PSFK Weekly
Creativity, trends & futures selected by Piers Fawkes & the PSFK research team.
This Week’s Ideas
A sample of the innovation case studies we added to PSFK IQ this week.
A Symbol of Connectivity in Public Spaces
The &omni chair, designed by Boyeon Kim, is more than just a seat; it's a symbol of connectivity, diplomacy, and trust. It invites public interaction and serves as a modern testament to design's role in promoting meaningful social exchanges. Learn More: Discover the &omni chair
David Lynch's Thinking Rooms: Sanctuaries of Creativity
The 2024 Salone del Mobile in Milan spotlights David Lynch's Thinking Rooms, offering spaces designed to inspire and facilitate contemplation, aligning with the film director's unique aesthetic. Learn More: Explore Thinking Rooms
Exploring Dynamic Sculptures
London’s Hayward Gallery has an exhibition that invites visitors into a world where sculptures breathe, ooze, and undulate, offering a multisensory journey through art that defies static forms. Learn More: Visit the exhibition
A Symphony of Color and Sound
Brian Eno's Turntable II artfully combines sculpture and music, offering a color-shifting ambient environment that celebrates the transient beauty of sound and design. Learn More: Explore Eno's Turntable II
The Beauty of Shifting Patterns
A captivating art piece powered by sand mesmerizes with its ever-changing designs, demonstrating the elegance of simplicity and the endless potential of creativity. Learn More: View the art installation
Illuminating Ancient Stones
Studio davidpompa's Sociedad Volcánica presents a collection of volcanic stone light sculptures, merging geology with design to create a harmonious balance between ancient materials and modern aesthetics. Learn More: Explore the volcanic stone sculptures
Interface Redesign for Analog Timekeeping
Hublot stood out at LVMH Watch Week with the MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System, a watch that marries innovative design with technical brilliance, featuring dynamic rotating displays and advanced shock absorbers. Learn More: Discover Hublot's latest innovation
Immersion in Sustainable Aquaculture
Salmon Eye exhibition blends the allure of sustainable aquaculture with the tranquility of acoustics, utilizing Kvadrat's Soft Cells acoustic panels to provide an experience that's both visually and sonically soothing. Learn More: Learn about the Salmon Eye exhibition
Challenging Perceptions of Home
IKEA's latest marketing initiative steps away from idealized media portrayals, presenting 'real' homes around the globe. This approach with photographer Annie Leibovitz underpins a Paris exhibit, striving to forge deeper, more authentic connections with the brand. Learn More: Learn about IKEA's campaign
Harmonizing Tradition with Modernity
A Singaporean apartment redefines minimalist living by integrating smart home technology with the wabi-sabi philosophy, demonstrating the seamless blend of tradition and innovation in modern design. Learn More: View the minimalist wabi-sabi design
Cocoon of Words: Atelier Tao+C's Book-Lined Haven
Atelier Tao+C transforms a Shanghai studio apartment into a literary cocoon, enveloping the space with bookshelves. This renovation emphasizes the wabi-sabi aesthetic, integrating living, study, and dining areas through multifunctional storage that fosters a harmonious balance between function and seclusion. Learn More: Discover Atelier Tao+C's renovation
Regenerative Dining in the Grampians
Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel entices guests with a kitchen garden in the Grampians National Park, blending fine dining with sustainability, and offering a culinary journey amidst Australia's natural beauty. Learn More: Experience Wickens' culinary offerings
Crafting Experiences Beyond Spirits
Clase Azul transcends traditional spirit offerings by curating immersive experiences that celebrate Mexican heritage at La Terrazza in Los Cabos. Their approach marries the sensory pleasures of premium beverages with the richness of cultural expression, providing guests with a multifaceted encounter with the brand. Learn More: Discover Clase Azul's heritage
Childhood Reimagined in Spirits
Liliane Nguyen's Mothaiba vodka reinvigorates the spirits industry with a nostalgic essence, blending childhood flavors with a whimsical brand persona. Learn More: Taste the nostalgia with Mothaiba
A Porcelain Vessel for Hidden Emotions
Agnieszka Mazur's Secret Heart, a porcelain vessel, becomes a keeper of private thoughts, from declarations of love to secret confessions, mirroring the emotional depth of the human heart. Learn More: Discover the Secret Heart
This Week’s Trend: Ghost Shoppers
For the next few week’s, we’re sharing an extract from Piers Fawkes’ new 2025 trends report:Machine Thinking. In this thought piece, the PSFK and RIW founder looks at how AI-powered shopping redefining consumer choice, privacy, and retail dynamics.
Imagine a world where the luxury of personal shopping isn't confined to exclusive boutiques and high-end clientele but is a digital companion to every consumer. This is where the 'Ghost Shopper' concept comes into play, a paradigm shift brought about by the seamless marriage of AI, big data and retail.
In the past decade, the digital revolution transformed personal shopping from an exclusive service into a virtual experience accessible to all. We have seen the role of these high-touch consiglieres evolve from catering to the elite in plush private rooms to servicing the masses via smartphones. But this was just the beginning. The true innovation lies in harnessing AI to transcend the traditional boundaries of personal shopping.
Enter the Ghost Shopper – not a human, but an AI-powered bot, a discreet navigator in the retail labyrinth. The Ghost Shopper is an agent that works on behalf of the shopper not the store. It's a tool that assimilates vast amounts of data, understanding your preferences, needs, and even those subtle whims. It's proactive, seeking out deals and opportunities tailored to you, and reactive, adjusting to your evolving tastes and circumstances.
We’ve already spotted early signals of the Ghost Shopper trend. A Russian man recently created such a tool to go out and chat with women on Tinder to find him the perfect date. The tool worked so well that after communicating with over 5,000 women, the Moscow resident found a wife.
The Ghost Shopper isn't just about finding the right product at the right price. It's a balancing act, a mediator between consumer desires and retailer strategies. It's the retail world's answer to an ad-blocker, offering a more equitable shopping experience where your data isn't a commodity but a tool for your benefit.
This AI-driven shopping assistant also ushers in a new era of privacy and security. As we navigate a world rife with data concerns, the Ghost Shopper stands as a guardian, ensuring your digital footprint is secure, your preferences respected.
Microsoft has also announced that its AI assistant, Copilot, will enhance shopping experiences on Bing and Edge, aiming to integrate with flagship products. The Copilot will assists users in style decisions, finding specific items, and making purchases, using conversational queries and image searches to tailor recommendations.
In this landscape, AI and Big Data aren't just buzzwords; they're the architects of a new retail experience. One where personalization goes beyond algorithms, where shopping becomes a dialogue between consumer, AI, and the vast retail ecosystem.
Keep subscribed to this newsletter to receive an alert regarding the publication of ‘Machine Thinking’ to PSFK’s report library
This Week’s Reports
Available as one-off $79 purchases or as part of a $495 monthly PSFK IQ subscription:
Maximizing Market Expansion and Innovation in Food & Beverage
Profitability Optimization: Forecasting, Cost Management & SKU Efficiency
Profitable Growth Through Brand Reinvention & Product Expansion
This Week’s ‘Earnings Call’ Podcasts from PSFK
Short 3-minute audio clips about the following companies are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify:
Airbnb, Allstate Corporation, Bark, Carlsberg, Herbalife, Honda, Krispy Kreme, Kraft Heinz Company, Lyft, Mattel, Inc., Newell Brands, PepsiCo, Rakuten, Roblox, Shiseido, Shopify, Sony, Sunoco LP, The Coca-Cola Company, Topgolf, Tripadvisor, Under Armour, Wynn Resorts, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, YETI, Zillow Group
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