What does it mean to be old today? Not that long ago a stable job, set of car keys and a mortgage meant you could call yourself an adult. But today it’s as likely your teenage sibling is launching a tech empire, aunty Maura is part of a startup incubator and you’re, well, still living at home with mum and dad.
Look around you and you’ll see the traditional stereotypes no longer apply. Age isn’t a barrier to living life to the full, whether you’re a tween vlogger breaking into the fashion industry, a retiree rediscovering your youth or a skater dad who never lost it in the first place.
The rules of the game are changing and traditional demographics are all but a shadow of how people think, act and see themselves. The reasons for this shift are numerous. Partly, it’s thanks to science. We’re all living longer and healthier lives. Economics also has a big part to play. Due to the recession more kids are adopting an entrepreneurial mindset.
But the biggest driver is a shift in attitude. People want to be defined by their interests and aspirations not their date of birth. The implications of this are both disruptive and exciting, which is why we’ve decided to explore the phenomenon further this issue. Turn to our report to find out why everything, from how we treat our elders to who adolescents aspire to be, is changing.
Of course, that’s not all we’ve got to offer. Inside we speak to pioneer Nick Knight about the future of fashion, listen to Holly Herndon’s trippy, net-inspired music, look at how Boiler Room is taking over the world, travel to Beirut and toast Marije Vogelzang’s mouth- watering new approach to food design. All this and more in the latest issue of Protein. Dig in!
