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.

People are craving comfort. Amid what can feel like a state of constant crisis – a layering of traumatic societal events – it can sometimes seem like we’ve lost a sense of scale and cohesion. In the face of this, the desire to retreat into nostalgia is more seductive than ever.

From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

Japan has long been a haven for music lovers and a bastion of nostalgia, particularly for fans of vinyl records. Recently, the country got a breath of fresh air from the unexpected but welcome crowd of Gen Z listeners. What’s fuelling the younger generation’s desire to connect with analogue music?

Vinyl record sales in the US have grown for the 18th year in a row and outpaced digital audio consumption by some margin in 2022. With popular discourse often dominated by technological advancement and how it might optimise people’s time, they’re still looking for ways to unplug and slow down.

The ‘90s were peak alcohol. For Gen X growing up at the time, lads and ladettes reigned supreme, and drinking was synonymous with having a good time. But nearly 25 years later, this booze-loving generation has started to shift not only their perception of alcohol, but their drinking habits too.

The OBEGRÄNSAD collection from IKEA and Swedish House Mafia boasts a range of home furnishings, including a cost-effective record player. By leveraging Swedish House Mafia's credibility in music production, the collection appeals to budget-conscious furnishers and bedroom DJs alike.