Friday Fives, Vol. 303
The Working Assembly
Design-led creative agency based in New York City and working globally.
Every Friday, we highlight five things we have on our radar that we think should be on yours, too.
This week, we’re buying into the “no-buy” challenge, putting a pin in some summer trends, freshening up on a new term in branding, overworking our wellness, and catching on to offline socializing.
And, our energetic visual identity rebrand for Pro Padel League, North America’s first premier Padel league, was just featured in Graphic Design USA. Read?how we utilized the lines of the court and the excitement of the game to inspire their new look.
01. Don't Shop, Just Think
Can you imagine not shopping for an entire year? If not, you might want to consider it, according to advocates of the “no-buy” challenge. This challenge, also referred to as mindful spending, is a year-long pledge to only spend money on essential items. While it’s certainly hip to go for a minimalist aesthetic, the no-buy trend has likely taken off due to financial reasons such as cutting down on expenses and paying off credit card debt. For others, it’s also a way to be more environmentally conscious. The movement has exploded, with thousands of ?“Buy Nothing Groups” on Facebook. What began as a project has turned into a cause where communities can donate and share home essentials. Look, there are certainly worse trends on social media. As The Strokes once said, “I’ll Try Anything Once.” We’re just not sure we can give up buying our daily little treat.
02. Putting the “Social” Back Into Social Media
Making friends as an adult is hard enough—but the post-pandemic world of doomscrolling, swiping, and Zooming has not made it any easier. So, why not facilitate IRL meet-ups online? New startups are enticing the lonely Gen Z population with apps that bring the idea of “social” to a new level and are built for meeting in person, whether for a specialized interest (there’s even an app for reading parties) or to just hang. These apps harness our desperate need to connect beyond screens, share our niche interests, and find our third places outside of work or school. And what better time to find out about these apps than a Friday afternoon? Go have some fun in the real world this weekend.?
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03. A Pinteresting Dive Into Summer Trends
Say goodbye to minimalism, blandness, and beige. Being “extra” is now trending. With their Summer 2024 Trend Report, Pinterest pulled together user data and named this the summer of maximalism. Our collective “Sex and the City” rewatch happened at the perfect time as mish-mashed and bold explorations of style and over-accessorizing are in. Plus, we can look forward to spilling the tea at “Bridgerton”-themed luncheons and cozying up among Nancy Meyers-inspired home decor that has a lived-in feel. But the biggest trend this summer? Not adhering to trends. Individuality is what’s most popular—right after an amazing mango float recipe.?
04. Renaming the Rebrand
The word “rebrand” is getting … well, a rebrand. The sparkly new term that all the cool kids in the industry are using is “brand refresh”—a much-needed change of pace from the overused “rebrand.” But words truly do hold their weight in marketing. Psychologically, “refresh” is the little sibling to “rebrand” that never gets in trouble with the parents (as in, us, the consumers). This quick change of phrasing in a world that hates change can make a new visual identity seem less dramatic—and less of a failure if it isn’t received well. It can even persuade brands to buy into the idea when it comes to their own marketing. So when “rebranding” seems extra, “refreshing” can step in—and maybe get away with what its older sibling never could.
05. Un-Wellness Culture
Hypochondria isn’t new for most people. In fact, the condition has been around for the past 2,500 years, according to author Caroline Crampton. But with the rise of wellness culture, hypochondria has become more prevalent than ever. And you may already be well aware of wellness (see what we did there?) because it’s ubiquitous. Whether it’s a running app becoming the new Hinge, mouth-taping trending on TikTok, or even the title of a recent best-selling novel, wellness is buzzy. But it’s making us feel not-so-buzzed. Being bombarded with the latest health hack, many not even scientifically proven, can keep our brains dwelling on health concerns we may not have thought existed otherwise. Perhaps it's time for brands to shift their focus from wellness to balance. After all, sometimes a night in with a bag of BonBon and a rom-com is just what the doctor ordered.