Spot Illustrations for Courier Magazine #44, 2021

Art Director: Sean Thomas

BEAUTY BEYOND H2O

Water is typically the first ingredient listed on beauty products and makes up 70% of most lotions and creams. But some brands are working hard to change that.

FOLLOW THE PARCEL

The pandemic has made scanning QR codes a much more accepted and normalized consumer behaviour, says Cameron Worth, CEO and founder of SharpEnd, an agency that helps brands build connected experiences, including connected packaging. And brands are going beyond QR codes to enhance connected packaging: using near-field communication and internet of things technology, brands are offering more immersive digital content. But that likely comes at a cost.

THE CUSTOM CLOTHING COMEBACK

Revenue increase for 3DLOOK between April 2020 and March 2021, according to the company. 3DLOOK is a business-to-business software that offers mobile scanning technology for personalized clothing, with the aim of helping brands reduce returns due to incorrect sizing.

EXIT TO COMMUNITY

For a long time startups have had only two main options for exiting: go public or get acquired. Inevitably, while these exits tend to benefit investors and founders the most, for the growing number of companies with a strong community component, is there another option?

DESIGN FOR DISASSEMBLY

Designers in the footwear and apparel industries are starting to manufacture products that have disassembly factored in from the very beginning. In other words, when the item’s lifespan comes to an end, each of its components can be separated and reused or recycled appropriately.

INFLUENCERS MOVING OFFLINE

Influencer fame and fortune is fickle, especially at the hands of opaque platform algorithms. Typical revenue streams such as sponsored content, ad revenue share and affiliate links depend on followers and engagement, both of which can be gutted by a small tweak to YouTube or Instagram’s formula. With that in mind, creators are looking for ways to monetize their influence offline.

RESTAURANT PIVOTS

The huge boom in dark kitchens has been dominated by big businesses, from food hospitality chains dipping their toes into the delivery space, to the delivery providers themselves. Now, small businesses are looking to get a piece of the pie too.

FINTECH FOR GEN Z

Up until now, most fintech platforms aimed at Gen Z have been about managing savings, improving financial wellness, and democratizing access to financial education. But as Gen Z grows up, how will the fintech and wider banking industry have to evolve? We caught up with Parween Mander, a Vancouver-based money coach, to talk about what the future holds for new-age and legacy financial institutions.