Stylus Future Thinking

In this episode, Stylus is joined by Fiona Atzler, Senior Director at global strategy and innovation consultancy Egg Strategy, to discuss how brands and businesses can navigate complexity in the year ahead by understanding – and acting on – fundamental consumer needs.

In this episode, Stylus is joined by Jarrod Dicker, VP of commercial technology and development at the Washington Post, to discuss the current and future state of media, journalism and publishing.

In this episode, Stylus is joined by Alison Darcy, founder and CEO of Woebot, to discuss how our mental health needs are increasingly being served by artificially intelligent bots.

In this episode, Stylus is joined by Trinny Woodall – beauty entrepreneur and Insta-influencer, and previously one half of fashion makeover team Trinny & Susannah – to discuss how the beauty industry is taking on the challenge of de-stressing consumers. With Lisa Payne, Senior Beauty Editor, Stylus.

In this episode, Christian Ward is joined by Hasna Kourda, founder of 'digital wardrobe' app Save Your Wardrobe, and Katie Baron, director of Consumer Engagement at Stylus, to discuss Gen Z fashion and retail trends – specifically the use of new tech tools that encourage more conscious consumerism.

In this episode, Christian Ward is joined by designer Thomas Heatherwick and Stylus’s senior editor of Product Design Dewi Pinatih to discuss the power of biophilia – how nature can contribute to better workplaces, buildings and cities.

The fashion industry is in a state of flux, but new digitally driven innovations are pushing it forward. In this episode, Christian Ward talks to Ben Demiri, co-founder and CEO of PlatformE, and Saisangeeth Daswani, head of Advisory – Fashion, Beauty & APAC at Stylus, about how made-to-order technology is shaking things up.

We’re in the middle of a revolution in consumer creativity, driven by platforms like TikTok, Twitch, Patreon, Substack and OnlyFans. In this episode, Christian Ward talks to Josh Constine, Principal Investor & Head of Content at early stage venture capital firm SignalFire, and Julia Errens, Pop Culture & Media Editor at Stylus, about what’s fuelling this creativity renaissance, and how brands can play a part.

At this year’s Stylus Trends Intelligence Summit (Oct 20-22), Christian Ward hosted a conversation on the responsibilities that brands have in taking a stand and impacting their communities. Four industry thought leaders offered penetrating insights on how to make a difference, with particular focus on the upcoming US election, but also looking at many of the other issues that have impacted society over the course of this challenging year.

Has advertising, in the age of programmatic placement, big data and hyper-personalisation, lost sight of the “big creative idea”? Christian Ward talks to Michael Miraflor, a marketing consultant whose previous roles include Global Head of Futures & Innovation at Blue 449, a Publicis Media agency. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the International Radio and Television Society and is a contributor to MediaPost and Luxury Daily.

In this time of global uncertainty what does the future hold for the music industry? Christian Ward talks to Cherie Hu, founder of Water + Music about how the industry is changing in response to the pandemic, what that means for artists and performers and how brands can play their part.

Consumers are turning away from big, open social media platforms towards more personal, private community spaces. In this episode Christian Ward talks to Greg Isenberg, co-founder of Late Checkout about what this means for brands, consumers and start-ups alike.

Today we take a look at the racism pervading the food industry and why it’s critical that brands foster an inclusive food culture for all consumers. Emilia Morano-Williams talks to academic, journalist and artist Anna Sulan Masing and chef, author and activist Zoe Adjonyoh about what it means to decolonise the food industry and the importance of multiple narratives.

African and Caribbean women reportedly spend about 80% more on cosmetics and double the amount on skincare as their non-Afro Caribbean counterparts, and yet are still underserved in this market. Christian Ward talks to Founder of SevenSix Agency Charlotte Williams and Stylus’ Senior Beauty Editor Lisa Payne about the beauty brands getting it right and the how others can follow suit.

How do you create a culture of inclusion and be a better leader in these challenging times? Christian Ward talks to founder of The New Quo Christina Blacken, and Stylus’ Pop Culture & Media Editor Julia Errens about how narrative intelligence drives behaviour, why inequality is stifling innovation and the potential of transformational leadership.

How can brands and marketers take action to support Black Lives Matter in meaningful, long-term ways? Christian Ward talks to marketing consultant Sonia Thompson and strategic marketing consultant Lexie Perez about the work that needs to be done internally to support deeper structural change, and why your team needs to look like the people you’re serving.

With some tech giants now stepping away from facial recognition because inherent bias, what is and can be done to address this critical issue? Emilia Morano Williams talks to founder and CEO of AI for the People Mutale Nkonde about how racial bias is contaminating AI and what a racially inclusive future for tech could look like.

How are Gen Z reacting to this extraordinary year? Christian Ward talks to founder of Gen Z insights agency Imagen, Jay Richards about the brands winning respect by investing in social causes, and how they can be the ones to maintain the momentum of now and demand long-term change.

How can brands put themselves on the line to become more than just an ally in the Black Lives Matter movement? Christian Ward speaks to journalist Ernest Owens and Director of Creative Strategy at Vox Media Amber Davis about how to move beyond lip-service to bring about the systemic changes needed.

Is it possible for businesses to emerge from the coronavirus crisis stronger and more resilient than before? Christian Ward talks to founder of Plan, Kevin McCullagh about the challenges all business must navigate to adapt to the current crisis.

What are the concerns of Chinese consumers and how are they shifting as the country re-opens following Covid-19 lockdown? Emilia Morano-Williams talks to Nancy Zhang, head of partnerships for China-focused ecommerce company BorderX Lab, and Saisangeeth Daswani, Stylus’ Advisory Head of Fashion, Beauty and APAC, about what international brands should know before entering the market, the history of revenge buying and what messaging will resonate with Chinese consumers post-pandemic.

How is coronavirus shifting our approach to wellbeing in lockdown and beyond? Christian Ward talks to founder if St Iris, Sanela Lazic and Stylus’ senior Beauty editor Lisa Payne about the integral role that beauty can play in our quest for balance, happiness and respite.

How can brands get to grips with their customers’ subconscious behaviour – and why do they need to? Christian Ward talks to CEO of Neuro-Insight Shazia Ginai and Kate Johnson, Stylus’ senior editor of Technology and Consumer Attitudes about the gap between perceived and actual behaviour, the importance of storytelling in prompting action and the ethics of tapping into the consumer subconscious.

Having shed its hippie roots, what does ‘clean beauty’ mean today? Christian Ward talks to wellness guru and founder of Romilly Wilde, Susie Willis and Lisa Payne, Stylus’ senior Beauty editor about what makes a product truly natural, the surplus ingredients to avoid and clean beauty in a post-pandemic world.

Hailed as the sustainable saviour of the fashion industry, what do rental and re-sales look like in a post-pandemic world? Christian Ward talks to industry guru and chairman of resales venture My Wardrobe HQ, Jane Shepherdson, and Emily Gordon-Smith, Stylus’ director of Consumer Product about the brands diversifying and using their resources for good, giving consumers space to reflect on their choices and the longer-term future of sustainable fashion.

From TikTok challenges to Discord communities, the social media landscape is becoming increasingly nuanced - how can brands keep up and add value? Christian Ward talks to digital content expert and founder of SW Projects Sara Wilson about the value of tapping into niche groups, why now is the time for experimentation and the lasting impact of Covid-19 on digital content.

Gen Z are a unique force, distinctly different to any previous demographic. In this episode Christian Ward talks to Jay Richards, founder of Imagen, and Katie Baron, Stylus’ Director of Brand Engagement about how to access brutally honest insights from this cohort, what status means to them and how to win their loyalty.

How can brands create products that truly resonate with luxury consumers? Christian Ward talks to founder of Veronique Gabai Beauty, Veronique Gabai and Stylus’ senior Beauty editor Lisa Payne about wellness, sensoriality and the quest for meaning in luxury beauty.

With almost half of the drinking-age public no longer drinking, shrewd brands are elevating low and no alcohol drinks beyond the everyday. Emilia Morano-Williams talks to founder of booze-free craft cocktail makers Curious Elixirs John Wiseman, and Stylus’ US trends analyst and resident mocktail enthusiast Emily Seger about what’s driving people to scale back on their drinking and how brands can build relationships with these teetotal consumers.

What’s driving the renaissance in psychedelic drug use, and what can brands do to get involved? Christian Ward talks to co-founder of psychedelic retreat Synthesis Myles Katz, and Stylus’ senior editor of Consumer Attitudes and Technology Kate Johnson about unleashing creativity, tapping the subconscious and - above all - avoiding the bad trip.

What are the forces shaping the fashion industry in 2020? Christian Ward talks to fashion expert and Stylus’ catwalks consultant Sue Evans and Stylus’ head of Consumer Product Emily Gordon-Smith about the four trends you need to know; from the future of catwalks and buying less to the menswear revolution and super-quiet luxury.

From Brexit, to climate change, to the impact of the coronavirus, the only constant in world affairs right now is uncertainty. Christian Ward talks to journalists Janina Conboye of the Financial Times and Mary-Ann Russon of the BBC to explore how businesses can respond and adapt to the wider trends that are fuelling, and being fuelled by, this instability.

In our hectic lives how can we ensure that our homes are optimised for wellbeing? Christian Ward talks to brand consultant and interiors guru Suzanne Imre and Stylus’ Product Design senior editor Dewi Pinatih about how we can turn our homes into sanctuaries for calm, and the opportunities this presents for brands.

The global resales industry has grown 21 times faster than the retail apparel market over the past three years, and brands are starting to take notice. Christian Ward talks to Andy Ruben, CEO of resales business Yerdle and Rebecca Hobbs, Stylus’ Retail editor about the drivers behind this paradigm shift in ownership and its potential to solve the crisis in fast fashion.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas offers a peek at the products set to shape our future lives. Christian Ward talks to Imagination’s global creative technology director Simon Levitt and Stylus’ assistant editor of Technology and Consumer Attitudes Elspeth Taylor about the best of the tech they saw at the show this year, from the near-future of flexible screens and mixed-reality displays to the bleeding edge of flying cars and compostable batteries.

In this episode, we take a look at the habits of the 1% – who are in reality a much smaller cohort than that. Tessa Mansfield talks to luxury and wealth specialist Winston Chesterfield and Stylus’ senior Product Design editor Dewi Pinatih about the crazy world of high, very high and ultra-high-net-worth consumers. Who are they, where are they, and how can brands woo them?

What do holidays look like when money is no object? Christian Ward talks to Managing Director of luxury concierge company Quintessentially Travel, Jenny Graham and Stylus’ Assistant Editor of food & beverage, travel & hospitality Laura Swain about the trends fuelling the future of luxury destination travel, and the art of crafting truly high-end travel experiences.

Sitting squarely between the physical and digital arenas, drone racing is quickly becoming a world-class sport. Christian Ward talks to Nicholas Horbaczewski, CEO & founder of The Drone Racing League and Claire Murray, Stylus’ advisory strategist about the phenomenon that’s enticing world-class pilots to take part and tens of millions of people globally to tune in, and the opportunities to get involved.

2019 marks the 20th anniversary of Interbrand’s Best Global Brands Ranking. Christian Ward talks to the company’s Global Chief Learning & Culture Officer Rebecca Robins and Stylus’ Media & Marketing Editor about what makes a great brand now and how that is set to change in the future.

What does the future of travel look like in a world where a new generation of travelers are demanding a more diverse, hands-on, eco-conscious set of experiences? Christian Ward talks to David Plotz, CEO of Atlas Obscura and Emilia Morano-Williams, Stylus’ assistant editor about the cross-generational quest for intellectual experiences, the appeal of dark tourism and where this desire for adventure is heading.

While it’s not something that gets a great deal of attention, soil really does have the potential to halt the climate crisis. Christian Ward talks to farmer, coder and physicist Abby Rose, and Stylus’ Head of Food & Beverage, Travel & Hospitality Mandy Saven about the little-discussed key to our planet's survival, and what we can do as businesses and consumers to help.

Companies who place purpose at the heart of their brand are reaping the rewards of loyal customers as well as piece of mind. In an inspiring panel recorded live from Decoded Future New York, Christian Ward talks to the brands leading the way in terms of sustainability and social impact - Ben & Jerry’s, Airbnb, Patagonia and Vita Coco. They share their lessons learned and insights behind what it means to effect change.

A new type of omni-intelligent technology is bridging the gap between e-commerce and in-store shopping. In a conversation from Decoded Future New York, Stylus’ head of Retail Katie Baron talks to co-founder and CEO of Neighbourhood Goods Matt Alexander about the retailers powering immersive, seductive self-made shopping environments.

As natural resources run out the commercial opportunities of waste as a readily-available alternative are being unlocked by innovative businesses like Lylie's, which creates fine jewellery out of gold salvaged from e-waste. Christian Ward talks to founder Eliza Walter and Stylus contributing editor Sioban Imms about the realities of creating covetable products with a conscience, making things to be un-made and responsibility as an expectation.

How can brands generate authentic experiences for hyper-diverse audiences? Christian Ward discusses the important issues around inclusivity and connecting with Muslim women with Kate Johnson, Stylus’ senior editor of consumer attitudes & technology and Nafisa Bakkar, co-founder of Amaliah - a content platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of Muslim women.

Coinciding with the global climate strike, London’s latest Design Festival referenced sustainability as one its key themes - but did its actions really measure up? Christian Ward talks to Stylus’ Senior Product Design Editor Dewi Pinatih and designer, curator and editor of London Design Guide Max Fraser about the feasibility and future of design weeks in a time of climate crisis.

This week we take a look at the state of online culture and the trends that brands should be paying the most attention to, including meme mechanics, the gaming opportunity and trolling as an engagement strategy. Christian Ward talks to Chris McCrudden, Senior Planner at Edelman and Julia Errens, Stylus’ Media & Marketing Editor about the ever-evolving cultural conversation and how brands can ever hope to keep up.

How can brands tap into the consumer desire for artifice and illusion, and how does this desire marry with the pursuit of authenticity? Christian Ward talks to Head of Strategy at BBH Ben Shaw and Katie Baron, Stylus’s Head of Retail about the opportunities of immersive mixed realities, the rise of AI avatars and the symbiotic relationship between retail and gaming.

Thanks to leaps in neuroscience and cognitive understanding, scent is moving beyond the cosmetic to something that can augment our physical and mental health. Christian Ward talks to fragrance specialist Lizzie Ostrom (AKA Odette Toilette) and Stylus’ senior beauty editor Lisa Payne about the five trends set to change the face of fragrance.

What will happen when digital content escapes the confines of the 2D screens of today and creates an interactive layer all around us? Christian Ward talks to spatial computing pioneer and founder of argodesign Mark Rolston and Stylus’ consumer attitudes and technology senior editor Stephen Graves about how brands can unlock the creativity needed for a world where every instance is an opportunity to connect with their consumer.