Convergence

Trend - Watchmakers are incorporating sustainable materials, such as ocean-bound plastics, into products. This offers customer the combination of luxury build quality and name, with the positivity associated with sustainable goods. This adds further value to luxury timepieces beyond status symbols, enabling new levels of self expression with timepieces.

Insight - Customers interested in collectible luxury goods are typically motivated by exclusivity, quality, and appearance. These consumers value products that fit their lifestyle, such as luxury watches that match outfits. As a reflexive action to these motivations, the luxury watch industry is filled with ultra limited-edition, ultra luxury iterations. However, these products are typically sold only on their complex composition and professional build quality, which may not fit into every consumers lifestyle due to environmental concerns. As a result, luxury watchmakers are now incorporating sustainable materials, such as ocean-bound plastics, into collectible timepieces.

Trend - Workpalces are using generative artificial intelligence to craft training modules, provide feedback, and improve overall onboarding experiences for employees. These AI models deliver accurate feedback more quickly than human workers, saving companies time and money on onboarding.

Insight - For many businesses, onboarding is an expensive process, often requiring time and resources invested from multiple other employees and branches of the businesses. As a result, these businesses continually search for ways to streamline the onboarding process while ensuring that new employees are prepared for their jobs. These businesses desire no-compromises automation that is customizable to suit each required role, leading to generative AI being used to create onboarding models.

Trend - Bubble tea options have expanded into ready-to-drink formats, and even brewing companies are taking inspiration from the beverage's ingredients. Specialty brews with creamy textures, tapioca pearls, brown sugar and fruity flavors offer a new take on the popular Taiwanese beverage.

Insight - Gen Z and Millennials are adventurous eaters, with these generations more likely to try new F&B products and explore global foods. Their openness to F&B has been impacted by social media--where being introduced to global cuisines or novelty foods is the norm. These demographics seek out new food experiences and purchase from brands that prioritize authenticity when replicating traditional foods.

Trend - CPG brands and restaurants are launching foods made with chai ingredients. Chai is popular in drinks for its strong, spicy, floral flavor, and its health benefits. This is now being made available to non-tea-drinkers in the form of snacks, breakfast bars, bakery items, and packaged goods.

Insight - The modern consumer in North America has countless flavors from international locations available to them for snacks, drinks, and foods. These consumers are willing to try new flavors, pairings, or interpretations of recipes, to find a new flavor, with priority given to functional foods. Some of the most popular flavors for drinks, such as chai tea or blue curacao in alcohol, are often only found in beverages, making it difficult for certain customers to ever try these flavors.

Trend - 3D scanner apps capture and generate three-dimensional models of real-world objects or environments. These apps transform physical objects into digital 3D assets that can be used in various applications and industries, including augmented reality, virtual reality, design, gaming, and health.

Insight - Consumers are often looking for ways to access advanced technology without purchasing a new device, and mobile-integrated scanners are an accessible resource for individuals looking to view and create personalized digital assets. By using an app instead of a machine, consumers without prior experience in 3D assets can experiment and produce their own without incurring hefty costs.

Trend - Peripheral manufacturers are experimenting with productivity-enhancing keyboards with integrated LCD panels. These keyboards act as an additional monitor for simple tasks, providing quick access to information or apps when needed. These are multipurpose for professional or entertainment use.

Insight - Nearly every consumer who uses a computer for work or entertainment in 2023 has multiple monitors. Additional monitors enhance workplace productivity, while on the entertainment side, monitors provide quick-access to extra content. There is a constant pressure from consumers on both of these sides for products that enhance productivity and entertainment, with brands consistently experimenting with new multipurpose peripherals that combine functions into one device.

Trend - Keyboard manufacturers are creating keyboards using special keycaps and switches in order to appeal to fans of ASMR and soft, gentle sounds. These keyboards are crafted using special keycaps, lubrication, and materials that help customize the sound emitted when a key is pressed.

Insight - More people are seeking ways to enhance their work-from-home environments as remote work practices reach an all-time high. For some consumers, the fuzzy or tingling sensation felt when listening to certain recorded sounds can evoke a sense of relaxation and peace. Consumers who are fans of ASMR may gravitate towards keyboards with PBT, lubricated, or soft-sounding keycaps, as these offer an auditory benefit for fans of gentle sounds.

Trend - Skincare brands are experimenting with microcrystals to help consumers achieve clear, wrinkle-free skin. Microcrystals work to exfoliate the skin, helping remove dead skin cells and debris from the outer layer. This helps address signs of aging and plumps the skin for a more youthful appearance.

Insight - Consumers often desire to look young and healthy, and many skincare products, especially those crafted with ingredients to promote collagen production, can help reduce signs of aging. Microcrystals can be paired with skincare to enhance the effects, which helps consumers feel like they're getting the most out of their products. Whether it's fine lines or loose skin, microcrystals naturally exfoliate and tighten, which eliminates the need for cosmetic procedures and injections.

Trend - Luxury fashion brands are unveiling anime-themed collections to foster relationships with the younger generation and today's nostalgia-fueled adults. Anime and cartoon motifs can transform pieces into collectibles valued for years, and with the popularization of diverse media, brands are finding inspiration outside the dominant culture.

Insight - Fans are eager to purchase merchandise featuring their favorite characters, making anime a more approachable marketing strategy. As consumers look for more diverse sources of culture in everything they do, the luxury scene is proving that it can appeal to a more diverse and younger consumer audience. By releasing anime-themed goods, luxury brands demonstrate that they are willing to interact with an ever-changing pop culture scene.

Trend - Esports continues to dominate the entertainment industry, and with the new opportunities in games, companies are racing to equip today’s students with the knowledge and experience needed to pursue a career in gaming. These initiatives include student esports leagues, esports management programs, and more.

Insight - As the global perception of gaming shifts, companies are recognizing how investing in educational esports initiatives can lead to increased interest in technology-driven careers. Esports encourages students to pursue further education and professions in STEM while also assisting them in developing new transferable and digital literacy skills. Additionally, providing students with an outlet to express their interests helps foster a mutually beneficial relationship with the educational institution.