Vibing the Young Consumer to Wellness: Exploring Lo-Fi Music Consumption Through the Positive Design Lens

The consumption of lo-fi music as a wellness and productivity-inducing product has become increasingly popular among young consumers in recent years. This pioneering article explores emerging evidence on lo-fi music consumption for young consumer wellness, using the positive design framework as a lens, and envisions an extensive future research agenda. Following a systematic approach to reviewing the literature, modeled on scoping review methodology, a thematic analysis of the literature is conducted, and theories from multiple disciplines support arguments. Key research gaps and current trends are identified, and a curated definition of the “lofi product†is provided. The study enhances the positive design framework of Desmet and Pohlmeyer with significant contributions from the themes generated, providing product strategists with a framework to design products that optimize young consumers’ wellness. The findings reveal that consumption of the “lofi product†may intensify positive affect, accelerate goal attainment, and improve health and performance while fostering the development of character strengths in young consumers. Intentionally designing products for young consumers using the proposed framework may also result in similar wellness outcomes. This study would empower marketers to leverage the lofi product effectively in their marketing strategies. Consultation with industry experts informs the future research directions proposed. This study calls out a pressing need for robust scientific investigation and academic discussion.