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.

Secret Cinema is looking to unite people’s desire for immersive experiences with their beloved and binged period drama,Bridgerton. Through a partnership with Netflix, party-seekers in London are scrambling for tickets as they look to move escapism offline and into the real world.

With the pandemic forcing people to spend closer to home and heightened geopolitical tensions shining a spotlight on national identity, it’s no surprise that local brands are thriving in China. But how exactly are companies playing up their heritage? And what does ‘made in China’ now imply?

As the lines between fashion, entertainment, and digital self-expression continue to blur, retail giant Selfridges' immersive offering of both physical and digital retail is tapping into consumers' desire to explore their identity across their physical and digital lives.