Create Tomorrow, The WGSN Podcast
Alle afleveringen
176 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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125. WGSN’s Colour of the Year 2025: Future Dusk
30 december 2024 · 19 min
Future Dusk is a dark, moody and intriguing hue, offering a fresh take on dependable dark blue, sitting between blue and purple. Simultaneously familiar and futuristic, its sense of mystery and escapism feeds into themes of transition – be it from dark to light, or dusk to dawn – perfect for a period of immense change. Listen to find out how this transformative colour is painting our future. Lees meer
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124. How WGSN Forecasts the Future
17 december 2024 · 29 min
In this episode, we look at the 2027 STEPIC forecasts which track the challenges and opportunities for 2027 across six areas: Society, Technology, the Environment, Politics, Industry, and Creativity (STEPIC). This proprietary methodology at WGSN acts as the lens through which we predict trends years in advance. Lees meer
Joining our host, Cassandra Napoli, are WGSN experts – Lisa White, Content Director of Strategic Forecasting, Ella Hudson, Head of Research, and Martina Rocca, Foresight Lead. Find out how we explore the drivers, innovation, and key emotions set to impact 2027.
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123. Decoding Slanguage for Cultural Capital
3 december 2024 · 29 min
Today’s niche pop cultural references are dynamically shifting the language of tomorrow. From “skibidi” to “hawk tuah,” decode the everyday slang words and phrases Alphas and Gen Z are using to engage them effectively and authentically. Lees meer
WGSN’s Head of Marketing and Events and Create Tomorrow’s brand new host Cassandra Napoli explores how young people are shaping the future of the English language with their online behaviors. Joining her are WGSN’s Senior Strategist Liz Tan and Fashion Strategist Mia Jacobs who uncover how brands can harness the language of the youth and seamlessly insert themselves into the conversation.
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122. Meet WGSN Create Tomorrow’s New Host Cassandra Napoli
28 november 2024 · 13 min
The WGSN podcast Create Tomorrow has a brand new permanent host: Cassandra Napoli, Head of Events and Marketing at WGSN. Cassandra speaks with Lisa White, Director of Strategic Forecasting at WGSN for the penultimate Create Tomorrow before she takes over the podcast. Lees meer
Having hosted and starred on previous WGSN podcasts, we mark her appointment with a special episode to get to know her and what she does. Hear what inspires Cassandra, her journey into trend forecasting, and what her first episode of Create Tomorrow is all about.
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121. Planet-positive Leather Tanning
19 november 2024 · 19 min
Can leather be sustainable? Discover how innovative technologies are transforming leather into a high-performing, biocircular material that starts and ends with nature. This episode of Create Tomorrow explores Ecotan Leather, a natural leather tanning technology which replaces traditional chemical-based tanning, like chrome, with plant-based alternatives. Lees meer
Join Lisa White, WGSN’s Director of Strategic Forecasting, and Randi Seiff, US Representative for Ecotan Leather, CEO and Co-founder of Treun House Atelier as they discuss how the fashion industry is embracing sustainable luxury. Learn from Randi leading the way by designing sustainable leather trainers with benefits for human and planet health
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120. Body Hair, Men’s Health & Glimmers in Personal Care
5 november 2024 · 19 min
How much do you care about personal body care? From reaching for the razor to popping pills and brushing your teeth, we reveal personal care trends today that will stay for a few years. Lees meer
Join Francesca Muston, VP of WGSN Fashion and Megan Bang, Beauty Analyst of WGSN and author of WGSN’s Future of Personal Care 2027 report in this episode of Create Tomorrow. Learn about trends destigmatising body hair, erectile dysfunction and reduced libidos and what brands can do to infuse glimmers or small moments of joy in our everyday personal care.
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119. Early Discounts – The Gift that Keeps on Giving
22 oktober 2024 · 20 min
The holiday season is fast approaching and with it comes the annual scramble for gifts. This year, it looks like we are not quite as generous as we used to be – half of us are expecting to buy fewer goods and services and 95% of us will be looking for the best deals. This means that brands need to prioritise discounts to profit from the holiday season. Lees meer
Join us in this episode about holiday shopping and gifting where we also explore the importance of personalisation, delivering value and sustainable choices with WGSN’s Director of Interiors, Gemma Riberti and Director of Insight, Joe McDonnell.
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118. Home is where Mindful Purchases are
8 oktober 2024 · 32 min
How are we shopping and what informs how we make big purchases? The idea is simple – take your time to choose products you love and expect to continue to use for years to come.In this episode of Lives of Tomorrow, we’re discussing slow retail – where consumers are making more considered purchases, especially when it comes to big purchases and items for the home. Lees meer
WGSN Insight Director Joe McDonell, Senior Strategist Candice Medeiros and Senior Strategist Rachel Gwyther look into products, apps and how retail feeds into this ethos. Find out consumers’ top priorities and how this impacts the big purchases we make for the home.
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117. Making Sense of the Catwalk with WGSN
24 september 2024 · 23 min
Following New York Fashion Week, we review cutting-edge catwalk movements and how they form the wider trends we’ve been tracking at WGSN. Lees meer
Joining host Francesca Muston, VP of WGSN Fashion, is Kim Cupido, WGSN’s Senior Editor for Catwalks. Kim shares key trends our catwalks team captured and how brands are implementing them. We delve into the details of catwalk data, WGSN’s image recognition AI tool, and how this helps us update every item on runways globally with fast, accurate and actionable coverage and analysis.
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116. Soft Yellows, 3D Printing Lego Parts, and Funflation Spending – Get Ready for Maison & Objet
5 september 2024 · 31 min
Today marks the start of Maison & Objet 2024 – the holy grail event in the world of decor and design. The biannual international trade fair showcases the best in lifestyle, interior design and home decor in Paris. In this podcast, we explore everything from key product design trends to the latest retail trends, sharing the insights you need and the highlights of this year’s Maison. Lees meer
WGSN Director of Strategic Forecasting Lisa White welcomes Maison veteran, Interiors Director Gemma Riberti and Insight Director Joe McDonnell. Listen in on the Maison Objet standout events with key designers like Mathieu Lehanneur and designer of the year 2024 Lionel Jadot to inspire your interior flair.
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115. Fashion Buying – from Rachel from Friends to TikTok Trends
27 augustus 2024 · 25 min
What do fashion buying and Rachel Green from Friends have in common? In this episode of Create Tomorrow, we discuss fashion buying and the tools buyers have for strategic decision-making. VP of WGSN Fashion, Francesca Muston, and WGSN Director of Fashion, Monisha Klar discuss the process of fashion buying and the trends directing the future of fashion. Lees meer
With WGSN’s fashion buying platform launch, we discover future-proof trend decision intelligence and buying-specific forecasts following the product-to-market lifecycle. Take a break and listen in on how to make well-informed decisions, lead a buying team, and manage the day-to-day operations of specific categories.
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114. Soft Adventure, Digital Brights and Rugged Luxury – WGSN’s Sports & Outdoor Trends
12 augustus 2024 · 21 min
WGSN has been tracking a rise in appetite for outdoor adventures including glamping and nighttime activities. In this episode, we discuss this expanding demand and detail key trends shaping the future of sports and outdoors. Lees meer
Senior Insight Strategist Cassandra Napoli hosts this chat with our Sports & Outdoor experts – Content Strategist, Caitlin Folgner, and CMF Senior Strategist, Jennifer Birch. From soft adventure to easily accessing health and wellness benefits of the outdoors for new participants, get on board the opportunities and design directions this movement presents.
We’ve been forecasting the rise of rugged luxury bringing modern convenience and rich comfort to camping, where travellers can enjoy the outdoors leisurely without having to invest in new luxury gear amid a cost of living crisis. Listen in on how brands can strategise around colour, materials, and product development trends for hardware and apparel across industries. -
113. Paris Olympics 2024 Uniform Collections
29 juli 2024 · 23 min
The Olympics is not only about running the fastest, jumping the highest, and throwing the shot put the farthest. It is also about looking good while you do it. Yes, Olympic fashion is very much a thing and in this episode, you’ll learn all about it. Lees meer
We hear about the fashion surrounding the Paris 2024 Olympic games – discussing key trends, sustainable choices, and WGSN Olympic fashion design highlights.
Lisa White, Director of Strategic Forecasting at WGSN hosts this Olympic kit fashion design special with guests Charlie Bardsley, Active Strategist, and Rebecca Saygi, Swimwear Strategist.
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112. The Future of the Dinner Party
15 juli 2024 · 18 min
Hello and welcome to WGSN’s fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast, bringing you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and product. Lees meer
In this episode, we discuss the dinner party. This classic culinary social situation is evolving in terms of who is being invited, what’s being served, and what gifts are being brought along if you’re invited to one.
Forget about spending hours making fancy French cuisine. The new dinner party is small and more practical – as well as being more cost-effective than dining out. And don't feel bad about asking your guests for help either.
Our host for this delicious podcast is Jen Creevy, Director of WGSN Food & Drink, with guests at the table, strategists Millie Diamond and Rachel Tan. Bon appetit!
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111. Surfing the Green Wave
1 juli 2024 · 23 min
Hello and welcome to WGSN’s fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast, bringing you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and product. Lees meer
Surfer, filmmaker and journalist Chris Nelson joins WGSN Editorial Director Bethan Ryder to discuss his documentary The Big Sea. In this episode, we dive into a new documentary exploring the connection between the $10bn surfing industry and Cancer Alley in Louisiana in the US. Cancer Alley is a region along the Mississippi River with many factories and chemical plants. The pollution from these plants has made the air and water unhealthy, causing high rates of cancer and other illnesses among residents.
The documentary sheds light on the toxic truth behind a single material, Neoprene, which is used to make swimsuits. Chris and Bethan discuss greenwashing and more about the film, because it demonstrates the crucial role designers and brands can and must play in creating a better future for people and the planet.
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110. Festival Fashion with WGSN
17 juni 2024 · 28 min
Hello and welcome to WGSN’s fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast, bringing you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and product. Lees meer
In this episode, we discuss the emerging styles, subcultures, consumer drivers
and aesthetics in youth fashion that we’ve been tracking at festivals across the globe.
WGSN Youth Fashion Strategists Mia Jacobs and Jaeyeon Park join host Graham ‘Kraggy’ Krag, Senior Commissioning Manager at WGSN to find out how subcultures and multi-genre festival line-ups are shaking up the festival fashion scene.
Hear why fandom dressing is growing in popularity and find out who the ‘Mini Tylers’ are and what the ‘Signature Lana’ looks like.
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109. How Tech Can Build an Inclusive Future For Everyone
3 juni 2024 · 23 min
Hello and welcome to WGSN’s fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast, bringing you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and product. Lees meer
In this episode, the WGSN Consumer Tech team discusses how technology – or more accurately, the way we interact with technology – can help improve the lives of people from marginalised communities.
Joining host Lisa Yong, Director of Consumer Tech, are WGSN UX strategists Arianne Anabukiand Abdulrahman Hadi.
Find out how user experience design can help create social inclusion, the importance of considering a holistic approach, and how to make sure accessibility is at the centre of the design thinking.
With more and more people having access to a smartphone, we also discuss how negative user experience can impact how we engage with brands. Plus we go into detail about the ‘dark mode’ on smartphones and discuss just how accessible this really is.
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108. Hand Luggage Only: WGSN Unpacks Future Travel-wear Trends
20 mei 2024 · 25 min
Hello and welcome to the fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast, which brings you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and products. Lees meer
Planning a vacation? Hands up if you overpack, underpack, or just epically fail when packing for a holiday. Well, this episode is for you. Sprinkled in among the forecasting chat, we have some hacks and tips on how to travel light with style. Unfortunately, we don’t have any advice on the best just-in-case item to pack when you get invited onto a yacht (inside joke – press play to find out more).
Take flight with us on this journey into the future of travel, as we discuss how coolcations and wellcations are likely to impact fashion design. Joining our host WGSN editorial director Bethan Ryder are Brielle Saggese, Insight Strategist, and Sara Maggioni Head of Womenswear. Find out how holiday habits are changing, due to climate change, wellness concerns and the White Lotus effect and what this means for your vacation wardrobe.
The team unpacks the latest trends in travel, from set-jetting to sleep tourism and helpful hacks like the TikTok-famous 333 method. Pack your hand luggage – and let’s go!
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107. Mall Rats, Magic Mirrors and the Great Retail Revival
7 mei 2024 · 24 min
Hello and welcome to the fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast, bringing you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and product. Lees meer
IRL retail is very much back with a bang. Discussing the green shoots of physical retail 2024 is Joe McDonnell, Director of Insight, together with our Insight retail experts Laura Saunter, Senior Strategist, and Candice Medeiros, Strategist.
Tune in to learn more about the return of the mall rat, why retail stores outperform store closures for the first time in over a decade, and how consumers are demonstrating contradictory spending behaviours – trading down on essentials to treat themselves to big-ticket experiences.
Stores aren’t just about buying but socialising and community building, with retailers offering value adds, such as yoga classes, workshops, personalised experiences, and more, creating opportunities for fostering connections. The team discusses the impact of AI in retail and how it might be best used in the future. They also explore the rising popularity and increasing criticism of the ‘buy now, pay later’ model. Plus, discover the exciting innovations likely to drive change in tomorrow’s retail environment.
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106. Milan Design Week 2024: Swings, Vibrating Bathtubs and Optimising the Senses
22 april 2024 · 25 min
Milan Design Week is the world’s biggest event dedicated to design and innovation – and WGSN’s team of experts visit every year. In this episode, hear from WGSN forecasters Lisa White, Director of Strategic Forecasting and Creative Direction, Gemma Riberti, Director of Interiors, and Helen Palmer, Head of Materials, Textiles & Knit, as they dive into this year’s fair which takes place as the Salone del Mobile at Rho Fiera Milano, plus Fuorisalone, comprising countless installations and events throughout the city. Lees meer
Our Interiors experts report live from Milan to reflect on their highlights so far which include hyper-tactility, elemental materiality, and products playing with, or inspired by water. Expect to hear about Milan Design Week regulars, such as the Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Moooi, Dimoregallery, Hermès and FormaFantasma, plus what global brands Google and Samsung showcased. The trio discuss the WGSN trends they spied including the prevalence of curtains and soft spaces, the rise of darkness, and the products, talks, or installations that brought them ‘Glimmers’.
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105. Cosmoprof Unveiled with WGSN: AI, Beauty Glimmers, and ‘Tweakment Adjacent’ Skincare
8 april 2024 · 29 min
Hello and welcome to the fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast, bringing you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and product. Lees meer
In this episode of WGSN’s Create Tomorrow podcast, the WGSN Beauty team reflects on Cosmoprof Bologna – the biggest annual beauty trade show in the world that sets the agenda for all categories of beauty. Special guest host Clare Varga, Director of Beauty at WGSN, hears the highlights from her team’s experts – Head of WGSN Beauty Sienna Piccioni and Beauty Strategist Pia Fisher.
From AI-inspired beauty products and innovative scalp analysis tech, to the latest key ingredients and the rise in personalised beauty, discover the innovations and trends that brands and consumers can expect to see in the coming months. Enjoy a beautiful listen!
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104. WGSN Live From SXSW
18 maart 2024 · 25 min
Hello and welcome to the fortnightly Create Tomorrow podcast bringing you the latest innovations impacting the future of design and product. Lees meer
In this episode of WGSN’s Create Tomorrow podcast, we report from this year’s SXSW festival, the annual event in Austin, Texas which brings together tech, film, music, education, and culture – it’s always buzzing with new ideas and concepts. As leaders in trend forecasting, we travel the globe, researching new concepts and trends to inform our work, and SXSW is one of our calendar highlights.
Tune in to hear from our experts on the ground. Senior Strategist of Insight Cassandra Napoli quizzes colleagues Liz Tan, Strategist at WGSN Insight, and Carol Aquino, Head of Consumer Tech, about their SXSW discoveries. Hear how SXSW helps inform our work at WGSN and why it’s such an important event to attend.
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103. Illuminating Nocturnal Living with Dutch Artist Daan Roosegaarde
11 maart 2024 · 25 min
How can the beauty of light help solve the climate crisis? What does it mean to see the stars at night? And what can we learn from fireflies? These are the questions answered by the enlightening artworks of Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde. Lees meer
Daan is the founder of the social design lab Studio Roosegaarde, most famous for Spark, organic sustainable fireworks inspired in part by his love of fireflies. Studio Roosegaarde’s immersive, large-scale artworks operate at the intersection of art, design, and engineering and are often poetic and mesmerising and always thought-provoking.
WGSN’s executive editorial director Bethan Ryder and Director of Strategic Forecasting Lisa White talk to Daan about his passion for light, something that radiates from global projects, which address the climate crisis and ask how we can learn from nature to create a better tomorrow.
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102. Collectible Figurines and Parasols with Passementerie - The Latest Decor Trends from Maison & Objet
26 februari 2024 · 25 min
We’re constantly scouring the globe for the latest trends, and in this episode of Create Tomorrow we report back from Maison & Objet, the biannual interiors trade fair in Paris. One of the most important global events for the interior design industry. Lees meer
Director of WGSN Interiors Gemma Riberti shares her fair highlights, from the colours she’s tracked to the unstoppable rise of the outdoor market. Plus exciting new sustainability materials, including a patent-pending innovation that transforms rice husks into precious objects of beauty.
We find out why tactile neutrals, rustic ceramics, soft leather detailing and a focus on wood will dominate, and Gemma picks her favourite take-home piece from the fair.
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101. Why Apricot Crush is WGSN’s Colour of 2024
12 februari 2024 · 22 min
Why is 2024 set for a warm glow? Tune in to hear how WGSN – in collaboration with sibling business Coloro – forecasts the colour of the year 18 months in advance and why this year’s shade is such a warming, gentle and versatile hue. Lees meer
Exploring the inclusive, nourishing power of Apricot Crush with WGSN’s editorial director Bethan Ryder is Petra Lundgren, longtime colour trend forecaster for global fashion brand H&M, together with Urangoo Samba, head of colour at WGSN.
So why are we crushing on an apricot shade, and how does it relate to digital lavender, which proved such a hit last year (Episode 69)?
Petra talks about wellness and digital influences on colour selections, the emotive quality of colour and how WGSN helps her set a more sustainable colour agenda at H&M. While Urangoo explains the role AI plays in WGSN’s tracking of colours on the fashion catwalks globally and what the key drivers are that influence consumers’ colour choices.
Plus, why the similarity between WGSN’s Apricot Crush and Pantone’s Peachy Fuzz is a positive sign of creative consensus in a polarised world.
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100. Olympic Breakdancing, Election Fever and Collective Effervescence – WGSN’s 2024 preview
31 januari 2024 · 21 min
Very much near-forecasting, in this episode we preview the year ahead, considering how the key events from politics, sports and entertainment will impact consumers and brands. Lees meer
WGSN’s editorial director Bethan Ryder speaks to Joe McDonnell, director of Insight, as he discusses 2024’s major events in relation to consumer behaviour. Discover how elections affect consumer confidence. Why it's a year of sport and how that will continue to fuel the outdoor boom. Plus, why consumers in a cost-of-living crisis will still invest in fun.
We’ll also review the major film releases planned for 2024. So with that in mind sit back, grab your popcorn, and enjoy.
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99. Pack Your Totes – WGSN’s Top Three Cities to Watch in 2024
15 januari 2024 · 26 min
In this episode, editorial director Bethan Ryder is joined by colleagues Raeesa Brey, Cassandra Gagnon, and Natacia Lim to reveal three of WGSN’s cities to watch in 2024.
From coastal concrete jungles to hyper-connected tech hubs preserving traditional cultures, here’s our pick of the cities now rising to meet the changing demands of urban living.
We forecast our clients' buzziest destinations for creativity and innovation in 2024, but also reflect on how the newness and excitement impact natives of the different cities. Lees meer -
98. Top Trends for 2024 - From the Multi-Species Home to Meals as Drinks
29 december 2023 · 19 min
Will the robots take over? How will brands tackle sustainability? And what will become our favourite tipple in 2024? Tune in to get the answers as we discover just some of the trends WGSN is forecasting for the coming year. Join Carla Buzasi, CEO of WGSN and the host of this end-of-the-year episode with her fellow WGSN guests Andrea Bell, VP of Consumer Insights, and Lisa White, Director of Strategic Forecasting and Creative Direction. And if you’re listening to this from the comfort of a heated blanket on your chair... find out how we called it in 2022. Happy 2024 to you all! Lees meer
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97. Snow Globes, Teatails and Pudding Extinction… WGSN’s Festive Table Trends
17 december 2023 · 25 min
Are you swapping your panettone for Christmas pudding? Toasting Lunar New Year with a Teatail? Or livening up your Hanukkah sufganiyot with Mexican guava flavours? If not, this episode might encourage you to dip into these new trends. Lees meer
As the year draws to a close, we tickle your tastebuds and take a look at how annual festive food and drink traditions are changing with new twists and emerging trends. Our Editorial Director at WGSN Bethan Ryder, aka Head Chef, leads this chat, with sous chefs Director of Food & Drink Jen Creevy and Strategist Millie Diamond adding insight and anecdotes to this festive platter.
We reveal the exciting things happening in seasonal flavours and talk about what will be on our tables while feasting with family and friends. Whether you’re indulging in Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Lunar New Year, there’s something here for everyone. Not to mention a few tips on how to set a beautiful festive table overflowing with maximalist shareables.
Appetite whet? Press play for all things taste and flavour.
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96. Faux Nipples and Leak-Proof Knickers – Underwear Trends Uncovered
7 december 2023 · 30 min
Join us for a rifle through the underwear drawer of fashion, as we examine this often contentious category, which historically has been very polarised. Intimates and Lingeries is often a category split between the fun - read sexy - and the functional and never the twain shall meet. But the smalls category has come on in leaps and bounds and in this episode we chart the shift towards inclusiveness, review the latest trends and look ahead to the future. Lees meer
Exploring the finer details of the intimates and lingerie market is our special guest host Francesca Muston, VP of WGSN Fashion with colleagues Lorna Hall, Director of Fashion and Sofia Martellini, Senior Strategist Fashion.
We broach topics like leak-proof wear, reflect on seminal cultural underwear moments and how the pandemic redefined comfort for bras and consider the progress yet to be made on inclusivity in the male underwear category. Plus, expect to hear about how internet-breaking Kim Kardashian (Skims) and Rihanna (Savage x Fenty) have been pivotal in recent shifts in this category. So pull on your big girl pants and tune in…
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95. Lounge Car – Why Electric Vehicles Are the Relaxation Pods Of the Future
17 november 2023 · 29 min
Plump, swivel seats that offer massage functionality and bed-down flat, wraparound screens, lighting that boosts circadian rhythms and reduces stress and scentscaping possibilities… Lounge or spa? Neither actually. This could be the car interior of the future if CASE innovations (tune in to discover what that is) continue to evolve, helping to push boundaries in car manufacturing and design. Lees meer
In this episode of Create Tomorrow, we explore the future of electric vehicles from a tech and design perspective. More specifically, how automated driving will impact the car interior – with EVs likely to evolve into a ‘lounge on wheels’.
WGSN Editorial Director Bethan Ryder leads this conversation with Carol Aquino, Head of Consumer Tech, and Angela Ringo, Senior Trend Forecaster and Editor on the Interiors team. Bethan finds out how automakers are embracing innovative ideas that bring supreme comfort and relaxation to the car interior, integrating wellness, while also including state-of-the-art screen technology.
Are you sitting comfortably, because the EV design journey has only just begun...
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94. The Rise of Beauty’s Age-Positive Movement
3 november 2023 · 25 min
How do brands speak to us as we age? Does the language used encourage us to buy from them or steer clear? Food for thought on this conversation around age beauty and brands. Director of Editorial at WGSN Bethan Ryder speaks about the age-agnostic shift we are seeing in beauty products. Age-agnostic is essentially a move away from skin resilience claims – serving the need, not the number – and a shift from ‘age appropriate’ makeup. To help flesh out this idea, Bethan speaks to Cassandra Napoli, Senior Strategist on Insight, and Pia Fisher, Beauty Strategist. Cassandra and Pia give insight and examples of the ways brands are pivoting on the language used in relation to beauty products for older consumers. Bethan dispels the claim that youth is the pinnacle of beauty, citing pop culture references of where ageing is celebrated, in the form of Madonna and Pamela Anderson. The team explore the idea of ageing well and embracing your age amid the backdrop of an AI renaissance. Examples of the latter include Hollywood actors being de-aged, and influencers ‘hacking’ their biological age by using social media filters. Cassandra shares tips on the language brands should be adopting, the importance of online communities and the power of visibility – how seeing ourselves in campaigns makes us more inclined to engage with brands. Lees meer
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93. Must-Have Decor Trends for the Festive Season
20 oktober 2023 · 27 min
In this episode, WGSN Interiors strategists discuss the key trends in Holiday decor, from tablescaping to gift wrapping. Lees meer
Host Bethan Ryder, Editorial Director at WGSN, speaks to Bonnie Pierre-Davis and Cassandra Gagnon about how consumers are approaching gifting for the Holiday season, interior trend aesthetics and ways we can gift wrap with a focus on sustainability.
We find out what trends and drivers are emerging in seasonal decor from the WGSN Interiors team’s visit to the International Trade Fair for Seasonal and Festive Decorations, Christmasworld and Atlanta market.
We also find out why there is a shift away from traditional gifting to a rise in the conscious crafting movement, where people are making and designing their own as gifts.
It wouldn’t be a WGSN podcast without projections for next year, so Bonnie and Cassandra also share what they see carrying through to 2024.
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92. Scenarios of the Future with Climate Fiction Writer Kim Stanley Robinson
6 oktober 2023 · 31 min
In this episode, WGSN Creative Director Lisa White and acclaimed climate fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson discuss biodiversity, sustainability incentives and regulations, and whether AI is impacting human creativity. Lees meer
Kim Stanley Robinson has been writing for over 40 years and has published more than 20 books, focusing on near and far futures. He talked with Lisa as part of WGSN’s recent Trends Days – a biannual brainstorming event exploring future forecasts – where they discussed the future of the biosphere, nature and human nature, plus how speculative fiction can and should play a role in the worlds of business and industry.
Stan’s work incorporates so much of what we value at WGSN, in particular our STEPIC methodology, which focuses on insights into Society, Technology, the Environment, Politics, Industry and Creativity. Through his rigorous research and storytelling skills, he gives readers a seat in the future to better understand how our actions today can and will impact the outcomes of tomorrow.
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91. Exploring Inclusive Design with Lekker Architects at Singapore Design Week
22 september 2023 · 29 min
Exploring Inclusive Design with Lekker Architects at Singapore Design WeekFrom ceramics that conduct electricity to visions of the inclusive urban environments of tomorrow, in this episode, we preview Singapore Design Week (SDW) which runs until October 1. Dawn Lim, executive director of DesignSingapore Council, talks about this festival of creativity which focuses on the future of sustainability, tech and care for our society – topics we are constantly dissecting at WGSN. We also catch up with the duo behind Lekker Architects, Ong Ker-Shing and Dr Joshua Comaroff, who are curating a project for SDW called FI&LD, which is inspired by a sports field and promotes the concept of inclusivity through play. The duo are pioneers in the field of inclusive design, and won Singapore’s annual President’s Design Award this year for their IKEA-inspired book, Hack Care: Tips and Tricks for a Dementia-Friendly Home. Lees meer
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90. London Design Festival Special #3 - Materials are the Message
20 september 2023 · 21 min
In our final episode of mini-episodes reporting from the London Design Festival, an annual event that takes over the UK capital every September, we visit Material Matters on London’s Southbank. Now in its second year, the fair has sprung from a podcast of the same name and occupies the atmospheric Bargehouse at the Oxo Tower. On until September 23, across five floors, it houses over 40 brands, designers, makers, manufacturers and organisations who all celebrate the importance of materials in bringing us closer to a circular economy. We speak to the journalist and podcaster behind the fair, Grant Gibson, and also hear about new material innovations and techniques from the likes of leading UK design duo Pearson Lloyd, East London-based contemporary crafter Gareth Neal and Danish textile artist Tanja Kirst. Lees meer
In our next episode, we jump from the London Design Festival to Singapore Design Week.
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89. London Design Festival Special #2 - Colourful, Convivial Design Collaborations
19 september 2023 · 26 min
In episode two of our series of mini-episodes reporting from the London Design Festival, an annual event that takes over the UK capital every September, we visit some of the exhibitions on show in the west side of town at Brompton Design District. Curator of the area, design writer and consultant Jane Withers, explains the theme, Conviviality – The Art of Living Together, and shares some of her highlights. We catch up with East London-based designer and woodworker Rio Kobayashi (6:41mins) and hear about his colourful debut solo show, Manus Manum Lavat, which includes furniture pieces reinvented and reborn through colour, artisanship and marquetry. Also in this episode, hear from design duo Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos Caballero (16:30mins) , who return to Cromwell Place for the first time since 2017 and have shifted their focus from fashion to home. Phase 2 consists of rugs created in Nepal, lacquered tables made in the UK, upholstery exhibited on vintage sofas, embroidered velvets, and also a range of gender-inclusive clothing. We hear about their inspirations for the collection, from malachite to design longevity. Lees meer
In our next episode, we head to Material Matters on London’s Southbank – keep your eyes peeled for the next drop.
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88. London Design Festival Special #1 – Building Regenerative Futures
18 september 2023 · 17 min
As the London Design Festival kicks off, we take Create Tomorrow on the road for a series of mini-episodes reporting on the various events, installations and exhibitions that pop up across the UK capital every September. Tune in to hear our host Bethan Ryder, Editorial Director at WGSN, catch up with some of the curators, designers and studios contributing to this colourful and inspiring event. Lees meer
The series kicks off with a visit to Spirit of Place at Strand Aldwych as we speak with contemporary designer Simone Brewster about her vivid cork sculptures decorating this newly pedestrianised space. Next, we hop over to Shoreditch to look around Mycelium Unearthed, a compact exhibition of organic designs staged by Osmose Studio, a UK-based regenerative and planet-centric design firm specialising in biodesign and mycelium materials. Aurélie Fontan, CEO & Creative Director of Osmose Studio, takes us on a tour of the various exhibits.
In our next episode, we head west to the Brompton Design District – keep your eyes peeled for the next drop.
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87. Will AI Become Your New Design Superpower?
8 september 2023 · 29 min
Does AI pose an existential threat to designers? In this episode of Create Tomorrow, Director of WGSN Consumer Tech Lisa Yong discusses how AI is impacting the creative design process, and what it might mean for the future of creativity. Lees meer
Joining Lisa are Reiko Morrison, WGSN’s Head of CMF, and Matt Zara, WGSN Consumer Tech Strategist. The team cover the many facets of generative AI, from ignorance surrounding the technology and how many aspects of our lives it already permeates, to the rise of deep fakes and wider ethical and sustainability concerns. More positively, they forecast how AI might function as a superpower for designers, taking care of the mundane tasks and freeing them to focus on the more creative aspects of their roles. Plus, they discuss what AI means for brands and how they can be more responsible with their use of AI, as well as the potential risks involved.
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86. Slime Moulding the Future with ecoLogicStudio
25 augustus 2023 · 25 min
How can microorganisms such as algae, fungi and slime mould be used to create a better future? In this episode of Create Tomorrow WGSN Editorial Director Bethan Ryder examines the future of biodesign. Her guests are Marco Poletto and Claudia Pasquero, architects, academics and co-founders of ecoLogicStudio, who talk about how we might create a better future by learning from non-human species and microorganisms.Marco and Claudia are co-authors of Deep Green: Biodesign in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, which investigates the potential of nature-based technology for shaping the evolution of contemporary architecture and design. Partners in both work and life, Marco and Claudia met at the Polytechnic University of Turin in Italy while studying engineering, before attending London’s Architectural Association. They founded their studio in 2005, and have since built a unique portfolio of work that explores how we can create a better future by learning from non-human species and microorganisms – algae, slime mould, fungi – from a domestic to an urban scale.Marco and Claudia discuss BioBombola, a domestic algae garden; their innovative AirBubble playground focusing on cleaner air for kids; PhotoSynthetica, a building cladding system that uses the power of algae to convert CO2 city pollutants into biomass; and how biodesign can work with artificial intelligence to influence the future. Lees meer
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85. Low & No Alcohol: The Sober-Curious Movement
11 augustus 2023 · 20 min
Is the low or no alcohol movement a passing fad or a new lifestyle choice that’s here to stay? WGSN discussed a more mindful approach to drinking alcohol back in November 2022. In this episode, we delve further into the low and no alcohol drinking movement, discover why it’s popular with Gen Z and discuss its global expansion. Plus we offer a taster of the interesting and diverse ingredients being used to enhance the flavours. Joining WGSN Editorial Director Bethan Ryder to talk low and no alcohol is Jen Creevy, Director of Food & Drink, alongside strategists from her team, Rachel Tan and Millie Diamond. Lees meer
Tune in to find out about this growing billion-dollar drinks sector and how the sober-curious movement taps into the increasing importance of wellness, inclusivity and personal choice. Find out why low and no alcohol is expanding its influence beyond evenings to breakfast and brunch with drinks featuring flavour notes of marmalade and toast – and even into social sports with new brands like Racquet Rosé. It’s time to raise a toast to low and no alcohol, swap ‘damp’ for ‘dry’ and get your name down for the ‘sober party’.
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84. Inspiring coastal destinations from Rio to Margate
28 juli 2023 · 28 min
At WGSN, our mission is to stay ahead of the curve for our clients. In this episode of Create Tomorrow, we explore the coastal cities making strides in retail, hospitality and culture. Our City by City team share insights on must-visit destinations in Asia, South America and Europe for fresh and inspirational experiences – all featured in our latest Coastal Guide. Globetrotting across continents, we pinpoint the most exciting spaces, places, designers and brands that offer escape and inspiration in equal measure. Our on-the-ground experts share the most noteworthy markets, must-try drinks and emerging brands from the Coastal Guide. And if you're tempted by the digital nomad lifestyle, we share the best locations to call home... join us on our coastal trip. Lees meer
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83. Building a Timber Future with Waugh Thistleton
14 juli 2023 · 26 min
Could wood be the key to building more sustainable cities? In this episode of Create Tomorrow, architect Andrew Waugh and WGSN’s Editorial Director Bethan Ryder explore the power of engineered timber and how it might help us to build a better future for people and the planet. Lees meer
Andrew Waugh is co-founder with Anthony Thistleton of British architecture practice Waugh Thistleton, which has completed a total of 30 projects built with cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the UK and France. CLT is a super-strong construction material made from layers of kiln-dried dimensional lumber, which are oriented at right angles to one another and then glued to form structural panels.
The conversation looks at how low-carbon cities could be built from CLT; the financial and wellness benefits of timber buildings and biophilia as opposed to concrete ‘cast caves’; the need for more diversity in architecture; and how AI will impact the industry. Plus, we hear the story of Waugh Thistleton’s first timber build in south London back in 2003.
Andrew and Bethan wrap up by talking about the need for more diversity within the architecture profession and a winning suggestion for the UK’s Houses of Parliament.
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82. Festival Style – What’s Headlining Now & Next
30 juni 2023 · 28 min
Jeans and a T-shirt? Cowboy boots or wellies? When it comes to festival wear are you more practical or performative? In this episode of Create Tomorrow, we find out what fashion trends are dominating the current and future landscape of festival fashion.WGSN has been tracking festival fashion across the globe for years now, delivering unique insights on emerging styles and aesthetics, product trends and evolving consumer attitudes – particularly among younger cohorts.With festival season upon us, and the TikTok hashtag #FestivalFashion approaching one billion views, we reflect on the diverse evolution of festival outfits – from ever-shifting youth culture to the rising influence of global stadium tours.In this episode, host Kraggy (Graham Krag), Prints & Graphics Strategist on WGSN Fashion, is joined by Youth Fashion Strategists Mia Jacobs and Jaeyeon Park to discuss what this truly means for brands – and why the industry should pay particularly close attention to this year’s festival season.Mia and Jaeyeon also talk about nostalgic tech and the impact stadium tour fashion is having. World tours – from the likes of Beyoncé, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift – have opened up opportunities for retailers because of their long duration, giving brands more time to market tour merchandise.In this episode, we chart the top festival trends we’ve been tracking, and predict the impact this will have on brands in the future.Learn more about WGSN forecasts here. Lees meer
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81. Designing Joy into Luxury Retail with Architects Sybarite
16 juni 2023 · 28 min
In this episode, Bethan Ryder, Editorial Director at WGSN is joined by guests Simon Mitchell, co-founder of architectural studio Sybarite, and Laura Saunter, Senior Strategist at WGSN. Together, Bethan and guests explore the landscape of luxury retail, from the return of the mega flagship in the post-pandemic era to how luxury brands are meeting the needs of the most discerning consumers by delivering memorable in-store experiences. Simon and Laura bring valuable insights on designing luxury retail spaces around the world, how China is leading the way, the influence of sustainability on the design process, and the evolving relationship between consumers and brands within the physical retail environment. Find out why retail design is theatre. Why stores and malls need to deliver delight and joy. And how luxury brands are becoming cultural curators. Hear from Simon Mitchell, co-founder of luxury retail design specialists Sybarite, on how a Katharine Hamnett store inspired him to follow a design career back in the 80s and how working with Marni taught him how you could push the boundaries of retail design. Lees meer
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80. The Snacking Revolution: From Hype Treats To It-Desserts
2 juni 2023 · 21 min
Welcome back to Create Tomorrow. On this week’s episode Claire Lancaster, WGSN head of Food & Drink and Katherine Schub, Forecaster and Strategist on our Food and Drink team join Bethan to discuss snacking culture. Lees meer
Consumers are snacking more than ever, whether for comfort, for their health or for convenience. In this episode, host director of Editorial at WGSN and her expert guests explore consumers’ evolving snacking tastes plus the pioneering brands on the market right now.
Bethan, Claire and Katherine find out why snacking has cult appeal, how brands are collaborating with creators to release limited edition snacks and how this is impacting the food and drink landscape.
Listen to hear Katherine and Claire’s favourite snack, we don’t get to hear Bethan’s because well… listen to find out why.
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79. Dressed up for Mars (or Netflix!) with Vollebak
19 mei 2023 · 26 min
Vollebak is a British fashion brand focusing on designing clothes that will see us through extreme environments, war and space exploration. Lees meer
Co-founder of the clothing company Steve Tidball joins host editorial director Bethan Ryder and WGSN head of activewear Yvonne Kostiak to discuss the future of clothing for the next century, innovations in the activewear market and why Vollebak doesn’t produce seasonal collections like most clothing brands.
Steve talks about Vollebak's inception, the brand's journey into the future and of course the Jason Bourne-esque pants designed to last 100 years.
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78. Milan Design Week Special #4 - Materials Focus
9 mei 2023 · 22 min
This is the concluding episode of our Milan Design Week Special series in which we’ve explored some of the key trends and brought you insights and interviews from the 2023 edition, which takes place across the city and also at Fiera Milano exhibition centre located just outside the city. Lees meer
Bethan Ryder, WGSN Executive Editorial Director is joined by Director of Interiors Lisa White and Head of Interiors Gemma Riberti as we explore materials, a trend that had a strong focus at this year’s Milan Design Week.
Tune in to hear about creative material contrasts, recycled glass, a biodegradable hemp chair and an innovation that might help us to detect dangerous UV rays in the future.
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77. Milan Design Week Special #3 - Sustainability and Design
9 mei 2023 · 24 min
This is the third in our series of episodes in which we bring you some of the key trends, insights and interviews from Milan Design Week 2023. Lees meer
The annual Milan Design Week is considered the world’s biggest event dedicated to design which takes place at Fiera Milano exhibition centre located just outside the city, plus across the city as Fuorisalone in showrooms, palazzos and other venues.
Bethan Ryder, WGSN Executive Editorial Director is joined by Director of Interiors Lisa White and Head of Interiors Gemma Riberti as we explore our sustainability trend.
In this episode we focus on an interview with Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, co-founders of Formafantasma, the research-driven design studio who are leading the conversion on sustainability and design not just from a materials perspective but also a human one. And also catch up with Dutch designer Maarten Baas, who created a private jet of recycled denim for his collaboration with G-Star RAW.
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76. Milan Design Week Special #2 - Outdoor Lifestyles
9 mei 2023 · 18 min
This is the second in our series of episodes in which we bring you some of the key trends, insights and interviews from Milan Design Week 2023. Lees meer
The annual Milan Design Week is considered the world’s biggest event dedicated to design which takes place at Fiera Milano exhibition centre located just outside the city, plus across the city as Fuorisalone in showrooms, palazzos and other venues.
Bethan Ryder, WGSN Executive Editorial Director is joined by Director of Interiors Lisa White and Head of Interiors Gemma Riberti as we explore our outdoor lifestyles trend.
We focus on an interview with Marie Kristine Schmidt, chief brand officer at the Danish company Gubi, speaking as we toured their installation at the iconic Bagna Misteriosa in Milan.