Trends for 2013 from Peter Day of BBC

I'm a big fan of Peter Day's "World of Business" BBC podcast.

His December 29th, 2012 "GlobalBiz: 2013 Look Ahead" podcast features great interviews with a couple of my favorite trend forecasters:

Mark Anderson, Strategic News Service

• technological security threats through the hardware and chips, not just software and hacking.
• Hacktivists as our friends.
• Driverless cars coming sooner than we think

David Mattin, Lead Strategist, TrendWatching.com

• Emerging markets targeting other emerging markets with their brands, products, and innovations. 
• Our smartphones will be interwoven into every aspect of our lives'. It will be a "lifestyle revolution". Our personal assistant. The more we personalize our apps, the better our assistants will know us.
• QR codes are the future ... ? Peapod as an example. (Forbes article , Instore Trends,  as well)
• M-health will make our healthcare providers smarter and safer. Democratizing and empowering healthcare.
• 3D printing  - "Again Made Here", The return of manufacturing to "developed markets". Greater innovation. (my 2012 3D printing report)

Caroline Webb, Seven Shift Leadership

• The new normal
• VUCA = Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity
• Personal endurance is a skill we need to master individually
• Planning for an uncertain future in organizations

Old Age Is No Place for Sissies

Newly uploaded business trend document.

#2 of 12 Business Trends for 2012
"Old Age is No Place for Sissies"

I've uploaded #2 of my series of 12 business trends { #bizTrend }  for 2012 entitled "Old Age is No Place for Sissies". 


Synopsis: 
Baby Boomers account for 40% of consumer demand in the U.S., and control 70% of the total net worth of American households ($7trillion). While the rest of us are saving for a retirement, the Boomers are spending their hard earned pensions, social security, IRAs, and 401Ks. While recent financial and housing market crashes have resulted in devastating losses to many, the amount of money set aside for the Golden Years of this ever increasing retired set is astronomical. 

This paper is a brief look at the enormous opportunity that Baby Boomers offer to : 
1. Durable and non-durable product retailers, manufactures and suppliers. (Automobile, travel, airline, furniture, home builder, hardware manufacturers, and more) 

2. Service providers including the airline industry and home builders. 

3. Municipalities and governments with respect to urban planning and infrastructure spending.

Download from Slideshare or Dropbox

In response to several comments from iDevice people that they could not view the Slideshare documents on their iPhones / iPads, I have set up Dropbox folders for easy downloading of the 2012 Trend PDF documents that I have shared publicly.  Please see this blog post on the topic.

2012 Trend Report

Hi folks. Sorry for the absence. I've been plugging away at work (busy busy) and also have been writing an extensive (400+ pages) trend presentation for 2012.  I distributed this report prior to 2012 to subscribing clients. However now that 2012 is here, I'm sharing excerpts on Slideshare with my Linked-In community with links to 17,000+ reference images and articles via my Pinterest boards. I invite you to follow me on Linked-In, join in on the group conversations, and check out my Pinterest boards and follow the ones that might interest you. If you aren't on Pinterest yet, you need to be! (read this)  If you need an invite you can e-mail me or just leave a comment with your e-mail address and I'll send out an invitation.



Contents of My 2012 Trend Report


The 2012 Design | Intuition Trend Report is organized in sections (96 total) beginning with an analysis and forecast from 50,000' viewpoint and progressively narrows focus towards color and design trends for the consumer products industry. For each section I have outlined 12 trends that will begin their life cycle in 2012. And for each I have created a hashtag which facilitates internet searching and twitter conversations on each topic. 

• Macro Trends ( #macroTrend ). this is the 50,000 foot level view of the economy, politics, and consumer sentiment.

• Business Trends ( #bizTrend )  These are trends that will be disruptive innovations for all businesses from sole proprietors to global conglomerates. 

• Retail Trends ( #retailTrend ) These are innovations and threats that will dramatically effect the way retailers do business during the year and going forward.

• Design Trends ( #designTrend ) Taking inspiration from historical cues, the design trends in 2012 all incorporate modern interpretations, materials, and function with historically significant eras.

   

• Color Trends ( #colorTrend ) While nothing will replace black as the "new black", there are colors that come in an out of favor over generations and decades. 2012 will be a year of beautifully rich, deep colors paired with neutral grays. (Peacock Blue, Persimmon, Cassis Purple, Mint, Hematite, Navy Blue)

       

• Motif Trends ( #motifTrend ) . For example, Owls were hot hot hot in 2011. Elephants are now coming in as the new hot trend, followed closely by Peacocks. 

• Material Trends ( #materialTrend ) Ostrich Feathers and Velvet were prevalent on the Fashion Runways during New York Fashion Week to be hot in 2012 and will be paired with warm walnut veneer, natural finishes, and greige neutrals in wood.

• Print & Pattern Trends ( #printTrend ) Chevrons, Ikat, and Zebra Stripes, oh my. 

My approach to trends and forecasting:
Identifying and highlighting trend that have or will survive past the early adopter stage and move up the curve towards mass popularity. Trends have a lifespan of 5-10 years, whereas Fads have a shelflife of 1 year or less; While Fads come in hot and fast and may look like the latest and greatest must have product, service, or business tool, Fads also burn out fast, and the must have becomes a write off quite quickly. Trends are something that can be banked on. In 2012 trends include the social media platform Pinterest, the color "Cassis" purple, and the appeal of the "Golden Age of Hollywood Glamour" in fashion and home decor. All of these trends will gain in popularity in 2012, and will remain in fashion for years to come. 




Happy forecasting!