Trends

The latest global consumer trends that we’re tracking across sectors, substantiated by expert opinions and the latest industry statistics.

The Synthocene Era

As AI redefines our understanding of intelligence, we begin to enter The Synthocene Era, an age in which the lines between what is natural and what is artificial are increasingly blurred – driving humanity into a future when technology will redefine what it means to be human

Micro Trends

Scent Retail Futures

Luxury fragrance retail is turning to AI and immersive experiences to provide bricks-and-mortar customers with curated and personalised scent discovery

Micro Trends

Glow-up Getaways

A new generation of health-focused hospitality hubs created with science-backed hyper-personalisation in mind are offering the ultimate longevity getaways for the ultra-wealthy

Micro Trends

Spirited Synthesis

Through creative and unexpected collaborations, food and drink innovators are redefining alcohol as a culinary flavour, appealing to a new generation of sober-curious, snack-happy consumers

Design Directions

Biofabricated Futures

A revolutionary sustainability breakthrough, biofabrication is the engineering of biological products. This report explores its market evolution and future potential in transforming materials to drive commercial success

Micro Trends

Snapshot News

Global – As their audiences move to mobile, news outlets are streamlining their content to fit smaller contexts and shorter attention spans.

Design Directions

Juicero

The Juicero Press is a home cold-press juicing system that offers convenience to California’s health-conscious consumers.

Juicero : Farm-to-glass : Cold-press Juice

Micro Trends

Aloha Raw

Move over sushi, step aside ceviche, poke is the hottest (coldest) new raw fish dish in town.

Hawaii : Los Angeles : Hawaiian Food

Design Directions

DVTK: Interactive Design

Kim Boutin and David Broner are DVTK, a London-based design studio known for creating experimental and playful online brand experiences.

DVTK : Kenzo : Interactivity

Design Directions

Lululemon Lab

New York – Yoga-inspired athletic clothing label Lululemon has created a laboratory concept that tailors garments to suit specific markets.

Lululemon : Lab : New York

Design Directions

Sensory Assault

Artists and image-makers have often found beauty in the grotesque. Now they are honing in on strange, slimy textures, coloured liquids and imperf...

Gen Viz : Sensory : Maisie Cousins

Micro Trends

Visual ASMR

Can slow motion make your heart beat faster? Digital creatives are drawing on sensory phenomena such as ASMR to develop a new type of visual fetish...

The E-motional Economy : ASMR : Tactility

Design Directions

Dream Adventures

Expedia’s latest campaign uses 360-degree cameras and live streaming technology to bring locations such as the plains of Argentina and&nb...

Expedia : Projection Mapping : Dream Adventures

Micro Trends

Data Designers

Data is the latest design tool in town and it is being used to shape better decisions on product development and marketing.

Data : Advertising : Lyst

Design Directions

Zeitguised: Digital Image-making

Berlin-based Zeitguised manipulates tangible objects and textures from the physical world to create surrealist visuals that are only conceivable in...

Zeitguised : CGI : Computer Aided Design

Design Directions

Autumn/winter 2016 Fashion Week directions: Part 2

In the second part of our report on the key design directions of the autumn/winter 2016 Fashion Week shows, we examine the treatments and visual re...

Autumn/winter 2016 : Fashion : Gucci

Micro Trends

Regenerative Consumption

Ecological consciousness is inspiring new products that feed back to their sources in a cycle of regeneration.

Whole System Thinking : Radical Transparency : Sustainability Futures

Design Directions

Wellness

Madrid-based fashion label Wellness has created Dubai, a water brand and dedicated website with eco-conscious, fitness and educational credentials.

Wellness : Dubai : Fashion

Macro Trends

Backlash Brands

In an age of constant consumer backlash, bold brands are choosing to stand their ground rather than bow to every customer whim, staging a reactio...

Backlash Brands : Controversy-courting : Righteous Retail

Macro Trends

The E-motional Economy

A new wave of sophisticated emodiversity is ushering in an era in which people are increasingly obsessed with how everything makes them feel.

Empathy : Artificial Emotional Intelligence : Mood Manipulation

Macro Trends

Gen Viz

Teenagers are no longer self-absorbed souls struggling through puberty. Abstinence and realness are the order of the day for these new social activ...

Gen Viz : Generation Z : Visual First

Micro Trends

Mood Retail

The act of browsing has been given a new twist as retailers tailor their offers to people’s personal moods.

Uniqlo : Mood : Bentley

Design Directions

Block’hood

Block’hood teaches people of all ages how the built environment works using a Minecraft-style interface.

Block'hood : Gaming : Architecture

Design Directions

Autumn/winter 2016 Fashion Week directions: Part 1

Radical futuristic scenarios and design techniques associated with heavy industry were among the diverse themes examined by designers this season. ...

Acne : Tod’s : Marni

Micro Trends

Anti-diet Mentality

Brands are ditching the word ‘diet’ and focusing on achievable personal improvement over perfection.

Anti-diet : Weight Loss : Wellbeing