Published 20 January 2023

10 min read

The post-pandemic desire for a slower, more sustainable pace is driving a shift in values, replacing an obsession with productivity and novelty with a yearning for purpose, connection and longevity. Exploring our Look Ahead 2023 theme Design for Deceleration, we outline the prioritisation of wellbeing across homeware, toys, tech and the workplace.

Anxiety Antidotes: Products for Calm & Confidence

Creativity & Play Help to Clear Headspace

Wellbeing-Led Workspaces

Uncertain times call for clever solutions that help alleviate anxiety and build self-reliance. Homeware and electronics with soothing sensory qualities can play a beneficial role in releasing nervous energy. Meanwhile, items that are designed to be unintimidating to dismantle, repair and update enhance agency, elevating consumers to empowered owners.

Uncertain times call for clever solutions that help alleviate anxiety and build self-reliance. Homeware and electronics with soothing sensory qualities can play a beneficial role in releasing nervous energy. Meanwhile, items that are designed to be unintimidating to dismantle, repair and update enhance agency, elevating consumers to empowered owners.

Summary

Anxiety Antidotes: Products for Calm & Confidence

Uncertain times call for clever solutions that help alleviate anxiety and build self-reliance. Homeware and electronics with soothing sensory qualities can play a beneficial role in releasing nervous energy. Meanwhile, items that are designed to be unintimidating to dismantle, repair and update enhance agency, elevating consumers to empowered owners.

Creativity & Play Help to Clear Headspace

Providing a positive sense of purpose, mood-boosting hobbies are appreciated for their stress-busting qualities. A recent survey found that of the 59% of Brits who took up a new hobby during lockdowns, 91% have continued their chosen pastime, with 65% saying it’s helped them de-stress (Samsung, 2022). Whether completely analogue or tech-aided, product opportunities abound.

Wellbeing-Led Workspaces

The pandemic-induced freedom for employees to choose whether to work from home or the office means workplace settings must provide a valuable experience tailored to a specific purpose – however, all should be designed for wellbeing. We examine how this materialises in invigorating connection- and focus-based spaces.

Design for Deceleration: Wellbeing Prioritised

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Want to see the full report?

Offering access to over 350 consumer and cross-industry reports annually, Stylus Membership is your window to tomorrow’s most exciting opportunities.

We already arm more than 500 of the world’s most forward-thinking brands and agencies with the creative insights they need to make transformative business decisions.

We’d love to do the same for you.

Book a demo with us today to discover more.

Back to School 2025: Product Inspiration

Back to School 2025: Product Inspiration

Back to School 2025: Product Inspiration

Back to School 2025: Product Inspiration

Back to School 2025: Product Inspiration

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