we shop, but what are the new expectations around immersive retail? Where will personalisation preferences show up in the future? How are digital agents changing the purchasing journey? And what does all of this mean for the holiday season? Explore AI-ready retail insights with our Spotlight.


Spotlight on: AI-ready retail

The likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have taken over pop with highly stylized aesthetics and theatrical performances. In this cultural shift toward bold self-expression, authenticity and fantasy are two sides of the same coin. Driving it? Gen Z’s embrace of nostalgia and inclusivity.

Welcome to the theatre kid renaissance

To celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights, Mattel has introduced its first-ever Barbie Diwali doll. The brand continues to fulfil an essential role in enhancing playtime for children by blending creative play with real-world education and cultural representation in each new toy release.

Diwali Barbie shows need for diverse representation

Fintech start-up Fizz has revamped its money app, which empowers US students to manage their money with confidence. While there’s no shortage of finance apps aimed at Gen Z, it’s zeroing in on college students’ unique financial mindsets and challenges to achieve meaningful personalization.

Fizz helps college students achieve financial wellness

The perfume industry, while smaller than the broader luxury market, is growing nearly twice as fast, driven by innovations that merge fragrance with emotional wellbeing. As people increasingly prioritize self-care – reflected in the rise of wellness spending and a greater focus on beauty – fragrance is evolving into a key player for ‘scentsational’ mind-body connection.

Why fragrance is the new quiet exclusivity in the US

All-day wearable fitness trackers that monitor our health outside of the gym are changing from bands, straps, and watches into jewellery and luxury goods. Why are people keen for their wearables to be high-fashion items? And how are brands entering this luxury market?

How are fitness trackers competing on cool to win luxury shoppers?

McDonald’s Spain has unveiled an adult-focused Happy Meal to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Friends. As the lines between food and identity continue to blur, brands can appeal to kidulting ideals by tapping into nostalgia and creating unforgettable moments around meal time.

McDonald’s Spain taps nostalgia for kidult Happy Meal

Tarte Cosmetics faces backlash after simultaneous gifting campaigns created confusion, with some creators receiving luxury items while others did not. The recent campaign from the brand highlights growing demands for authenticity and fairness in the influencer marketing space.



Tarte’s influencer gifting campaign sparks criticism

Gen Z’s Y3K aesthetic envisions the year 3000 through the nostalgic lens of Y2K retrofuturism, offering Gen Zers a new way to express themselves. Brands can respond by matching their desire to experiment with identity and blur the lines between the old and the new, the digital and the physical.

How Y3K became Gen Z’s futuristic fashion frontier

Luxury has long defined Indian weddings, but young people are amping up the exotic factor by opting for destination weddings at home and abroad. Cost remains a concern for many, and people are looking for brands to democratise the offering without compromising on world-class experiences.

Indians are eyeing destination weddings as luxury cachet

In addition to impacting their viewing habits and loyalty to teams or players, Gen Z’s digital-first approach to sports fandom is transforming their relationship with gambling. How do they engage with betting apps, and how can brands in this space both appeal to and safeguard young adults?

How are Gen Zers approaching sports gambling?

A desire to live to the max is fueling interest in experiential luxury among Americans, who are increasingly opting to spend on memories over material goods. Canvas8 spoke to eight people from across the US about their expectations of luxury experiences across travel, wellness, and retail.

What do Americans want from luxury experiences?

Data shows that Gen Z is prioritising personal growth and work-life balance over traditional career trajectories. In light of this, companies may need to rethink their organisational structures and career development paths to attract and retain this generation of workers.




Gen Z is consciously "unbossing"

Photographer Guillaume Blot’s exploration of authentic French bistros highlights a growing yearning for comfort, stability, and slower-paced lifestyles. The resurgence of Caffs and McDonald’s nostalgic ads shows how brands can tap into people’s desire to escape modernity by connecting them to past eras.

Photographic series "Rades" taps into French nostalgia

What new categories and destinations are shaping luxury right now? How is heritage serving as a timely anchor in a turbulent world? Why is the luxe sector looking to be more fun? How are brands making sure they remain in the zeitgeist through cultural connections and innovation?

Luxury Sector Snapshot: October 2024

Statement jewellery has fully permeated the luxury landscape, partly due to Gen Z’s lust for experimentation and individualism during times of crisis. As industry lines blur, how are brands and designers in this space reacting to ways people people create identity via adornments and aesthetics?

Why Gen Zers are investing in statement jewellery

Millions of young people are blending reading and socializing on BookTok. Authors are becoming influencers, using DIY marketing and unconventional swag like custom perfumes to engage their micro-communities. What does the ‘lit-girls-as-it-girls’ trend tell us about how we’re reading in 2024?

The rise of the literary ‘it’ girls

Gender-neutral garments are emerging in Asia-Pacific. In Japan, specifically, intimate-wear brand Peach John has initiated collaborations with companies to foster inclusive fashion, eliminate gender envy, and transcend body types, without forgoing aesthetics and functionality.

How Peach John makes lingerie inclusive for Japanese women

The brainchild of start-up Koodos Labs, Shelf is a social app connecting people with similar media preferences. As Gen Zers feel increasingly disconnected from the ‘social’ in social media, they’re looking for digital safe havens that allow their personalities and interests to shine.

Shelf helps Gen Z build community around media tastes

Between a changing work environment and government cuts, young creatives in the UK have lost vital opportunities to connect and advance their careers. Digital spaces are stepping in to fill these gaps, but how can brands connect with these groups to foster creativity and a sense of community?

How digital spaces are reconnecting young creatives

Activewear label Crop Shop Boutique has garnered a cult reputation for putting its community first. As Aussie wellness and fitness enthusiasts seek out activewear that seamlessly fits from work to workouts, CSB empowers Aussie women to feel good about themselves in and out of the gym.

How Crop Shop Boutique brings style to active Aussies

Ride-hailing platform Grab is updating the safety measures on its app to include an audio recording feature. As people confront traditional expectations of car ownership, brands have the opportunity to emphasise the value of technology and advanced tools in ensuring that road journeys are safer.

Grab enhances safety measures with in-app audio feature

TikTok is awash with videos featuring artfully curated personal items in airport security trays, turning routine security checks into unique storytelling canvases. An expression of individual style and creativity, the trend highlights desires to find beauty in the mundane and everyday.

Airport tray aesthetic finds beauty in the everyday

How is climate change affecting people in Southeast Asia? How can companies evolve cooling technologies? And to what extent are people willing to adopt greener lifestyles? In the 2025 APAC Macro Expert Outlook, Lau Kong Cheen discusses what to expect from sustainability and business in 2025.

2025 Expert Outlook on APAC

Glossier has launched its first 'athlete-proof' lip gloss in partnership with the WNBA. As the beauty sector continues to intersect with the world of sports, niche brand collaborations will be crucial in re-framing outdated biases around beauty and building products that adapt to the needs of all.

Glossier and WNBA deepen make-up's place in sport

With AI embedding across more products and services within people's day-to-day, there are risks around exacerbating concerns about data privacy and security. Services like MineOS are aiming to mitigate fears, helping people and businesses navigate AI roll out by offering transparency.


MineOS gains popularity as AI exacerbates privacy fears

Electronic Arts, creator of video game The Sims, announced that The Sims 4 will have a feature that allows certain content creators to create and sell their own add-ons to the game. With personalisation the norm, user-generated content is helping to give the gaming community flexibility and control.

The Sims platforms in-game creative content creators 

Citius Retreats is joining hands with Six Senses Ibiza to curate a retreat that integrates sports medicine, holistic health, and community. As wellness experiences become more accessible to Britons, luxury brands in the space are tapping into elite sports to craft new codes of exclusivity.

Citius tailors wellness retreats for sports enthusiasts

Can Labour create a new reality? Will hope shape audience behaviour? Will the AI revolution mean more prosperity? And how can businesses stay connected to the shifting realities of life in the UK? In this Macro chapter of Expert Outlook 2025, Dr Nick Srineck discusses what to expect in the UK in 2025.

2025 Expert Outlook on the UK

Could AI be the next frontier in personalised travel? How can companies deal with overtourism? Are niche experiences going to replace shared global events? In this part of the 2025 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how attitudes to travel and leisure are adapting to changing times.

2025 Expert Outlook on Travel and Leisure

AI-powered creative app Verse facilitates fuss-free self-expression by allowing users to create scrollable, shareable, multi-modal mini-sites. While sensitivity remains around how AI will impact human creativity, Verse positions generative technology as an aide to everyday creative potential.

Verse app platforms Gen Z creativity with AI

Meet Grok, the face of AI-powered toy company Curio. The rocket-shaped plushie, voiced by musician Grimes, is designed to have “endless conversations” with kids. But what does the toy tell us about celebrities as creators, American parental burnout, and the perceptions of AI in 2024?

How Curio tells us about AI, parenting, and celebrity marketing

What’s next for AI development? Will Gen Alpha’s presence on social media be regulated, and how will they shape these spaces to their needs? How can brands prepare themselves for accelerated innovation? In this part of the 2025 Expert Outlook, we speak to four experts about the future of technology.

2025 Expert Outlook on Technology

As trends come and go at lightning speed, Shein stays ahead by producing ultra-fast, trend-driven products that capture the essence of real-time retail. It has also started offering products in its physical store in Japan, where people look for trendy and affordable items with seamless shopping.

Why Shein blends online convenience and offline retail for Japanese shoppers

Is 2025 the year of AI integration? Will the gap between offline and online disappear? Are consumers disposing of a disposable society? In this chapter of Canvas8's 2025 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about the changes set to shake up retail in the year ahead.

2025 Expert Outlook on Shopping

Will AI regulation in finance curb innovation? What might help protect people from financial fraud? How will new pricing regulations impact shopper confidence? In this part of the 2025 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about where financial behaviours are headed next year.

2025 Expert Outlook on Money

E.l.f. has announced Get Ready With Music: The Album, a 16-track release inspired by the 'get ready with me' trend. Crafting a soundtrack for beauty routines, the move taps into the deep connection people feel between makeup and music as tools for self-expression and community-building.

E.l.f original album merges worlds of beauty and music 

Are virtual idols the future of pop? Can AI benefit creative industries? Are established media titles regaining audience trust? What will streaming look like in the future? In this part of the 2025 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how media and entertainment are changing worldwide.

2025 Expert Outlook on Media and Entertainment

Streaming platform SoundCloud empowers artists to build and grow their careers by providing progressive tools, services, and resources. With AI having a huge effect on the music industry, SoundCloud aims to bridge the gap through empowerment, AI assistive tools, and building music communities.

How SoundCloud tunes into British creativity

Lifecyle 

People expect products and services that feel made for them