The Future of Shopping @UNSW House | Sun 22 Nov

Shopping can be looked at as a collective mirror - reflecting our needs, desires and values in action. This series of talks interrogates the psychology, technologies and functions of shopping behaviours and retail settings, tracing them through to their impacts on individuals and society.

The Future of Shopping @UNSW House | Thursdayday, 22 November sessions

Psychology of the Purchase

11–11.40am | Sunday 22 November

Big purchases, spontaneous shopping, panic buying: why do we buy the things we buy? In a world of ever-growing consumer choice, Professor Nitika Garg, in conversation with Siobhan Marin, will examine the psychosocial factors that influence our purchase-related decisions and shape our behaviors without us even realising.

Retail Therapy

1–1.40pm | Sunday 22 November

From the thrill of the hunt to South Korean sites mimicking online shopping and food delivery, Dr Genevra Hart, in conversation with Siobhan Marin, will explore the links between buying and dopamine, alongside the emotional, motivational and behavioral impacts of retail therapy.

The Circular Economy

3–3.40pm | Sunday 22 November

Ethical manufacturers are increasingly considering how goods can be made easier to repair, reuse and recycle. With the development of takeback programs and circular product development, Professor Alison Gwilt, in conversation with Siobhan Marin, discusses how fashion labels are creating space for consumers to take positive action in challenging the systems within which we consume.

Speakers

Professor Nitika Garg is a Professor of Marketing whose research explores how emotions influence consumer judgment, decision-making and behaviour. Drawing on psychology and behavioural science, her work examines why people make the choices they make - from what they buy and eat to how they respond to brands, public messages and social issues.

Dr Genevra Hart is a neuroscientist and lecturer at UNSW. Her research explores how dopamine, reward learning and habit formation shape decision-making and behaviour, offering insights into why shopping can feel rewarding. Genevra unpacks the neuroscience behind anticipation, motivation and the habitual patterns that drive our purchasing decisions - revealing how the brain's reward systems operate beneath conscious awareness, quietly influencing what we buy and why. Her work bridges rigorous neuroscience with real-world consumer behaviour, offering a compelling lens on the biological drivers behind everyday spending decisions, and shedding light on the science of desire.

Professor Alison Gwilt is Head of School at UNSW Art, Design and Architecture and a Professor of Design. Her research investigates how positive, sustainable design interventions can challenge the current clothing production and consumption paradigm, working to shift the fashion industry away from wasteful, unsustainable practices. She is currently examining how design can help keep textiles in use longer, exploring strategies that extend the life of garments and reduce environmental impact.

Siobhan Marin is a presenter and producer with ABC TV's Compass and Radio National, and host of the popular podcast Quick Smart. With a background in social influences and ethics reporting, Marin brings a sharp lens to how media, technology and culture are influencing behaviour, identity and the future of society, including the way we shop, connect and make decisions.