When author Kyle Chayka explored 2010s minimalism inLonging for Less, a very different world existed. Today, a polycrisis-ridden and digitally saturated society finds people yearning for more. Whether you chalk it up to post-pandemic release or a general sense of impending doom, people are now looking for a new maximalism of feelings, dimensions, and possibilities to reinvigorate them and make their lives feel full. While people are craving memorable, visceral, and immersive experiences, there's no longer a singular definition of what this might look like. Some are embracing maximalist hedonism throughclubbing,extreme tourism, and different kinds ofsensory overload, while others are tapping into more gentle, inward-looking, and contemplative experiences likelistening barsandcommunal spas. It signals the emergence of the'Introvert Economy' of cosy, home-adjacent spaces andactivitiesor seeking soothing and quasi-spiritual encounters through hobbies likebirdwatchingandforest bathing. The desire for deeply captivating and emotionally engaging experiences extends beyond the physical world –social media,VR,AR, and evenimage-based interactionsmust now resonate to the same degree, creating truly memorable moments and environments. In this consumer and cultural universe driven by exploration and immersion, the boundary between experiences and material goods continues to blur. We're less likely to see them as a dichotomy, as people are increasingly interested inexperiential qualities of thingsand consuming commodified 'thing-like experiences'. This discovery-oriented mindset is opening up new avenues for fulfilment, gratification, and transformation.

Love him or loathe him? Elon Musk inspires polarized reactions. But as his bitcoin antics cause waves and Starlink orbits our skies, what’s the secret behind Musk’s influence and reach? The pandemic has changed expectations of leadership and made room for the power of optimism.

With stores, entertainment venues, and domestic travel set to reopen, there’s much excitement about ‘revenge spending’. But after a year in sweats and reflecting on their relationship with opulence, what does luxury mean to people? Canvas8 polled 1,000 Americans and spoke to eight to find out.

Major perfume houses work hard to ensure the secrecy of their most coveted concoctions. Yet an unexpected fragrance has been the most strictly protected: Eau de Space – a NASA-created scent being mass-produced to drum up support and investment in STEM education.