Yuccie, an acronym for “young urban creatives”, refers to a self-aware young adult who values his or her creative autonomy but also prestige and materialistic success. An archetypal yuccie is someone between the ages of 20 and 30 who is well educated or who otherwise has specialized knowledge and who lives in a metropolis. A yuccie has also been described as the offspring of ‘yuppie’ and ‘hipster’.
Contents
Background
The term “Yuccie” was coined by blogger David Infante in a post he wrote for Mashable called “The hipster is dead, and you might not like who comes next.” In the article, he defined yuccie as “a slice of Generation Y, borne of suburban comfort, indoctrinated with the transcendent power of education, and infected by the conviction that not only do we deserve to pursue our dreams; we should profit from them.”
Social network
Yuccies have extremely active social lives. As part of the millennial generation, yuccies' especially use the Internet as a vehicle for self-promoting their creative contributions. This includes blogging or posting on social media websites like Instagram.
Living
Yuccies typically live in large cities, but there are some that live in less urban environments. Many enjoy the convenience of a city but the calm of suburban life. They tend to enjoy otherwise unassuming activities like farming, gardening, and interior design. A typical yuccie's home might contain antique pieces and do-it-yourself furnishings, avoiding large retail outlets as a source.
Fashion
The yuccie maintains a simple body image. Unlike the grungy style of the hipster, the yuccie's look is more put-together with comfortable, yet sleek, clothing that conveys a sense of individuality. A male yuccie might wear shirts with untucked tails but avoid ripped jeans or old T-shirts. Some will opt to wear secondhand, reconditioned clothing. A yuccie will avoid big name brands, opting to support smaller, local business or products that endorse sustainability, organicism, or going "Green."
Dining culture
With their emphasis on a sound mind and body, the yuccie is meticulous about the type food he or she eats, where it comes from and how it is prepared. Some, but not all, reduce intake of dietary meats, in favor of produce. Local and sustainable foods form a big part of the yuccie diet. The yuccie is naturally drawn to the ‘localvore’ movement, and, as such, they often indulge in the foodie culture by blogging and photographing their local cuisine. Many especially enjoy cafes, pop-up restaurants, and street foods. The yuccie enjoys creative cocktails, craft beers and wine.
Hobbies
The yuccie maintains an active lifestyle between outdoor activities, travel, and arts. A sporty yuccie may seek personally challenging activities like rock climbing, yoga, marathons and mountain cycling. They are most likely to seek out and join a wide variety of creative outlets, from DIY workshops to craft-making in their personal time, immersing creativity and the arts into their daily lives. Travel to unusual destinations off the beaten path, or from a unique new perspective, with emphasis on in-depth exploration, is one means for the yuccie to find inspiration.
Care for the community
Their strong sense of social awareness and social justice galvanizes the yuccie to make a difference in their surroundings. The seamless manner in which the online world merges with their offline lives mean the yuccie is often aware of current global issues, and is a willing contributor to causes of the moment, from helping victims of armed conflict to saving endangered species. In their daily lives, the yuccie may opt to volunteer in their communities, or take action indirectly by purchasing environmentally friendly, fair trade products, even if these products are sold at higher prices than their equivalents.