Co-creation

Trend - Brands from various industries, including non-gaming related ones, are collaborating with gaming hardware manufacturers on co-branded controllers. These controllers offer mutually-beneficial advertising for brands, while the unique designs function as statement pieces for the consumers.

Insight - Individuality and self-expression is a core priority for humans in general. Consumers do not want to have exactly what everyone else has, and instead are more likely to purchase products that reflect their own values or interests. This can materialize in the form of clothing and home decor, but also in terms of accessory and technology choices, with even earphones being a form of self-expression. To offer more expression options for gamers, brands are releasing co-branded game controllers.

Trend - Pet food brands are releasing hydration-focused drinks and meal supplements for dogs and cats. These are electrolyte-rich products that ensure pets are intaking enough fluids throughout the day. These products can be served on their own or as additions to regular meals.

Insight - Many pet owners simply feed their pets a few regular meals per day with provided drinking water and occasional treats, but not as many owners invest in dietary supplements or products purely for nutritional benefits. While some owners do, others take a passive approach, often due to busy lives. In order to ensure pets are ingesting more healthy diets with balanced nutrients, including hydration, brands are releasing convenient products for pet owners that do not intrude on time constraints.

Trend - Supercar and hypercar manufacturers, for both street-legal and track-focused markets, are creating record-setting vehicles with hybrid drivetrains. These vehicles are more sustainable than their gas-powered counterparts while not coming with the compromises associated with purely electric supercars.

Insight - There is an ever-growing pressure from policy makers and the community alike for the automotive industry to make a shift toward sustainability. This manifests primarily in consumer vehicles increasingly incorporating electric power, whether in full or in part. However, even the luxury vehicle and racing vehicle markets are not exempt from this pressure. Fans of motorsports, as well as consumers of luxury vehicles, are placing pressure on supercar brands to make genuine sustainability efforts.

Trend - While personal finance management apps have existed for over a decade, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and data collection algorithms have made recent apps far more effective than before. These modern budgeting apps are used to prevent unnecessary spending while saving toward goals.

Insight - The extensive convenience of modern e-commerce platforms, such as Aliexpress, Temu, or Amazon, has led to consumers from Gen Z to older Millennials constantly facing targeted product advertising. This has led to an impulse spending problem in many consumers who purchase frequent low-cost products, unaware of how quickly these purchases add up. More tech-savvy Gen Z and Millennial consumers, in an effort to curb this aspect of e-commerce culture, are turning to budgeting apps powered by AI.

Trend - Oral care products are increasingly drawing inspiration from iconic brands and well-known names across the fashion, pop culture, and consumer packaged goods industries. These products often include toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and floss, all designed to resonate with modern fan bases.

Insight - Social media platforms have connected younger audiences around shared interests, allowing them to engage with products in ways that reflect their digital habits. In response, brands across various industries are opening themselves up to cross-industry collaborations, aiming to attract fans of established brands and convert them into loyal customers. Businesses that effectively tap into current social media trends and influences are better positioned to capture the attention of young shoppers.

Trend - Physical AI-powered tools, in conjunction with cameras and advanced AI models, are being used as a starting point for disease diagnoses. While these tools cannot legally diagnose someone of a condition, they can be used to more quickly point doctors in the correct direction, increasing efficiency.

Insight - While most consumers are aware that, when ill, simply looking up symptoms cannot accurately diagnose what the cause is, this is still a common first step for people when deciding whether or not to seek medical attention. Due to the popularity of these practices, and the introduction of AI in nearly every industry, AI brands are creating tools for consumers and for professionals that can more accurately determine medical conditions based on advanced models combined with physical testing tools.

Trend - Furniture brands are utilizing 3D knitting solutions to create affordable, durable, and sustainable products. The 3D knitting machines function similarly to 3D printers, using fabrics instead of filaments. While still a niche product, 3D knit furniture is gaining traction for its uniqueness.

Insight - While the field of 3D printing continues to grow with innovations in speed, efficiency, and sustainability, as while as reductions in cost, 3D printed products are still often regarded as lesser than their counterparts by consumers. This is often due to both the types of filament used and consumers becoming aware of the affordability of 3D printing. In order to alleviate one of these complaints, brands are expanding the types of materials 3D printers can use, leading to 3D knitting machines.

Trend - Brands now offer customization options for sports drink mixes, letting users adjust various components of their hydration product. These customizations can affect flavor or ingredients, enabling users to tailor their drink to their unique preferences or physiological needs.

Insight - Fitness-conscious consumers often adhere to strict fitness routines and support these exercises with a balanced diet. However, many rely on sugary drinks to hydrate, counteracting their workouts. In response, brands are introducing customizable hydration options to meet diverse fitness needs and support overall wellness more effectively than generic products. As athletes explore holistic diets, they're seeking solutions that enhance every aspect of fitness while aligning with their unique goals.

Trend - Appliance companies are releasing countertop composters designed for the kitchen. These composters accept food waste and paper-based products, which they then transform into usable fertilizers. These feature tight seals to keep scents trapped, and removable components for easy maintenance.

Insight - Environmentally-conscious consumers are acutely aware of the amount of food waste they produce. Often, these consumers will opt for products with both eco-friendly ingredients and packaging. However, discarding such packaging and producing food waste are still inevitable in the kitchen. For consumers who would like to further reduce their environmental footprint in the kitchen, brands are creating countertop composters that enable these consumers to see their eco-friendly impact in real-time.

Trend - Generative AI is being used to create email-writing tools for both personal and professional use. While previous AI email generators focused on cold reachouts en masse, these tools are designed for smaller-scale use with a more personalized touch, as the tools learn the writers' styles.

Insight - For some adults, email writing is a large part of both professional and personal lives. Some jobs require near-constant interaction with clients and partners via email, while some people prefer to stay in touch with loved ones or relatives via email. However, in some professional cases, writers may struggle with language barriers, while in personal situations, unfamiliarity with technology may cause struggles. Consumers in both of these situations are now turning to AI to streamline writing.