23 Innovative Trends That Deliver Hope For The New Year (& Beyond)
By Mikelle Leow, 30 Dec 2022
How different would the world have been if we didn’t have the shared experience of a sudden upheaval? This is a question we ask ourselves on pretty much a daily basis.
In the span of three years, we’ve seen an uptick in a focus on self-love, ideas that put others first, and a deeper obligation to protect the planet and the people in it. Humanity, as it turns out, is one—when adversity came knocking on our neighbors’ doors, we took it as a personal hit and lent support when we could. At the same time, we celebrated each other’s victories as if they were our own.
It’s often said that no news is good news. But as humankind recovers and grows, news has become quite the respite for us. People’s unwavering determination to overcome those lost years and solve problems on the spot surprises us every day. At the start of 2022, we launched a ‘Hope’ vertical compiling these feel-good stories with the belief that they’ll give you the spark to spend each day with purpose.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up 23 prospects to drive hope in 2023 and beyond:
• Fueled by Optimism
• People Power
• Material World
• Multi-use Plastics
• Packaging for the People
• Creature Comforts
• Sunny Disposition
• Inclusive Heroes
• Awesome Accessibility
• Refreshing Remixes
• Powerful PSAs
• Fashion-Forward
• Leveled-up Architecture
• Renew-vations
• Wonders for Well-being
• Kind’s New Roman
• Beauty Marks
• Food of the Future
• Home Harmony
• Altruistic Intelligence
• Digital Longevity
• All Smiles
• Travel Light
It took a snap of a finger to turn the tide of the world. Imagine the ripple a small act of kindness can create.
Jet-setting the future of transport with cooking oil and thin air
Illustration 23868600 © Sergey Galushko | Dreamstime.com
Although more people are opting for electric vehicles, it’s currently not feasible for everyone to do the same. Until then, airliners and car companies are pulling out all the stops so drivers can still have their fuel and pump it too.
Automotive firms are considering the over one billion combustion cars that are still zipping around roads by developing biofuels that work as direct gasoline substitutes. Can’t part with your traditional car? Not to worry—the industry is cooking up something special. Used cooking oil and even noodle broth are some of the ways that traditional cars are being satiated for the future. Creating eco-fuel out of thin air and water has also become a possibility. Oh, and a wood-based car battery is in the works too.
With the travel sector opening up again, plane makers have their heads in the clouds and are working towards “guilt-free,” net-zero, and hydrogen-powered flights. Notably, the UK government has backed five great innovations to convert household trash into jet fuel. Worth mentioning: The world’s first auto-inflatable “wing sails” have set sail.
Perhaps there’ll come a day when the word “fossil” in “fossil fuels” is just that—a fossil.
Love thy neighbor
Illustration 245651810 © Yuliia Bokhanchenko | Dreamstime.com
It’s in times of uncertainty that humanity shines through, lending strength to neighbors who can no longer shoulder the burden. Every small act does count.
Challenges also give rise to creativity. When Ukraine was invaded, onlookers across the world booked bed-and-breakfasts in the country, with no intention of staying, to help locals with recovery. Prominent creative tech firms with bases in Ukraine mobilized their tools to raise awareness about the situation in the country with Ukraine-inspired filters and free-to-download images. Thanks to your contributions—whatever form they may be—the nation was able to gift its people the joy of Christmas.
Thinking out of the box can lead to brightening up someone’s day, or even saving their life. On the wildly popular world of Minecraft, one summer camp organizer for grieving youths opened a server on the platform for kids who have lost a loved one to find comfort and build something together. Meanwhile, an eyebrow artist is restoring cancer survivors’ confidence by tattooing on new “brows” for free.
Reimagining essentials for the next generation
Many of the materials we use today are harming the planet. Understandably, inventors are now searching for replacements that serve both humankind and nature.
Plastics are the greatest bane… and muse. In recent times, we’ve seen them being swapped out for plant-based alternatives crafted from seaweed, algae, pineapple leaves, and potatoes, among others. Some of these options you can eat. Others are fully recyclable. Many of them are biodegradable and naturally disappear into the earth instead of clogging up the ocean. Plastic has been reimagined as eco-friendly sauce packets, shrink wrap, and even design kits for creators to build products like jewelry and phone cases with peace of mind.
To give credit (no pun intended) where it’s due, some debit cards are now usable in sustainable wood form, therefore taking a swipe against their distasteful nickname of ‘plastics’.
Another surprising material? CO2, which has been repurposed into things like soap bars and construction blocks. Talk about a breath of fresh air.
One can’t delve into reinvented materials without mentioning the fashion world—one of the biggest culprits of waste and, uh, materialism. In this regard, designers haven’t disappointed—harnessing their creative juices to find unconventional textiles, like bananas, that don’t hurt the climate. More on them later.
Earth’s greatest foe might also be its friend
Synthetic plastics entered the scene in the 20th century, and things have never been the same since. As passionate environmentalists have been about ridding landfills of the notorious material, the sheer convenience of plastic means it’s a problem that will keep piling up. So, some are doing the next best thing: They’re giving the enemy a second chance.
Single-use plastics are what’s causing most of the burn. That’s why they’re being recycled—to put it loosely—to fulfill all kinds of purposes. From plastic bags to water bottles, your everyday disposable items are taking on new responsibilities as colorful bricks, it-looks, plush toys, gadgets, and even antibiotics (you read that right).
Clarity, unboxed
Packaging, at its forefront, is all about catching the eye; this is especially true for candy and snack bags, which are meant to appeal to young, impressionable minds.
Once you peel off the layers, though, you’ll get to packaging’s core objective: to inform. Some brands have brought innovation to the table by making boxes easy for blind individuals to comprehend. Visually-impaired shoppers can, for instance, scan cereal boxes or even medicine bottles through their smartphones to find out their name, nutritional information, and other important details.
Making positive imprints for paws and claws
Who says only humans deserve a good quality of life? Animals are getting some tender-loving care, as well, with solutions that help them live more comfortably.
For furkids at home, researchers have designed video games to engage dogs’ cognitive abilities and prevent them from getting dementia.
Out in the wild, bats have been given their own adorable “movie theaters” so these dark knights can have a roof over their heads. The seahorse population now has a reason to relax, thanks to underwater “hotels” built to help their species thrive. Another project worth flapping for: African penguins are now beating the heat in thoughtfully-designed ceramic igloos.
Speaking of penguins, one zoo has bestowed an aquatic bird with a pair of orthopedic boots to alleviate him of a condition called bumblefoot.
Inventive ideas make for happy feet and fluttery wings!
A ray of hope from solar energy
Gone are the days when solar power was just for watches and calculators—it’s also great for entire neighborhoods dealing with power outages.
Homeowners can soak up the sun’s goodness with solar roof shingles that protect your roof while generating clean energy. Those who aspire to go the extra mile will be delighted to know that the first electric car fully powered by sunlight has entered production.
As an illuminating role model, America’s first 100% solar town survived Hurricane Ian without shutting down.
Saving the day with visibility
Image via @itskamisworld
Many adults never had someone to look up to when they were growing up. Thankfully, younger generations will have a different reality. Whether they have vitiligo, don’t conform to conventional body ideals, or don’t move about like an able-bodied person, they can now easily find a doll or video game that resonates with them.
In 2022, Disney introduced its first plus-size main character, an aspiring ballerina named Biancaa. Computer displays can now be skin tone-validated with PANTONE’s verificator for authentic skin colors.
People with disabilities are more empowered than ever. Reimagined businesses like a literal hole-in-wall café managed by bear paws and a convenience store staffed by avatars enable them to take on full-time jobs they previously could not work in. Recognizing the importance of play in children’s development, UNICEF built a playground at a refugee camp in Jordan that puts disabled kids at its forefront. The space serves as a blueprint to encourage more inclusive playgrounds to spring up the world over.
A cup of coffee, a furry bear claw and a hole in an inconspicuous gray wall can all be seen at a popular new café in #Hangzhou. The employees of the café, who have disabilities, wear a furry bear claw to serve customers through a hole in the wall. #HangzhouStories pic.twitter.com/Uel99tjn7A
— Hangzhoufeel (@hangzhoufeel) May 31, 2021
‘Kami’, the world’s first virtual influencer with Down syndrome, is the combined face and voice of over 100 real young women with the condition. She’s here to remind the community that they are valued.
Stock photo agencies are tapping into their rich catalogs and releasing images for free to encourage greater representation for LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color in travel and beauty imagery.
When people see themselves in others, they’ll remember that they, too, hold the tools to make a difference.
From expressive eyewear to fulfilling flights of fancy
Video via Air4All
Universal design isn’t about making everything consistent, but it’s about building things to make ordinary life, well, ordinary for everyone.
Hearing aids you can purchase over the counter—and without taking an ear exam—are now a reality, following nationwide approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration in mid-2022. Unlike prescribed aids, these devices are for wearers with mild to moderate hearing issues—about 30 million Americans, by the administration’s estimates.
Additionally, a pair of augmented-reality glasses keeps the hard-of-hearing up to speed by beaming captions for conversations with loved ones onto the lenses in real time—a spectacle indeed.
Soaring high above the mundanities of life, a clever plane cabin design lets wheelchair users roll themselves to their seats without ever being lifted up from their mobility equipment. The reimagined seats are convertible and can be used by walking passengers when there are no wheelchair users on the flight. It’s a win-win for all.
As it turns out, concerts can be adapted to be enjoyed by all. With thoughtful additions like extra light effects, sign-language interpreters, and wearable audio gadgets that emitted vibrations, Coldplay instilled a “feeling of togetherness” at its world tour.
Making new classics
A staple for homes and offices alike, the iconic Eames Shell Chair was revamped to incorporate 100% post-industrial recycled plastic into its body.
By forgoing the notion that you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken, brands might be rewarded for giving their best stuff a new lease of life.
Visuals that paint more than a thousand words
Public service announcements were how people kept informed during the days of social distancing. You’ll see that they have a life-changing impact, perpetuating the importance of communicating through visuals.
A “lifesaving” playlist created by the British Heart Foundation presents other tracks to perform CPR to besides Staying Alive. Further, interactive, “lung cancer-catching” posters animated at bus stops when passersby coughed to remind them to look out for early signs and get themselves screened. And tongue-in-cheek ‘Checkup Briefs’ feature a closure at the back for easy prostate examinations.
Since the perks of exercise encapsulate mental fitness too, Asics debuted counterintuitive before-and-after imagery reiterating to its audience that transformations are oftentimes about how you feel.
Sea Shepherd tattooed graphics of extinct marine animals onto volunteers, turning human skin into lifelong billboards to raise awareness about species conservation. These creatures might be a thing of the past, but the hope is that their stories will inspire action and prevent other animals from going down the same route.
Image via Missing People
On a more solemn note, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people locate loved ones who have disappeared has retooled missing-persons posters into live portraits, envisioning these individuals as if they were looking directly at you. The organization wants to humanize them so more people will keep their eyes peeled for the missing individuals and come forward with new information.
Perhaps nothing can sum up the power of PSAs in 2022 than the awareness campaigns that shed light on the present reality of Ukraine. To rally support, artists around the world have created Ukraine-inspired posters that allies can use for free.
Changing the game one thread at a time
The fashion realm has been a trendsetter in styling the future for the better.
UNIQLO runs repair workshops that fix flaws like holes, missing buttons, and frayed edges on garments purchased from its stores—ultimately rescuing otherwise great-quality pieces from being tossed into the trash.
On the topic of downsizing fashion waste, one clothing label has upcycled unwanted fabrics into dyes, which then help to color new garments. Plus, given how children quickly outgrow their clothes, a pair of 100% biodegradable baby shoes can be dissolved into water when their wearer’s feet get too large for them.
Fashion is also all about that confidence boost you get when you wear something you love. With that, more brands are designing for less-represented communities to help them feel beautiful, coming up with intimates created with disabled wearers in mind, as well as mastectomy-friendly swimwear for cancer survivors.
High-rise ideas to hold your head in the clouds
Laying out the foundation for the future are bricks crafted from tequila leftovers, cooling pavements to help pedestrians beat the heat, affordable residential domes built to house generations for half a millennium, and more architectural marvels.
An English city has made it a prerequisite for new buildings to be constructed with bee bricks, which have inclusions for solitary bees to take lodge in.
In the middle of many inspiring projects are 3D printers, which have brought a recyclable bio-based house and school buildings for less-developed regions into fruition. The technology has the makings to solve the homelessness problem, being able to install affordable housing—and even full neighborhoods—in quick fashion.
A purpose on every corner
Maximizing space is key in a world that’s approaching a population of over eight billion people. We’ve thus been seeing some interesting ways little nooks and crannies have been converted for the better good.
A subway station in Taiwan has made room for life to bloom. The area has been turned into an organic hydroponics farm that grows salad greens for nearby shops. And what was once Berlin’s main international airport is being transformed into a climate-friendly neighborhood that’s almost car-free, a world apart from its former life.
Image via Boxy
Elsewhere, human-free shipping container minimarts are filling up empty spaces in remote parts of France to bring daily necessities to locals.
Creative solutions that energize the soul
There has never been a better time than now to get in touch with your mental health.
Recognizing art as therapy, doctors are prescribing museum visits to help alleviate anxiety and burnout. Schools are also paying closer attention to children’s emotional health with an app that identifies their mental well-being needs.
Scientists have designed a huggable pillow that “breathes” to temper down stress, and their research has shown that the cushion yields a similar effect to meditation! If that is the sort of healing you resonate with, check out this purrfect online feline “white noise” generator.
Elsewhere, bed-bound patients are immersing themselves in the calming vibes of nature through virtual-reality travel.
Type that’s bold and sans-selfish
The heart of typography is communication. As such, designers are thinking beyond legibility and utilizing type to raise awareness for causes they care about.
A skincare brand has made a dyslexia-friendly font family, with wider kerning, its official typeface. In the same vein, Comic Sans—the font everyone just loves to hate—is finding redemption as the star of a dyslexia initiative. The campaign underscores how the irregularity in the misunderstood font is helping 780 million folks worldwide in their reading.
Image via LEGO
To honor the LGBTQIA+ community, LEGO kicked off a crowd movement to visualize the A to Z of Pride.
Spells like team spirit.
Aesthetic conventions get a makeover
Video screenshot via MullenLowe SSP3
Our perceptions of beauty are getting a glow-up.
Dove switched up its smooth soap bars to feature “stretch marks,” wrinkles, and freckles, paying homage to the unique bumps, marks, and contours that come with real bodies.
Google developed a 10-point skin color scale that it now uses internally to build products. To kick-start a more inclusive future, it is sharing the measurement tool—which is more accurate than the industry standard—with everyone.
Nourishing answers to get you going
Sip on this: Single-serve Coffee Balls bring a friendly alternative to your daily java pods; these spherical capsules are made up of compressed coffee grounds and are protected in a seaweed casing. They have a long shelf life but break down naturally, and can even be used as fertilizer for your home garden.
Consumers can have their luxurious, reconstructed cake and eat it too with new, anti-waste food-ordering apps that serve pocket-friendly, reimagined leftovers from fancy restaurants, AKA “buffets in boxes.”
Finally, a cluster of orb-shaped greenhouses has appeared underwater to harvest vegetables and boost food supply without taking up space on land.
Ecosystems that unite man and nature
Architects are inviting animals back into their rightful native habitats with homes and sanctuaries that allow humans and the biodiversity to co-exist.
A green living complex in Amsterdam contains apartments, shops, and businesses for human residents—and micro-environments of green roofs, grassland, waterways, and shrubbery that flora and fauna can call home. In addition, floating modular homes constructed from recycled plastics are conceptualized as ocean and lagoon settlements where humans and fish are neighbors.
While the new Elizabeth Underground Line in London seeks to better serve the public, avian commuters are also benefiting from its creation. The excess soil dug up to make way for the stations has now gone into building an all-new nature reserve for birds.
The Tin Man finds a heart
As polarizing as the advance of artificial intelligence may be, you can’t shrug off the high-tech efforts deployed for great causes.
New York is helping to ease feelings of loneliness among seniors with “companion robots” that initiate conversations with their human friends while providing proactive care.
A pet adoption drive innovatively harnessed AI… and doodles to give furry pals a forever home. The campaign took kids’ sketches of their dream pets and matched them with real-life, lookalike shelter dogs who were waiting to join new families.
It’s no secret that text-to-art generators have made a mark on the creative world, but they’ve also had a far-reaching impact on the medical field. Inspired by tools like DALL-E, scientists have created models that can conjure up countless, never-before-seen drugs. Evolution for medicines took millions of years. These bots can achieve more than that in seconds.
History becomes immortal
Heritage icons will live forevermore, untouched and in a perfect state, in the virtual world. In the face of war, digitization has proven to not just be an asset but a necessity too.
Users in the present and future can tour cultural sites and admire artwork across the globe via hyperrealistic, 360-degree reproductions of landmarks and artifacts.
Importantly, Ukraine is eternalizing its prized architecture and artifacts online to safeguard its culture against Russian forces.
Inciting hope from humor
It can truly be as simple as getting a chuckle out of someone.
On a highway in Oregon, drivers are warmly greeted by a giant smiley face grown out of trees. And a Swedish city isn’t awarding points for beauty; during the heatwave in Europe, it started an ‘Ugliest Lawn’ contest not just for kicks but to also encourage locals to save water.
As they say, smile and the world smiles with you.
Reinventing the wheel for sustainability
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… an electric bike that carries all your housing needs.
Personal mobility options are having a moment, and you’ll likely see more of those around as roads are revamped to give way to pedestrians and cyclists. From light plant-based e-bikes to pseudo single-seater ‘cars’ , manufacturers are reinventing the wheel for sustainability. The best part? You don’t need a driver’s license to scoot around in these.
We hope you’ve gotten some meaningful takeaways from this list, and can’t wait to see all the new innovations that 2023 will bring.