Rise of Hyper-Personalization and Function-Driven Consumption… Wadiz Unveils 2026 Trend Keywords

– Outlining trends for the first half of 2026… Report published featuring seven key trends by category

– Growth of micro-tech, home beauty, and preference-based projects… Key consumer trends projected for 2026

– Wadiz School exclusively releases the full-length video covering product planning and crowdfunding success strategies

Wadiz(CEO Shin Hye-seong, www.wadiz.kr) has released its “2026 First Half Trend Report” and identified seven key trends that will shape consumer behavior next year.

Wadizhas identified a total of seven keywords: △Thriving in a Downturn (RACING) △Hyper-Personalized Choices (SCENE) △A Single, Defining Strength (FOCUS) △A Journey to Perfecting Your Own Beauty(ROUTINE) △Discerning Choices for Our Children (PICKY) △Personalized Keywords (PERSONAL) △Adding Value to My Daily Life (WORTH).

Based on an analysis of over 12,000 projects from 2025, this report examines rapidly rising keywords by category and funding amounts per project to provide an outlook on consumer trends for the first half of 2026 across seven sectors: tech and home appliances, home living, fashion, beauty and food, kids and pets, leisure, sports, and activities, and publishing, art, and merchandise.

First, in 2025, a trend toward increasingly personalized choices based on individual preferences and functionality emerged across all categories. In particular, △small and lightweight ultra-compact tech items, △home beauty devices that deliver professional-grade results at home, and △projects with clear concepts reflecting personal tastes showed notable growth.

In the first half of 2026, this trend toward "taste- and function-driven consumption" is expected to become even more pronounced.

A prime example is small, lightweight “ultra-compact” tech products. As demonstrated by the “PicoPulse” mini PC, which raised 470 million won in its first funding round in 2025, demand for products that combine portability and performance is expected to continue into 2026.

In the children’s market, as evidenced by the case of “Cream House,” the nation’s leading brand of infant mats, whose “Free 2S Foldable Mat” reached 2,000% of its funding goal, “functional products” that address clear consumer needs—such as safety and durability—are expected to become a key driver of consumption.

Furthermore, in the publishing, art, and merchandise categories, as evidenced by the success of Tadao Ando’s official art book (400 million won) and merchandise for the drama *The Tyrant’s Chef* (which secured global funding from 33 countries), “taste- and fandom-driven consumption” is on the rise, and it appears that creative and IP-centric projects will continue to thrive.

A Wadiz representative stated,Wadizis a space that serves as a starting point for new challenges and global expansion,” adding, “We hope this trend report will provide practical guidance to makers preparing for the 2026 market, and that the ‘2026 Trend Makers’ exhibition will serve as a springboard for more brands to make the leap onto the global stage.”

Meanwhile, the Trend Report has also been produced as a video to help makers easily grasp the key points. It will be released on December 12 on theWadiz Maker Center YouTube Channel” (www.youtube.com/@wadiz_makercenter), while the full version, which includes strategies for successful crowdfunding, will be available exclusively onWadiz School” (www.wadiz.kr/web/school/main).

In addition, through the “2026 Trend Makers” exhibition, the company plans to provide opportunities to reach more customers in the new year and support the brand’s market expansion.