Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

In the face of economic crises, climate anxieties, and global wars, people are seeking solace through connection. They want to be sure someone will hold their hand in the face of hardship. As a result, they have higher expectations of care and understanding from interactions with brands, social systems, and p...

‘Scene culture’ was an early-aughts mainstay on social platforms like MySpace, and it’s having a 2020 revival on TikTok. The lifestyle, characterised by dark poetry and gothy aesthetics, is giving young people an outlet for creativity to navigate feelings of uncertainty and angst.

The annual number of US weddings is almost back at pre-pandemic levels and is set to reach a historic peak in 2022, as couples return to the altar. For some couples, the wait has inspired them to spend more, but for others, increased costs and financial strain have made for tighter budgets.

Notorious for their struggles with ‘adulting’, Gen Yers are now firmly in adulthood – a position that’s proving anxiety-inducing for some. What’s behind their reluctance to hand over the baton of cultural relevance? How has the pandemic had an impact? And how are they coping with this transition?

Between a pandemic, social unrest, and political uncertainty, stress is abundant in everyday life. Yet while some people are escaping the reality of 2020 with light-hearted entertainment, others are indulging in fear-inducing films and TV. Why is horror proving so popular among critics and viewers?