Trend Taster: tactile hedonism edition
In this week’s edition of the Trend Taster, we round up the snackable trends, stats and insights from around the world, including:
Starbucks' free refill policy
What is a "virtual community kitchen"?
Spotify's Wrapped Haircuts
Explainer: Tactile Hedonism
AI is coming for your job
Starbucks' free refill policy
Starbucks is now offering free refills to all customers (not just rewards members) but with a crucial catch: drinks must be served in reusable cups or ceramic mugs, starting January 27. This move, coupled with reversing its open-door policy to prioritize paying customers, signals how major chains are reimagining their physical spaces in 2025.
What is a "virtual community kitchen"?
In a fusion of digital engagement and social impact, Roblox is transforming youth awareness about hunger through Mission: Hunger, the world's first virtual community kitchen that turns gameplay into real-world philanthropy. By leveraging the platform where nearly half of US kids play daily, this innovative experience uses AI-driven storytelling and interactive mini-games to educate players about food insecurity while generating actual meal donations - creating a powerful model of gamified social responsibility that bridges virtual entertainment and meaningful community support.
Spotify's Wrapped Haircuts
By transforming "Top Artist" stats from Wrapped 2024 into free celebrity-inspired haircuts at local salons, Spotify is turning digital engagement into physical brand experiences. By taking their mobile haircut trucks to the streets and festivals, Spotify shows how digital platforms can create hybrid experiences that merge online behaviour with offline culture, turning streaming data into social currency and personal identity markers.
Explainer: Tactile Hedonism
Brands are tapping into a growing desire for sensory comfort by creating products that engage multiple senses simultaneously. This shift is particularly evident in the beauty industry, where food-inspired products create emotional connections through familiar flavours and nostalgic scents. The trend reflects consumers' search for comfort in an increasingly digital world. This multisensory approach to comfort represents a broader shift toward products that satisfy both physical and emotional needs.
AI is coming for your job
New WEF data shows 41% of major employers plan to reduce headcount due to AI automation, while 77% will invest in AI-focused reskilling programs through 2030. Traditional knowledge workers like legal secretaries and graphic designers are most at risk, marking the first time creative roles have appeared on the "fastest-declining" list. This also comes with opportunity: 70% of companies plan to hire AI design specialists, and 62% seek workers skilled in human-AI collaboration. This signals a fundamental transformation where success isn't about avoiding AI, but rather mastering human-machine partnership. Unlike previous tech waves, the WEF no longer predicts this shift will be a "net positive" for overall job numbers.
