DUMPLING PICKS #010 outlines the latest macro and micro trends from Asia 🔮
Lighter Fare 🧋
The fun, creative and unexpected side of Asia.
Games going local: Roblox game about sustainable farming, set in a Singaporean context 🧑🌾 Singapore is reinventing their libraries with unique books and offerings reflective of the culture of the neighbourhood 📚 Made with oysters: using an ancient Chinese technique of using oyster ash to create a new construction material 🦪 What’s cooking in a Chinese activewear brand’s staff kitchen (making work fun and wholesome) 🤤 The latest RED magazine covers the full spectrum of Chinese outdoor life, and it all makes sense because Haidilao decides to serve hotpot for campers 🧗🏻♀️
Serious Stuff 🍚
A mixed variety of contexts influencing life, culture and businesses across Asia.
Will China be the next Japan? 🇨🇳 New Korean movie ‘Concrete Utopia’ is a glimpse into the socio-historical context of apartments in Seoul 🏢 Seafood politics is in progress… 🍣 Two Korea Unification: The majority of South Koreans favour a unified Korean Peninsula, but half prefer a model where the two Koreas remain separate, with each side able to freely cross the border 🇰🇷🇰🇵 Thailand’s just opened a halal corridor in its southern border, which has long been historically connected to the Arab World through trade 🗺 Connecting nations: Four SEA countries from Myanmar in the West to Vietnam in the East are now linked up via a landmark highway 🚗
Wise Words 🥢
A picky curation of perspectives from wise minds in Asia.
Q: How can sustainable materials become more relevant to the average mass consumer in China?
A: The average Chinese consumer considers the following things when it comes to products: (1) Health: whether it’s safe, or pose a known or perceived health risk; (2) Quality: whether it’s durable within the expected lifespan; (3) Affordability: whether it’s within budget; (4) Aesthetics: whether it looks nice; (5) Good for the Environment: this is likely only relevant to a small number of consumers, but if that can be communicated through delightful, curiosity-generating storytelling, it will likely attract the mass consumer. A product that meets any combination of these conditions will be a better alternative for many people in China, which makes it more likely to become the mainstream choice in the market.
大众选择材料的时候,大家优先考虑的还是这样几个要素。第一,健康,也就是对于大家和我们的家人、员工等等,没有健康的危害,比如没有甲醛没有任何挥发性有害物质。第二,质量好,得在大家期待的使用年限内不会出现质量问题。第三,买得起,要符合预算。第四,要好看,要符合审美要求。第五,对环境友好,这点可能是非常小众人群会在意的点,但环保如果可以折射出一些故事性和有趣性,比如葡萄皮做的茶几,可能是大家选择它的更大因素。所以,如果一种可持续材料可以符合这几个条件,或者说能在预算、审美、性价比这些点上,都能做到对于很多人而言是一个更好的新选择,那么它就很可能逐步成为市场选择的主流,走进大众生活。
NANOxARCH • Sustainable Material Design Consultancy • China 🇨🇳