cooking into therapy, Apple Vision Pro, DS M.i 21 During my younger years... I'm not particularly fond of starting my narrative this way, but instead of Barbie, I grew up playing with a Mimi doll. Mimi had simpler features and a more realistic body compared to Barbie's exotic facial features and highly unrealistic physique. Despite enjoying my time with the charming and adorable Mimi, the prevailing trend was still 'Barbie', and I have a bittersweet memory of that.
As we approach the upcoming release of the live-action movie "Barbie," which brings back the Barbie doll I had temporarily forgotten about, I briefly reflected on Barbie's resurgent popularity after 64 years.
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The Birth and Crisis of Barbie
Barbie, the popular toy introduced by Mattel in 1959, experienced a decline in sales from 2010 onwards. This was due to the rise of competing dolls such as Bratz and Lottie Doll, which presented a more "sassy and realistic" image. Furthermore, Mattel's exclusive contract with Disney for doll production, which had been in place since the late 90s, was not renewed in 2014. Instead, Disney partnered with Mattel's competitor, Hasbro, starting with the release of Frozen, marking the beginning of Mattel's downfall. Additionally, LEGO's introduction of LEGO Friends for girls, aligned with shifting social norms and roles, gained significant popularity, further impacting Mattel's sales. The bankruptcy of the toy retail giant, Toys R Us, during this period, dealt another blow to Mattel's business. As a result, Mattel experienced a 10% decrease in revenue. The most significant crisis for the company was the declining interest of young parents in purchasing Barbie dolls for their daughters. This resulted in a drop in annual revenue from $6.5 billion to $4.5 billion, leading to three CEO replacements. However, in subsequent years, Mattel managed to rebound, with annual revenue reaching $5.4 billion in 2021. Last year, Mattel also regained the rights to produce Disney dolls and is currently preparing for the release of a Barbie movie this year.
Strategies to Overcome Mattel's Crisis
1) Embrace Dramatic Change
Acknowledging that young parents were hesitant to purchase Barbie dolls due to their exaggerated sexualized image and unrealistic body proportions of 36-18-33 for their daughters, Mattel took a bold step in 2016. They introduced a more authentic and inclusive range of body types for Barbie (as previously featured in Up Close!). Presently, they offer Barbies with nine distinct body types, 35 skin tones, 94 hairstyles, and even dolls with wheelchairs, braces, and vitiligo. This transformative decision resulted in a 7% sales increase in 2016. |
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2) Preserving Heritage - Excelling at Our Strengths!
Back in the 1950s, when Barbie was first introduced, it stood out from other dolls by embodying adult figures. This unique approach allowed Barbie dolls to showcase various professional roles (like Barbie Surgeon and Astronaut Barbie), inspiring children to imagine their future careers. Despite the evolving times, Mattel remained committed to upholding Barbie's heritage of presenting role models. They launched the "Barbie Dream Gap" program, featuring Barbie dolls inspired by prominent figures in society, such as tennis player Naomi Osaka and former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. Additionally, they released celebrity role model Barbies as part of the "Barbie celebrates Role Models" collection. These endeavors were well-received, as they continued the legacy of Barbie by offering diverse representations of accomplished individuals.
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3) Elevating Storytelling to Another Level
When you think of Barbie, what comes to mind first? The bright pink color, and perhaps Ken, Barbie's boyfriend, or even Barbie's siblings and friends, right? The Barbie story is so well-known that even young nieces and nephews in Korea are familiar with it. The Barbie story has been meticulously crafted and is rich in detail. In 2004, Barbie broke up with Ken on Valentine's Day because Barbie didn't want to get married. After parting ways with Ken, she began dating Blaine, an Australian. The dramatic storyline created a solid narrative foundation, and Mattel built upon this by creating animations such as "Barbie in The Nutcracker," "Barbie as Rapunzel," and "Barbie of Swan Lake." These productions provided a treasure trove of content for the past 10 to 20 years, securing a captivating storytelling experience like no other! |
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After delving so much into Barbie's story today, it feels as if I might even meet Ken in my dreams. Throughout its 64-year history, Barbie has managed to maintain its identity while boldly adapting to the ever-changing trends. As a result, Barbie has become an unmatched character that effectively communicates with the present generation.
While eagerly anticipating the release of the Barbie movie in July, featuring Ryan Gosling as Ken, I can't help but wonder what other exciting Barbie narratives lie ahead!
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🤗 Summary of This Newsletter
01. Innovation - Nestlé Mexico launches Terapia de Cocina to turn cooking into arthritis therapy
02. Product Design- Apple Vision Pro Goggle
03.US Automotive Weekly - DS M.i. 21 Concept: Revealing the Future Interior Direction of DS Cars |
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Consumer Trend - Nestlé Mexico launches Terapia de Cocina to turn cooking into arthritis therapy
When joint pain and stiffness from arthritis affect essential body parts like hands, feet, knees, and the spine, everyday activities can become challenging. Even simple tasks like cooking can be impacted. Nestlé Mexico has introduced a program called "Terapia de Cocina" (Kitchen Therapy) that enables individuals to combine cooking and physical therapy for therapeutic benefits. Offered through Recetas Nestlé, this program turns the kitchen into a space for healing and easing arthritis symptoms.
Terapia de Cocina integrates three key components: cooking recipes, physical therapy exercises, and nutritional guidance. Natural movements involved in cooking, such as peeling pumpkin skin, are combined with hand and wrist exercises to provide beneficial physical therapy actions that alleviate arthritis pain. Additionally, the program features specially selected ingredients recommended by nutritionists to help alleviate arthritis symptoms.
Recetas Nestlé, with a monthly visitation of 700 people, stands as one of Mexico's most popular cooking platforms. By introducing the Terapia de Cocina program, Nestlé emphasizes that consumers can improve their symptoms through food, exercise, rest, and self-management without the need for medical consultations or medication.
Brands are increasingly integrating health and wellness into their products, embarking on ventures that prioritize customer well-being. Examples like #GetOnARoll, which raises awareness of colorectal cancer and adds symptoms to toilet paper packaging to encourage early detection, and Neoplants, which utilize indoor plants to capture pollutants like formaldehyde and toluene, showcase this growing trend.
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Product Design - Introducing Vision Pro, the Spatial Computing Device
During the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC23), Apple introduced Vision Pro, a spatial computing device. Reviewers who had the opportunity to experience Vision Pro firsthand at the Cupertino Apple Park expressed their vivid impressions. They highlighted the immersive 3D experience, which felt even more realistic and natural than a movie theater. They appreciated the ability to focus solely on the video content, emphasizing how captivating it was.
As Apple enthusiasts, we've always heard about the impeccable design of Apple products. The design team behind Apple's wearable products like Apple Watch and AirPods has always excelled. However, opinions are divided when it comes to the design of the newly unveiled Vision Pro. Similar to the trending deconstructed design seen in products like Super73 or BMW's CE 04 scooter, Vision Pro also features a deconstructed design. However, integrating this deconstructed design into a monolithic architecture with multiple facets seems challenging. In the demo, glimpses of a prototype showed a headband that extended across the forehead, which may present some difficulties when it comes to ensuring a comfortable fit (although the actual wearing experience may differ from what we imagine) |
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The display elements combine aluminum housing and plywood glass, reminiscent of Apple Watch. When wearing the goggles, they give the impression of wearing tinted ski goggles. The use of a 3D-Knitted headband appears to provide excellent comfort, cushioning, and breathability. However, there is curiosity about how well the goggles will handle the weight during the maximum usage time of two hours. |
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Function 1. Spatial Computing
The key differentiating factor of Vision goggles is their aim to seamlessly blend digital content with the physical environment. When wearing the goggles, it appears as if layered app icons are floating in the real-world view seen through the lenses. Users can track these icons with their eye movements and select apps through gestures. While the smoothness and effectiveness of gesture and eye-tracking features can only be fully assessed through firsthand experience, it is worth noting that text input can be facilitated by pairing a Bluetooth keyboard, which adds an appealing aspect of physical device connectivity. |
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Function 2. Screen Mirroring
Similar to the 100-inch AR monitor introduced last week, it has the capability to transform the visible space into a large immersive screen. It is possible to connect the current screen being viewed through screen mirroring, but the experience of keeping the goggles on for an extended period of time (approximately 2 hours) is something I would personally like to try and determine its worth. |
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Function 3. Facetiming
In the demo video, we can observe people effortlessly engaging in FaceTiming without wearing the goggles. To achieve this, it is necessary to scan my face before using the goggles to create a virtual avatar. I am curious whether the image of myself that the other person sees will be a still image or a moving GIF-like image. |
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Function 4. Photo/Video Capture
The demo video creeps me out a bit: We see what I assume is the father of these two girls, watching/recording them play with the goggles strapped to his face. It seems disconnected and jarring to me. (Also note the strap going over the top of his head; perhaps this is an early prototype.)
The Vision Pro goggles are expected to debut next year, for $3,500. The high price will perhaps help delay the future where we all wear these all the time, rather than staring into our phones.Furthermore, for someone like me who often lies down while using the phone, it may take a bit more time to adjust to the absence of the large TV screen nearby. |
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US Automotive Weekly- DS M.i. 21 concept previews future DS interior designs
DS Automobile, a brand under Stellantis and renowned as the official presidential vehicle of France, has revealed an avant-garde and futuristic interior concept called "Mi 21" to highlight its distinctive qualities compared to Peugeot vehicles.
To begin with, the dashboard has been repositioned forward, creating a more spacious ambiance and incorporating a concealed storage compartment in the center that resembles a drawer. Moreover, the center console has been eliminated, and a suspended speaker with a captivating beehive-like appearance has been seamlessly integrated, optimizing the utilization of space. The design of the dashboard storage draws inspiration from furniture storage solutions, while the absence of a center console provides ample floor space.
While the concept of a large display is not groundbreaking, what sets the DS Concept apart is its remarkable ability to transition from an opaque to a transparent state when not in use. This unique feature allows the underlying materials and patterns to remain visible, adding an aesthetic value even when the screen is inactive. Consequently, although the entire dashboard gives the impression of being a large screen, the actual display is located solely within the curved area adjacent to the A-pillar. DS emphasized that this treatment enhances the visual appeal of the interior by minimizing distractions.
Another captivating aspect is the circular door panels, which may initially resemble speakers but are, in fact, customizable artworks that can be tailored to reflect the driver's preferences. These panels boast an intelligent configuration that adapts to showcase the interior materials through adjustable lighting, creating a personalized and immersive experience.
Lastly, an intriguing design element is the steering wheel, reminiscent of DS models, which incorporates a smartphone-style screen at its center. This unique feature adds a touch of distinctiveness to the overall aesthetics, prioritizing the visual appeal rather than purely focusing on functionality.
While specific details regarding these innovative features have not yet been fully disclosed, they are anticipated to be developed as key elements for future production and widespread manufacturing.
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My acquaintance, who owns a 10-year-old Subaru Outback and a Tesla Model 3, recently heard the news that the Tesla Model 3 now qualifies for incentives under the inflation reduction law, which includes a tax refund of $7,500 from the IRS and additional clean energy incentives of $7,500 for low-income households or $2,500 for general households. With these incentives, the total price of the Model 3 would be reduced to $25,240, making it more affordable than the Camry priced at $26,320. They asked me if it would be feasible to replace all the cars in their household with electric vehicles.
While finding charging stations wouldn't be a problem in California, where they reside, having multiple electric cars could pose some challenges. If they have solar panels installed at home, it could partially cover the charging needs for one car, but having two or more cars may result in a change to a tiered electricity rate plan like Tier 2 or Tier 3, which could lead to higher costs due to progressive taxation. Additionally, charging two cars simultaneously would require around 320A, while many homes are serviced with 100-200A, so the possibility of additional construction work (installing circuit breakers) and associated costs should be considered.
Moreover, while it's fine for local driving within California, embarking on long-distance road trips exceeding 2,000 miles would be challenging. Although it's technically possible, they would need to plan their charging stops throughout the entire journey, just like many other electric vehicle owners. With a gas-powered car, they can drive for 5-6 hours, take a 10-20 minute break, and continue driving, but with an electric car, they need to consider a charging time of about 20 minutes. As a result, some electric vehicle owners even consider renting a gas-powered car for long-distance trips, as it's not a frequent occurrence.
If I were in the same situation as my acquaintance, I would suggest considering a hybrid model as a replacement for the Outback instead of adding another electric vehicle. To summarize, before deciding to have two electric cars in one household, the following factors should be taken into account:
1) Location and climate conditions (how cold it gets during winter)
2) Frequency and severity of power outages (considering incidents like the Texas Christmas blackout)
3) Gas prices in their area compared to the US average
4) Electricity rates in their area compared to the US average
5) Daily driving distance
6) Personal driving preferences (whether you prefer planning ahead and checking charging station locations in advance or not)
Considering these factors, it would be wise to evaluate the practicality of adding a second electric car and perhaps consider a hybrid model for now.
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Kia Design Center America
Written by Jenna Chwee
Email: jchwee@hatci.com
101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606
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