As anxieties around COVID-19 have segued into a deeper and more consistent malaise, a longing for simpler times has caused some people to reshape everyday behaviours around comforting goods and long-established rituals. How is this sense of nostalgia impacting beauty and wellness habits?

TikTok singalongs are usually associated with modern music, but old-timey sea shanties are taking the platform by storm under the hashtag #ShantyTok. The nautical trend caters to people’s desire for therapeutic cultural moments, letting users band together and flex their creative muscles.

Men with the Pot is a TikTok cooking channel that’s bringing its viewers back to nature. The channel has witnessed popularity during the pandemic, a testament to how people are being drawn to the creators’ back-to-nature approach and the simplicity of cooking over a fire.

With the average person being exposed to thousands of ads each day – spanning social media, print, TV, and billboards – nailing visual identity has never been more important for brands. But what kind of logos are most effective at grabbing attention? And how can design be used to signal values?