Science Consumer Insights

Trend - 3D printing brands are creating more unique 3D printers that either use a tool-switcher, or several concurrent tools, to print single projects that utilize more than one material. These multi-material printers are designed for more advanced printing jobs for personal or professional use.

Insight - 3D printing is one such field that has grown far larger than just being a hobby for most. Many consumers create businesses, or streamline their startups, by using 3D printers to save drastically on production costs. However, for more complex products, 3D printing was not always viable, leading to these businesses needing to source product components from traditional manufacturing facilities. However, 3D printing brands are now catering to these needs with multi-material and multi-tool printers.

Trend - Brands across the personal care industry are creating both edible and applied supplements with Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) or Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), which is a precursor to the coenzyme. These chemicals fight cellular decline, promote cell health, and increase metabolism.

Insight - In the health and beauty industry, anti-aging claims and metabolism-boosting claims appear on everything from daily supplements to haircare products. However, with so many products claiming these benefits, it is difficult for consumers to find those that definitively offer these benefits. As a result, many brands across the beauty and personal care industries are turning to chemistry to show that the chemicals in their products are backed by science and demonstrably effective.

Trend - Both companies and individual researchers in the autonomous vehicle industry are launching open-source tools to enhance self-driving capabilities. On both the hardware and software side, these tools are widely applicable and can be used to simulate errors in self-driving models, improving safety.

Insight - While autonomous driving is gaining popularity at an exponential rate, it is still far and away a minority of drivers that utilize these features. Even drivers with vehicles capable of self-driving often avoid the feature for safety concerns. However, as hardware and software become more advanced, the safety of autonomous driving continues to improve, mitigating safety concerns. Companies in the space are launching open-source self-driving tools to accelerate the improvement of these features.

Trend - Colostrum supplements are gaining momentum within the wellness industry as consumers increasingly seek natural ways to bolster their immunity and enhance gut health. Colostrum, the first form of milk produced by mammals immediately after birth, is rich in antibodies and nutrients, making it an attractive option for those looking to support their overall health.

Insight - The rising interest among consumers in preventative health is transforming the health and wellness industry. There's a noticeable shift towards proactive wellness strategies, as today's health-conscious individuals actively look for ways to boost their immune function, improve digestive health, and enhance their overall well-being. This move towards preventative care indicates a broader societal acknowledgment of health as a holistic, long-term investment, steering many away from the conventional reactive approach to healthcare.

Trend - Farming architecture and hardware brands are partnering up with artificial intelligence (AI) companies to launch connected chicken coops. These coops use AI to monitor chickens' activities, identify when maintenance is needed, and reduce variability for small and large-scale farms.

Insight - While most farmers do so full-time, there are many consumers with personal-sized farms in addition to their regular jobs. These consumers do not have enough bandwidth to micro-manage each aspect of their farm with the precision of a full-time farmer. As such, these consumers desire hands-off solutions for maintenance that does not compromise on quality or reliability. Brands are addressing the needs of these consumers with curated, connected, and AI-powered technologies.

Trend - Companies are introducing fishing traps that are ropeless and located with acoustic signals. These traps have self-inflating balloons to allow them to surface when called, and can be used more than ten times. This results in fewer fish and whales caught in unnecessary ropes.

Insight - Commercial fishing is essential to maintaining an affordable supply of seafood for customers. However, this fishing is often destructive to the aquatic environment due to single-use traps and materials being lost in the water. For customers who do not consider the sustainability of fishing, reducing costs and increasing supply is a real desire. This puts pressure on companies to deploy more efficient, more sustainable methods of fishing that reduce costs across the board.

Trend - Brands in the 3D-printing space are launching printers and materials that can create complex, durable glass structures. This offers more value to consumers in the space, as many regular printers can now create designer glass structures for jewelry or otherwise without specialty equipment.

Insight - Consumers in the 3D-printing space are drawn to tools and services that enable creativity and streamline the creation process. This includes printers that create higher-quality prints faster, as well as software that enables more precise designing of printed works. This desire extends beyond software and hardware to material works as well, as consumer pressures previously moved the industry toward wood filament printing for sustainability, showing a demand for more printable materials.

Trend - Microplastic pollution is an ever-increasing problem in the modern world, with traces of microplastics being found in everything from food to living organisms. The world's oceans are a hotspot for this pollution, leading to science organizations creating devices to recapture microplastics.

Insight - There is increased pressure from consumers and governments alike for businesses to engage in sustainable practices and offset their emissions. These businesses seek solutions for reducing and offsetting their emissions that are transparent and tangible. Ideally, businesses desire solutions that go beyond minor reductions in annual CO2 emissions. These methods improve businesses' government standings and their ability to market to eco-conscious consumers. With the rising concerns surrounding microplastic pollution and carbon emissions, these corporations are reinvesting a portion of profits into NGOs and research centers for mutual benefit.

Trend - 3D printer manufacturers and materials suppliers have begun using upcycled wood from excess materials gathered at sawmills and other processing plants. The companies use filament printing and binding to transform this byproduct into durable designs that resemble whole cuts of wood.

Insight - As 3D printing becomes more accessible for general consumers and small businesses, there is a rising demand for products that offer more material options and are more sustainable. Not every customer is satisfied printing designs in hard metal, plastic, or other polycarbonate compounds, leading to businesses introducing wood to the equation. This not only offers more options but also allows 3D printing companies to partner with sawmills to upcycle wood waste into usable products.

Trend - The 3D printing industry is one that continually pushes toward efficiency and accuracy. Since HP introduced Multi Jet Fusion technology to the market in 2021, many companies have adopted this technology in order to provide printing services for complex, functional parts with fine details.

Insight - At-home 3D printers cover most simply small-to-medium-sized printing jobs. However, many at-home printers fail to create functional prototypes of small parts and tools, as these parts often require precise, intricate details. Additionally, customers cannot afford to have these printed parts be structurally unsound. HP's Multi Jet Fusion technology addresses these areas by allowing companies to print small, highly complex parts that are functional and reliable.