KFC and Crocs have entered into a collaboration to create a fried chicken-themed ‘Bucket Clog’, complete with chicken-scented charms. As young people engage with fashion in a more playful, tongue-in-cheek way, iconic brands are luring fans with lighthearted and ironic merch.

McDonald’s has launched an e-commerce store selling everything from fry-emblazoned hair ties to burger bun umbrellas – all branded with Golden Arches imagery. No longer just going to restaurants for the food, people want to buy into a lifestyle, especially if it lends itself to meme culture.

Once a source of fascination for conceptually oriented designers, ugly aesthetics have entered the mainstream, with both brands and consumers championing the bizarre, gross, and impractical. How have minimalism, global politics, and a desire for self-expression fuelled this appreciation?

Big box chains and discount retailers may be expanding their influence across Middle America, but many rural and suburban residents in these states still struggle to access fresh and nutritious food. What are they searching for at supermarkets and how are stores meeting their expectations?