But for those who still see the pastoral life as a pipe dream, there are ways to integrate the perks of rural existence into urban areas. Within the home, nature-oriented aesthetics are creeping into more spaces than ever. While patios, gardens, and public-facing rooms were once the go-to spots for greenery, people are now 

 with bare wood, natural tiles, and plants.

Younger people are cultivating their green thumbs, with 

 in the US saying they grow herbs indoors compared to 28% of Boomers. In Berlin, meanwhile, communal gardens are rising in demand; there are 

 throughout the city, with 12,000 people on waiting lists for one. Growing plants can offer benefits from encouraging mindfulness to oxygenating stuffy apartments, and for pollution-choked urbanites seeking more of the latter, brands like 

 are hawking canned air to keep city homes country-fresh.

Gen Y is embracing gardening, with growing plants and herbs indoors becoming a popular pastime for urban dwellers. Whether to boost wellbeing, bring a sense of calm to urban spaces or simply for its ease of maintenance, gardening is brushing off the soil of its previously stuffy image.

Why Gen Y have become obsessed with plants

While the premise might seem like a gimmick, canned air sales are on the rise. Australian entrepreneurs are bottling and selling local air to the Chinese market as an antidote to smog. But is Australia’s reputation as an unpolluted utopia enough to sell products based on pseudo-science?

Koala Hill: fresh Aussie air for people sick of smog

Remakes of old games and gaming consoles have become popular in Australia, leading local designers to embrace nostalgia in their advertising. But this proliferation of the past has uncovered further truths about Australians and gaming – their need for collective, meaningful experiences.

Why mini retro consoles are the future of Australian gaming

Brits are spending more on their pets than ever, splashing out on premium, ‘human-grade’ food that can set them back thousands of pounds. What’s behind this increase in pampering and spending? And what can brands learn from bougie pet parents who want nothing but the best for their pet pals?

How are Britain’s pet parents levelling up pet food?

A study has revealed that Boomers don't see themselves as old, despite what younger generations might think. As generational assumptions shift, brands have a unique opportunity to connect with wealthy Boomers by going beyond stereotypes and generalisations and truly understanding what they want. 

Boomers are redefining what it means to age

Japan is facing a population crisis, primarily stemming from challenges within its dating scene. With marriages and romance growing out of fashion locally, Pairs jumps in to reignite love’s flames by creating a safe space for serious relationships to develop and empowering women.

How Pairs sparks Japanese dating through women’s choices

Searching for the right elder care solution can often be a confusing, complex process for families. As ageing people’s lifestyles and mindsets change, Lottie brings transparency and trust back to the sector with its platform, offering peace of mind to both families and care service partners.

How Lottie streamlines older Britons’ search for care

South Koreans are struggling to balance age-old beliefs and values as new ones emerge due to technological advancements and the material demands of a modern capitalist society. How is this affecting their dating lives, and what can brands do to align themselves with these new shifts in values?

What does dating look like in South Korea today?

How is Japan’s shrinking, ageing population impacting locals’ decisions? Are government efforts to regulate work hours actually leading to shifts in Japan’s notoriously overworked society? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in Japan in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of Japan: 2024

YouTube is updating its parental control options to let children read but not write comments on the platform, to make the site safer. As parents seek safer online experiences for their kids, the update looks to offer parents a flexible means of moderating their children’s online interactions.

YouTube rolls out read-only comments for kids

Thanks to a fusion of creativity, a strong social media culture, and the advancement of kitchen technology, the Nigerian food space is experiencing a wave of experimentation. How is this changing the attitudes of people across the country towards food, and how are they exploring new dishes?

How Nigeria’s cooks are experimenting in the kitchen

The cost of living crisis is putting a huge strain on Australian pet owners, who are increasingly having to decide between buying food for themselves, their children, and their pets. What are Aussie pet owners spending on, and what concerns and needs do they factor in for their furbabies?

Exploring the rising cost of living impact on Aussie pet parents

Between 2018 and 2023, 40 million UK adults experienced a bereavement – and the same proportion would like to see more emotionally intelligent support available. As people turn to tech for community and after-loss care, The Grief Gang is helping individuals and organisations become grief literate.

How The Grief Gang builds community for bereaved Britons

South Korean adults are turning to pet rocks as a cure for loneliness. With increasing social isolation taking a toll on many South Koreans and a lack of resources to enable social connection, the rise in pet rocks as a replacement for human interaction is raising further concerns.

South Koreans curing loneliness with pet rocks

Chinese youth are fleeing megacities in favor of slower lives in small towns, as money worries and a tough job market hamper their ambition. As economic troubles continue to leave young people behind, many are reacting by changing their priorities and looking for slower lives in smaller cities.

Chinese youth flee megacities for a slower life

Amid the housing crisis in America, compact and tiny living spaces are gaining popularity as people are priced out of typical US homes. Tiny home supplier Cosmic Buildings simplifies access to ADUs with modular homes, customisable eco-friendly features, and off-grid options that reduce labour.

Cosmic Buildings make tiny eco-smart homes a reality in the US

Feeling the pinch of the cost of living, people are clinging to home cooking which they’ve mastered during the pandemic. Yet finding the right ingredients for elaborate meals can be difficult. Addressing this, Waitrose has teamed with Yotam Ottolenghi to roll out a range of unique ingredients.

Waitrose teams up with Ottolenghi to woo home cooks

Bluey, an Australian animated children’s television series, is a global sensation that follows the adventures of a Blue Heeler dog family in Brisbane. Purportedly a ‘kids’ show,’ it’s widely beloved for its essences of childhood imagination, authentic adult life, and minority representation.

Why Bluey is a kids’ show representing real Aussie life

Dating app users often share the details of their dates with close friends and family for safety and to gauge their opinions in a landscape full of doubt. Tinder's 'Share My Date' feature taps into this, making it easier for friends to stay in the loop about each other's romantic outings.

Tinder lets users share their date details with family

Unilever has unveiled Wonder Wash, a product aimed at providing a better, quicker clean for the growing share of people doing quick-cycle washes. Many people are doing more frequent laundry with smaller loads and are looking for innovation to facilitate quicker cleaning.

Unilever develops detergent for quick washes

With Australian society having a hot-and-cold relationship with sexuality, The Hook Up podcast dares to discuss elements of modern romance and sex as it is truly experienced by Australian Gen Zers and the growing LGBTQ+ community in the country looking for a safe digital space.

Why The Hook Up unfilters sex talk for Aussie Gen Z

Economic challenges, marketing saturation, changing relationship patterns, and the move towards digital interaction have diminished the vibrancy and engagement usually associated with Valentine’s Day and White Day – one example of Korean and Japanese people’s fatigue surrounding ‘Day’ marketing.

Does the decline of White Day prove people are getting tired of ‘Day’ marketing?

With their formative years hindered by pandemic lockdowns, it’s no wonder why Gen Alphas found comfort in online communities. On the gaming platform Roblox, Southeast Asian Gen Alphas advocate for their beliefs – from politics to religion – in a way no other generation has before.

Why Roblox became Southeast Asian Gen Alphas’ social podium

Furniture company Dowel Jones champions Australian-made furniture and embraces authenticity amid new market dynamics. The brand’s pillars of durability, timeless design, and emotional resonance effectively negotiate what it means to do functional design in the modern day.

How Dowel Jones puts fun in functional Aussie furniture

Research suggests that Gen Zers are becoming less active during a critical, habit-forming period of their lives. While many Zers are more health-conscious than other generations were at their age, there remains an opportunity to support young people’s mental health by improving access to exercise.

Gen Z activity levels prompt mental health concerns

Disillusioned with the state of the housing market, Gen Yers are giving up on their goals of homeownership and focusing on making their rentals their own with renovations. This is a signal of changing attitudes towards major life milestones and the troubling economic state of play.

Gen Yers are renovating rentals instead of buying homes

As Gen Zers and Yers come to terms with not having it like their parents did, they're turning to crypto and 'financial hacks' to make things work. Amid a decline in trust in traditional financial institutions, brands have an opportunity to help young adults manage their finances in new ways.

Gen Z and Y are trying to hack home ownership

Once aspirational and teeming with tenants, Japanese complexes on the outskirts of cities are now being abandoned – except by the elderly and the recluse. To usher in new life and youth in these areas, Muji started a renovation project that upgrades yet preserves these heritage neighbourhoods.

How Muji helps battle loneliness among Japanese tenants

A new, globally connected generation is shaking up the ways in which they celebrate Holy Week, with travel becoming a central tenant of how people mark their faith. As Filipinos balance the secular and the sacred, what do new rituals tell us about the future of travel during religious holidays?

What's driving new travel rituals around religious holidays?

Technology is becoming increasingly central to interior design, yet while flashy gadgets used to be spotlit within kitchens and living rooms, many people are looking for less intrusive integrations. How can brands tap into the sometimes conflicting desires for simplicity, style, and functionality?

How is home tech blending into the world of interiors?

Dazed and IKEA have partnered on a collaborative zine that delves into the meaning of home for young people. The zine will be exclusively launched at Milan Design Week, showcasing the importance of relatable and authentic depictions of homeownership amid housing market challenges.

Dazed and IKEA court young homebuyers 

As Gen Zers turn away from dating apps, Hinge has released an ad aiming to recapture their hearts with a lighthearted way of championing the app's success in building lasting matches. Another iteration of its ‘Designed to be Deleted’ campaign, the ad taps a growing desire for meaningful connections.

Hinge ad levels up its 'designed to be deleted' position

Adult sleepovers are on the rise as a popular way for friends to bond and relax in a safe and comforting environment. The trend taps into kidulting behaviours, as people increasingly seek out nostalgic activities that feel nurturing and safe amid the chaos of everyday life.

Adult sleepovers signal interest in mindful socialisation

A survey has found that adults in the US are struggling to stay afloat, with the majority of adults living paycheck to paycheck. As inflation continues to threaten financial security, people are searching for brands and products that can provide holistic solutions and financial education.

Ongoing inflation impact is entrenching financial stress

Conversations around toxic masculinity are influencing every element of social life, and classroom culture is no different. The topic of how to support positive masculinity became a central talking point during the annual NEU conference, highlighting the complex challenges facing today's teachers.

Teachers deal with positive masculinity vs the manosphere

China’s young people are abandoning their retirement plans as low pay and a difficult labour market hurt their future prospects. Gen Zers and Yers are looking for financial support and education as their optimism dissipates and an uncertain and potentially difficult future looms.

Disillusioned Chinese Gen Zers abandon retirement plans

Burger King is celebrating its 70th birthday. To mark its seventh decade of flame-grilled success, the company has released an ad campaign challenging ageist stigmas. As ageing changes, campaigns that address stereotypes in fresh ways are landing with older audiences that want new, true narratives. 

Burger King busts taboos to celebrate its 70 fiery years

In an ageing country with fewer kids per capita than ever, South Korean adults are willing to spend money on the kids that do exist in their lives, driving a booming childrenswear industry. What’s shaping Gen Alpha’s fashion choices in their formative years, and what should brands watch out for?

Why are so many South Korean Gen Alphas wearing luxury clothes?

Praised as an edgy blend of Jack Ryan and Girls, spy dramedy Mr. and Mrs. Smith reinvents the aughts-era Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt film by highlighting Gen Y relationship anxieties. Its success speaks to younger generations' hunger for bold and subversive storytelling.




Mr. and Mrs. Smith spotlights Gen Y malaise

Ongoing financial pressure is putting strain on Britons’ love lives, with dating, divorce, and even staying single becoming more expensive, and the future they imagined looking different with their budgets. How can brands support people in their romantic lives during the cost-of-living crisis?

How is financial strain affecting Britons’ love lives?

Japanese fitness group Sogo Fitness has exploded in popularity, attracting a young clientele by blurring the lines between group workouts and social clubs. People are looking to make connections where they build healthy habits, and group fitness is becoming a go-to social activity for many.

Sogo Fitness offers socialisation for healthy Japanese

Faced with rising living costs and changing views on monogamy, people are ripping up the wedding rulebook and redefining what it means to get married. What other factors are impacting people’s attitudes toward weddings? And what can brands learn from this shift in celebrating milestones as a whole?

How are attitudes to marriage and weddings changing?

Why are China’s youth giving up their hard-earned credentials to become ‘full-time children?’ How did rest become an act of rebellion? How has the pandemic affected shopping habits in China? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore the behavioural norms shared by people in China in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of China: 2024

Pet wellness is becoming increasingly popular as our canine companions become family members to their pet parents. Human-grade dog skincare brand Floof is at the forefront of this fast-growing industry, helping pet parents improve the overall health and wellbeing of their fluffy friends.

How Floof puts wellness first for Gen Y pet parents

Offering an alternative to those escaping hook-up culture, Hinge succeeds by prioritizing meaningful and consistent connections. The app holds loyal users through conversation-stirring prompts, helpful filters, and an anti-swipe algorithm that urges conscious intention over temporary validation.

How Hinge captures the hearts of long-term daters

In 2021, IKEA opened its largest branch in the world, right in the heart of Metro Manila. Despite reeling from the effects of the pandemic, its successful run is a masterclass in how brands can capture the tastes of the minimalist, sustainability-minded Filipino homeowner.

How IKEA designs curated spaces for Filipino minimalists

The number of millionaires and billionaires is rising in Southeast Asia, marking the region as a centre for wealth creation and economic boom for locals and international visitors alike. What trends and behaviours are unfolding with the influx into this new high-earning market?

Why are HNWIs flocking to Southeast Asia?

Baby registry site Babylist has launched a wish list function for children’s birthdays and holidays that parents can send to friends and family. By helping parents simplify their kid’s presents and their shopping lists, the brand offers a clever way of keeping people in its ecosystem for longer.

How Babylist’s Wishlist helps parents get organized

Urban youth in Vietnam are feeling increasingly disillusioned by the promise of social mobility due to a housing crisis and the effects of ‘flex’ culture, leading them to redefine their adulthood. What does this mean for brands looking to engage with Vietnamese Gen Zers?

Why adulthood looks different for Vietnamese Gen Zers

Chinese personal care brand Hi!Papa has gained success by filling a vacuum in the market between all-in-one infant/baby products and teen/adult skincare and cosmetics. How did it tap into the broader kids’ skincare and cosmetics trend, and what can brands learn from this?

How Hi!Papa invites Chinese kids into playful skincare

A survey has found that Americans want authentic depictions of work and family in TV shows and movies. Amid the rising inflation and cost of living, people are connecting with honest on-screen portrayals, creating an opportunity for brands to provide positive representations in mainstream media.

US adults want work-life balance depicted on screen

As young Muslims in Southeast Asia adopt growingly religious lifestyles, online dating platforms that cater to Islamic teachings are gaining traction. The platforms differ in various ways from conventional dating apps, as many expect marriage out of them, also known as the ‘taaruf’ process.

Why Muslim Southeast Asians are turning to halal matchmaking apps

Sexual wellness has entered the mainstream, making lovers refocus on self-care, health, and sensuality. With vibrators and lube being stocked in Boots, Sephora, and even John Lewis, the commercial success of this approach is clear – but how exactly did it happen, and how can brands capitalise?

Sexual healing: how wellness took over the bedroom

The 2024 Generational Snapshot of Generation Y in the Asia-Pacific region explores how a move towards purposeful living and stable life has Gen Ys spending with more intention, taking care of their health and overall wellness, and enjoying the freedom that comes with not having children.

2024 APAC Gen Y Snapshot

The birth rate in South Korea is at an all-time low, but the quality of private ‘sanhujoriwon’ (postpartum care facilities) has never been higher. What is driving the emergence of these ‘boutique’ centres in the East Asian country, and what can it tell us about broader wellness trends?

Mothers are getting luxe treatment under Korean custom

No country anywhere in the world offers women the same career opportunities as men, according to a new report from the World Bank, which accounts for the impact of childcare on the labour market. Women are looking for employers to acknowledge and account for gender-specific issues in the workplace.

World Bank report signals need for more maternity leave

'Climate grannies' are emerging as activist leaders in environmental spaces, offering guidance and experience in direct political action. Armed with free time and income, Boomers are increasingly becoming an activist generation, looking to provide leadership to their young counterparts.

'Climate grannies' signal politically active retirements

Facing turbulent economic times, many couples are navigating new terrain when it comes to spending and saving. Canvas8 spoke to Scott Rick, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan, about how people can better handle their finances without risking their relationships.

Scott Rick on the future of finances in relationships

More and more Gen Alpha gamers in Southeast Asia are finding support and community via online games, creating multiple opportunities for brands looking to join the fun. Savvy marketers have begun partnering with popular Twitcher streamers and YouTubers, tapping into the gaming community's idols.

Why games are the new social media for Southeast Asian Gen Alpha

DTC razor brand Billie has launched a campaign celebrating 'unexpected reasons to shave' – looking to reframe shaving body hair as a choice rather than an obligation. As norms around women's body hair change, many are reevaluating the positives and negatives of their relationship with shaving.

Billie's 'reasons to shave' reframes shaving as a joy

Single-person households are on the rise around the world. But what are the unique emotional and practical needs of those who live alone compared to those who live with friends, family, or strangers? And how can brands best speak to this emerging yet significant minority?

How is the rise of solo living influencing interiors?

Step aside The Sims; there's a new life simulator in town. Paralives might seem lighthearted on the surface, but deeper inspection reveals how the game offers a sense of agency that can help players navigate milestone anxiety, providing them with a much-needed escape from reality.

Paralives enables players to play out their ideal lives

Minimalist styles dominate the global furniture market, led by Swedish brand IKEA, which Japanese brand Nitori wants to challenge. In their current battleground, Southeast Asia, Nitori attempts to get ahead by tapping into locals’ preferences for more practical and convenient living.

Why Nitori builds utilitarian spaces for SEA homemakers

Post-pandemic, people have re-evaluated their romantic relationships and many are turning to ethical non-monogamy (ENM), especially Gen Zers and Yers. As open relationships challenge preconceived notions of love, how can brands in the sex, love, and dating game create safe spaces for polys to play?

How ethical non-monogamy is redefining romance

A report has found that teachers across the US are staying away from political and social topics because they fear parental reprisals. As more restrictive legislation begins to affect classrooms across the country, teachers are trying to avoid conscription to the culture war. 

US teachers self-censor in response to political issues

After opening up to foreign workers to address an ageing population, a record number of foreign employees have entered Japan. However, there's a significant lack of regular interactions between Japanese citizens and foreigners, causing social friction and further polarising society.

Japanese locals and foreigners are living divided lives

Home Buddies, the Facebook group-turned-company reshaping Filipino homes, has mastered the art of organising communities online. The mammoth user-led group has become a safe space for Filipino home enthusiasts to share their living spaces, home design tips, and shopping recommendations.

How Homes Buddies gathers a village of home designers

Home and Relationships

Macy's initiative offers grants and mentorship to underrepresented entrepreneurs, establishing a pathway to become store vendors. Programs like these highlight how brands can redefine systems to become more equitable, especially as shoppers become increasingly discerning spenders.

Macy's accelerator boosts diverse small businesses

The Tokyo-based start-up Orange has secured $19 million in investments to develop AI software that can translate manga titles into English. While the tech may broaden global readers’ access to Japanese media, it could also threaten the role of the fan translator in the proliferation of such content.

Orange uses AI to speed up manga translations in English

The streaming platform Tubi has launched an incubator program providing up-and-coming filmmakers with mentorship and production assistance. The initiative highlights how brands can nurture emerging talent and create accessible pathways for people to boost their creative careers.

Tubi launches incubator for aspiring filmmakers

Student-led encampments are spreading across the world as people protest the Israel-Hamas war. With some universities making arrests and others upholding the right to freedom of assembly, the responses spotlight the growing distrust between people and the institutions meant to serve them. 

University encampments highlight institutional distrust 

A project has been launched in Glasgow to encourage older people to connect through their fond memories of Bollywood cinema. With more people living longer and hobbies being crucial to improving the wellbeing of older adults, these groups offer ways to increase connection and community.

Older Glaswegians connect through love of Bollywood

MerkyFC HQ is a community-focused hub with full-size football pitches, a recording studio, and a gaming room. At a time when many young people feel priced out of entertainment, this partnership between rapper Stormzy and Adidas highlights the power of investing in local, grassroots initiatives.

Adidas and Stormzy team up for MerkyFC centre

Users are hacking TikTok’s algorithm-based blue comments to raise awareness about the ongoing violence in Gaza. The feature allows online activists to reach a wider audience and highlights how knowledge of tech innovation and algorithms can create alternative means for social justice advocacy.

TikTokers utilize blue comments for online activism

After a drastic makeover went viral, Westerners flocked to Xiaohongshu (also known as Red), a Chinese social networking app, in search of makeover tips. They’ve also delighted in Red users’ honest but not unkind feedback, a byproduct of Chinese culture that is seeing growing appreciation globally.

Why Xiaohongshu’s Chinese users are consulted for frank makeovers

Apple TV's documentary Girls State delves into the experiences of ethnically and ideologically diverse teenage girls participating in a week-long immersive program in Missouri. Media brands have the opportunity to innovate with Gen Z girls' political, social, and emotional empowerment.

‘Girls State’ spotlights Gen Z girls’ political power

As AI's influence becomes more ubiquitous in our daily lives, concerns have risen about its capability to learn and preserve all languages. With much of the internet written in English and AI furthering this cultural bias, how can companies increase linguistic diversity and inclusion?

AI is putting thousands of languages at risk

Venice has set a €5 entry for day visitors in an effort to curb overtourism, sparking protests among disillusioned residents. The backlash signals the ongoing struggle between local communities and tourism management, with brands and governments promoting greener travel solutions to reduce impact.

Venice's €5 entry fee fails to win over local residents

Seventeen's global rise in K-pop defies norms, resonating deeply with fans through self-produced music and genuine connections. Despite K-pop's evolving landscape, their commitment to quality and authenticity sets them apart, bridging cultural gaps and inspiring loyalty worldwide.

How Seventeen charms fans with their perpetual authentic K-pop shine

The combination of high living costs and busy working lives has made holidaymaking increasingly difficult for low-income French families. With a view to improve people’s wellbeing, Parents Vacances connects single-parent families with holiday homeowners to make getaways more attainable.

How Parents Vacances supports families with getaways

Nospace, an app offering Gen Zers a nostalgic, Myspace-style social media experience, has garnered a waitlist of over 380,000 people. Combined with nostalgia for the early days of the internet, the desire for authentic online connection is driving Gen Zers towards alternative social media.

Nospace is a throwback social media for Gen Zers

J-pop singer Crystal Kay’s comeback rides a wave of 2000s nostalgia, ignited by the viral TikTok remix of her 2003 hit ‘Boyfriend (Part II).’ Kay’s enduring charm now bridges generations and showcases J-pop’s international allure as a testament to how timeless hits can find a new fan base.

How Crystal Kay brings back the charm of Y2K J-pop

Lack of funds and mishandling of public infrastructure have led to the privatisation of beaches in Lagos, Nigeria. As global warming and the climate crisis intensify, brands have an opportunity to tackle environmental issues and appeal to consumers who want to take breaks in nature.

Beaches in Lagos are being privatised

South Korea has produced some of the world’s most famous esports stars. But in the age of streaming, the nature of celebrity in the gaming world can vary, with content creators and fans joining the fray. What can competitive and non-competitive gamers teach about building a thriving fanbase?

How South Korea’s celebrity gamers build dedicated fandoms

GagaOOLala, Asia’s pioneering LGBTQ+ streaming service, aims to spotlight queer stories in mainstream media. The platform mirrors a surge in demand for queer content and the progress of the community’s rights in Asia, catering to a group that had little to no media attention up until recently.

Why GagaOOLala uncensors the stories of queer Asians

As TikTok's fate in the US hangs in the balance, India's 2020 ban could be a cautionary tale. India's bold move disrupted its thriving creator scene, forcing a migration to new platforms. Now, the US weighs its options, urging a rethink of digital landscapes amid global tensions.

India banned TikTok. Can US TikTokers use this as a blueprint?

Creators have produced an open letter calling for Meta to reverse its introduction of default settings limiting political content in favor of an opt-in system. Ahead of a potentially politically transformative year, online censorship is fuelling concerns about widespread misinformation.

Creators rally against Meta’s limits on political content

Boys’ Love media usually features fresh-faced male characters encountering slightly varied struggles. Heaven Official’s Blessing smartly subverts these tropes, placing a queer couple in a distinctly traditional Chinese context and putting their character development at the centre of the story.

Why Heaven Official’s Blessing rewrites Asian boys' romance

Political parties leveraged digital technology, social media influencers, and artificial intelligence (AI) to attract hundreds of millions of Indian voters in the 2024 general election like never before, raising concerns about the misuse of AI and exposure to misinformation and one-sided opinions.

How AI and deepfakes are changing how Indians vote

Funding, opportunities, and employment in arts and culture have long been concentrated in London. However, with government support and local initiatives, the country’s Northern cities are reshaping the cultural landscape, encouraging participation and fostering diverse pools of creative talent.

How Northern cities are reshaping UK culture

The ‘Patron Saint of Situationships’ returns! Following the success of her single, ‘B.A.D,’ Filipina R&B artist Denise Julia has released ‘Sugar n Spice,’ a feel-good track embracing same-gender attraction, which resonates deeply with listeners seeking representation and authenticity.

How Denise Julia revives Filipino R&B for global listeners

Come for explicit photos of celebrity crushes, stay for the community. From an Instagram page to organising physical exhibits, Y2K Kabaklaan’s intentions are simple – to usher in a safe space for pent-up gay desires and to document an unforgettable epoch in Filipino pop culture.

Why Y2K Kabaklaan archives Filipino queer desires

A new film distribution company from designer Alana Hadid is focused on blending social advocacy with creative representation, amplifying underrepresented filmmakers. As people seek more equity in media and entertainment, they're pursuing purpose-driven forms of cultural consumption. 

Watermelon Pictures uplifts Palestinian filmmakers

Tapping into a seemingly niche market in Singapore, Sambal & Mages is a brand creating customised dice that can be used for various games. People are finding community through shared interests, and businesses like this are helping to cultivate these subcultures that make them feel connected.

Dice makers in Singapore tap into gameplay subcultures

‘Cool’ may be hard to commodify, but cult independent newsletter Perfectly Imperfect has done just that. By creating a digital oasis where cultural insights and recommendations are shared free from algorithms and advertising, it maintains integrity by prioritizing genuine user taste exchange.

How Perfectly Imperfect broadcasts cultural cool

The viral ‘Black Women Homesteading’ Facebook group and media platform acts as a virtual commune for Black women interested in self-sufficient agricultural lifestyles. Brands can champion underrepresented communities like these by amplifying their achievements, services, and initiatives.

‘Black Women Homesteading’ ignites community building 

TikTok has created a youth council – a group of teenagers who give guidance and insights to the organisation. The move is part of a broader effort to make online spaces safer, as challenges posed by AI and misinformation mean younger generations are losing faith in traditional institutions.

TikTok Youth Council sheds light on digital safety

Community and grassroots

People are seeking a rural feel in urban spaces

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