Welcome to Friday Fives, Vol. 316
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 sipping our way to a clean bill of health, finding our third places, seeing branded merch pop up on the ballot, dropping the needle on the return to analog, and redefining the mock-up.?
HOW Design Live in Denver is only three days away, so if you’re looking to hear our founder Jolene Delisle talk all things creativity, community, and confidence, there’s still time to register.?
Walmart just launched The Nuevolution Project, a collection of exclusive, only-at-Walmart products embodying the evolving vision of Hispanics shaping culture. Our team helped create a visual identity for the initiative that celebrates the inspired creatives of the future.
1. A Tonic a Day keeps the Doctor Away?
If you think you're seeing fizzy drinks popping up everywhere with promises to "support digestion" and offer other health benefits, it isn't just you. There's a booming market for functional beverages—non-alcoholic drinks that provide health benefits through biologically active components from natural sources. A mouthful, we know. These drinks give consumers hope of having their cake and drinking it too—a shortcut to health that beats jogging or swapping french fries for leafy greens (speaking of health hacks, TikTok is full of them!) While orange juice is linked to breakfast, these functional beverages can be enjoyed anytime. According to Emily Contois, a food media scholar, this vagueness is what makes them a “marketing goldmine,” and influencers have taken notice. We adopt the drinking habits of people we admire, which is why you may catch us sipping a Kin Euphorics, hoping to channel Bella Hadid’s supermodel off-duty look … though, the jury’s still out on that one.?
2. Want More Connections? Join the Club
Post-pandemic, Gen Z is experiencing a loneliness crisis and are eager to socialize. Thus, we’re seeing a slew in attendance of running clubs (many even running to find love) among other social clubs, filled with Gen Zers excited to strike up conversation. And many are taking matters into their own hands to create community and connection. Take Michelle Kong, who started a chess club because she was tired of playing chess online alone. Now, nearly 300 people attend each week. According to Kong, the overwhelming participation is due to more than just people hoping to say “checkmate,” but rather hoping to find community and connection through the weekly meet-up. Our personal favorite among Gen Z-pioneered clubs are the reading parties, an alternative to book clubs— it's English class meets happy hour (our bookish nerd dreams come true!).
3.? Design Joins the Political Party
A Harris-Walz camo trucker hat. Donald Trump’s Eras Tour merch. And in Democratic Senator Jon Tester’s case: an $8 beer koozie. The era of political merch is not only upon us, it’s leading the polls in popularity among Americans. With witty branded swag that represents Jon Tester’s own experience, including his three missing fingers (yes, you heard that right), he’s making the political just a little more personal—and rightly so. As feelings become just as important as campaign ideas when it comes to voting, design can make a huge impact. If you want to be seen as a true Montanan with farm roots, you design stickers of your two-finger hand. If you want to be hated by Swifties, you put your face on an Eras tee.
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4.? Scrolling Has Gone Out of Print
While robots are writing newsletters (couldn’t be us) and doomscrolling a cluttered, oversaturated internet has reached an all-time high, it seems like we could all use a break from this screen-induced brain rot. It may be time to start putting pen back to paper. From flip phones to records to handwritten blogs, analog is making a comeback in a big way, as Gen Z seeks a return to the tangible. Even IRL facetime is taking the place of FaceTime. The meaning behind all this? The internet is becoming, well, boring. There’s an excitement in not knowing what you’ll find on the next page of a magazine or how many scratches you’ll hear on your favorite song via vinyl. In a sea of digital sameness, the people yearn for the unexpected. All this is to say: Don’t be surprised if, one day,? the Friday Fives arrives in your mailbox, not your inbox.
5.? Take It Up With the Mock-Up?
In the past, mock-ups were simpler. Think floating business cards and surrealist cloud backgrounds. But today, mock-ups have evolved into a more complex craft. This shift results from designers finding more innovative ways to create. Initially, mock-ups were meant to impress clients. Now, they’ve become a way for designers to flex to others in the community. For instance, the use of silver dishware for photoshoot sets (admittedly a personal favorite of ours) is a trendy element only recognized by those in the know.? Designer and writer Elizabeth Godspeed argues that mock-ups have “become fetishized objects of obsession” for designer peers. While elevating the craft, they often fall short in visualizing high-concept work. Our advice? Make space for design experimentation rather than trends. You might just find it organically through the use of a good old printer (archaic—we know!) and seeing the colors in real life.
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Betches
The women’s media brand Betches just launched Betches Sports, a platform catering to women sports fans. Hear CEO Aleen Dreksler talk women’s sports, sports fans who happen to be women, and why it’s time to start taking them more seriously.?
Bevi
LinkedIn has just featured an insightful report from bottleless water dispenser brand Bevi. “Glass Half Full” takes a look at return-to-office trends, including in-person attendance and most popular in-office days.