Maria is a senior behavioural analyst at Canvas8. After completing her Master's degree in Social and Cultural Psychology, she delved into the world of research. Her experience ranges from behavioural science and design research to cultural insights. She loves asking questions, so naturally she specialised in qualitative research. In her free time, she likes to do all the usual things (from watching movies to hanging out with friends), plus playing ultimate frisbee and running long distance.

When author Kyle Chayka explored 2010s minimalism in Longing 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 through clubbing, extreme tourism, and different kinds of sensory overload, while others are tapping into more gentle, inward-looking, and contemplative experiences like listening bars and communal spas. It signals the emergence of the' Introvert Economy' of cosy, home-adjacent spaces and activities or seeking soothing and quasi-spiritual encounters through hobbies like birdwatching and forest bathing.

The desire for deeply captivating and emotionally engaging experiences extends beyond the physical world – social media, VR, AR, and even image-based interactions must 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 in experiential qualities of things and consuming commodified 'thing-like experiences'. This discovery-oriented mindset is opening up new avenues for fulfilment, gratification, and transformation.

Experience Hunters

France

Hotels and holidays

Lifestyle

French designer Lehanneur transformed the Musée D’Orsay’s clock room into an Airbnb, offering a one-night stay to watch the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. HNWIs are seeking increasingly exclusive experiences, leaving brands with an opportunity to offer truly unforgettable travel options.