Why are women restyling themselves as ‘protein princesses’? How is the way we think about old age changing? Why do people want to turn their data into diagnoses, and how are beauty communities disrupting the industry?
Dexcom G4: monitoring diabetes in the 21st century
case study·
16 Mar 2015
Diabetes affects over 9% of adults globally. It’s a big problem amongst US Boomers; 72% of men and 67% of women are overweight or obese. A new app allows diabetics to track and share their glucose data in real time. How can technology help us better manage illness in the 21st century?
Stowaway: ‘right size’ make-up for women on the go
case study·
26 Mar 2015
Handbag real estate is in short supply. Women carry around 40 items in their bags – from iPhones, to spare knickers. Stowaway makes ‘right sized’ cosmetics; small enough to be slipped into a clutch. Can this tiny beauty brand disrupt the big players in a $60 billion beauty industry?
Protein is no longer just for pumped-up gym boys, it’s for girls too. ‘Protein princesses’ – women who work out between four and five times a week – are driving sales of powders, shakes and bars. But how is shake brand Upbeat proving so popular with women both in and out of the gym?
How the gym is redefining what it means to be a man
report·
25 Jul 2014
Painstakingly pumped and carefully chiselled – this is the body ideal of the ‘spornosexual’. UK sales of protein products increased from £73m in 2007 to £170m in 2012, and steroid users rose 645% from 2010-2013. But what’s fuelling the quest for more muscle amongst ordinary men?
Women over 45 account for 41% of spending on cosmetics and toiletries. For these women, beauty is an investment, and they are prepared to pay for it. But the majority of products fail to target the issues women face as they grow older. So just what are beauty brands missing?
Whether it's headbands that help you meditate or apps that claim to stretch the memory; we're increasingly looking to technology to train our brains. But what's the real science behind this growing industry? And why are so many people turning to technology to get their heads in the right space?
Everyone has a skin problem – saggy, dull, greasy or dry. Spots are no longer a teenage problem; half of adults have acne. Geneu has developed U+, in-store technology that tailors skincare to customer’s DNA. But do we really want to mix science into our beauty regime?
How a bit of peace and quiet became the ultimate luxury
report·
18 Jul 2014
Over-connected consumers are looking to chill out – and achieve more in the process. Brands are capitalising on our collective exhaustion and building big brownie points as they do so. But how did space and silence – very simplistic commodities – become the ultimate luxury?