It’s not often that a cardboard container filled with rejected veggies inspires an online frenzy, but then Asda’s wonky veg box is no ordinary product. Simultaneously battling food waste, poor diet and stretched budgets, these bundles of ugly greens have hit a rich seam of consumer desire.

Whether it's chipped furniture, ‘ugly’ food or unconventional beauty, societal mindsets are shifting to a greater acceptance of imperfection. With Eastern spirituality influencing Western lifestyles, can the spirit of Zen help brands connect with a generation that’s done trying to be perfect?

Defensive urban architecture is everywhere – if you know what you’re looking for. Specially designed window ledges, park benches and streetlights aim to influence behaviour in public spaces, but at what cost? And do these unpleasant creations unfairly target some people more than others?

It’s not often that an ‘it’ shoe has functional rubber soles, thick laces and is crafted from waterproof fabric. But L.L. Bean’s century-old snow boot – which has a 20,000-person waiting list – shows that a back story and a lifetime guarantee might be more appealing than a pair of red soles.