Fresh Thinking
Blogs & Resources
How R&D Teams Can Avoid the Rabbit Hole of Polarised Niche Trends
In today’s fragmented, AI-driven market, innovation teams risk chasing amplified micro-trends instead of real human needs. This article explores how R&D teams can cut through cultural noise, avoid the “rabbit hole” of niche trends, and refocus on meaningful, need-led innovation.
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What FMCG R&D Leaders Can Learn From The Beauty Industry’s Legal Minds
At the Beauty & Wellness Law Summit in London, legal experts revealed how regulation, claims, and consumer trust are reshaping innovation in beauty. For FMCG R&D leaders, the message was clear: the future of product development goes far beyond formulation.
R&D’s Role in ‘theatre’
As FMCG and healthcare giants streamline and refocus, retailers are investing in immersive, experience-led “retail theatre.” But without insight-driven R&D, even the most dazzling store concepts risk becoming generic. This frontline perspective explores how R&D can elevate product stories, shape…
The Future of Packaging: What R&D Can learn from Empak 2026
At Empak 26, experts across R&D, data and branding explored how consumer-first packaging is evolving beyond protection and compliance to deliver emotional connection, trust and smarter digital experiences. From QR-enabled simplification to behaviour-led design and luxury brand equity, the discussion…
The Power of Product Stories for R&D Market Success
Product Stories are not marketing polish, they’re a practical R&D tool for exploring, stress-testing and translating innovation into real-world impact. Across three very different use cases, they helped teams unlock better ideas, move faster and protect return on R&D…
Why Micro-Learning Is Becoming the Key to Innovation-Ready R&D Teams
Built for R&D teams, Innovation Gym uses micro-learning to develop innovation skills fast, without pulling teams away from the work that matters.
CES 2026: A Turn Toward Practical Use
CES 2026 marked a clear turn away from spectacle and toward technologies designed to fit seamlessly into everyday life. Rather than headline-grabbing breakthroughs, the most compelling innovations focused on usability, trust, and integration into real human routines, signalling a more…
Making R&D Even More Business-Critical in 2026: The Power of Atomic Habits
As pressure on R&D teams continues to rise, the biggest gains often come from how we work day to day. These eight atomic habits show how small shifts in behaviour can strengthen commercial relevance and real-world impact in 2026.
The Future of Beauty: What FMCG R&D Leaders Can Learn from the Industry’s Sharpest Minds
The British Beauty Council’s “Future of Beauty” event this week was one of the most intelligently curated industry gatherings we’ve seen in quite a long time. Every panel was deliberate, with a mix of business leaders, founders, scientists and creatives who together…
Packaging Innovation on Show at London Packaging Week 2025
Packing Innovation On Show At London Packaging Week 2025
Two days at London Packaging Week left me energised by many examples of how packaging is evolving. As a user-centric product developer, I see this convergence between feeling and function as the…
Reducing R&D Rework and maximising R&D Investment: Critical Stage-Gate Considerations In Volatile Economic Times
In volatile economic times, the organisations that will win are those that resist the temptation of premature numbers and instead base their early-stage decisions on clarity, deeper evidence, and meaningful human insight.
Breakthrough innovations don’t start with brainstorms; they start with deeper insights
If you’re asking people what they want, you’re already on the wrong track. In qualitative research, especially when aiming for deeper insight, the goal isn’t to take consumer suggestions literally. It’s to uncover the needs, frustrations and desires that consumers might struggle to…
AI Transforms Market Research: IIEX 2025 Conference Insights
While the impressive innovations showcased at this years IIEX demonstrate AI’s many benefits, the brands using it most successfully are those who are able to combine AI efficiency with human contextual understanding and strategic thinking. (Image by FreePix)
