Connecting the Dots
What is a trend? What’s trending? Why care? How does this even affect me? These are some of the questions I’ll be exploring in my deep dive on the subject.
The word “trend” can unfortunately feel cheap and annoying to most people. For me, looking into trends is actually very little about “looking cool”, something “being in”, or “fitting in”. What is exciting to me, and will be the focus of these posts, is the cause and effect of the psychology, anthropology, and philosophy of what is trendy, why, where, and for how long. It’s the what’s next, the prediction, the chance, and the unpredictability of it all. The past, the future, the intentional, and sometimes the unintentional.
In fact, I would say that my interest in trend research came from a place of anti-cool, anti-consumerism. I started out as a cynic. Thinking things like “Oh, you used triangles in your design? Wow. How original.” “You passionately love pandas suddenly? I see you.” It was pretty negative, seeing as to the fact that everyone, including myself, is somehow following some sort of trend.
Admittedly, yes, I’m a product designer, consumerism is part of my job. Did I realize that going into it as an inventor? Nope, I just wanted to make gadgets that helped people. Ironically, now, I pick up these trends often, because I enjoy analyzing them. So as a product designer, this became a strength for me, and I consequently help friends and businesses sell product.
Consumerism of course gets to me, as it does all people. I just think it’s important to know when you’re being marketed to, and if you really, honestly needed that thing in the first place. We have a money saving problem in the U.S. because of it. We also have beauty standard issues because of it! Heck, we even have gender role issues because of it. I think trends are mostly useful, but they’re definitely abused in our current consumerist society.
No, you do not need that sloth mug. No, your nursery being woodland themed was not your original idea. No, getting neon Nike clothing to stand out will not make you stand out as original. That mug was made for your quirky demographic who likes to collect themed designs (and sloths are a trend I’ll get into later). That woodland creature baby decor was marketed to your maternal demographic who loves nurturing helpless beings. Standing out in athletics is a need your demographic is seen as having a high instance of, so you’re actually… just… fitting in.
You learn to connect the dots as you get into the forecasting mindset more. It’s very interesting.
We’re all a part of multiple demographics. The only way to break out and truly be an individual is to realize that, and to know who we really are. Why are we really buying these things? Why are we voting for who were voting for? Eating what we’re eating? Following who we’re following?
Can we even be individuals free from trends?
Come with me, let’s analyze.
