This project explores trend forecasting as an act of noticing: identifying the subtle cultural signals that reveal what consumers are beginning to value before they can fully name it.
Process:
There is a whole process to do trend forecasting. It begins with 3 rounds of secondary research, followed by analysis after each round, and then clustering the information under similar themes.
My trend research began with reading news, reports, and articles from authentic sources and forecasting platforms to identify early signals of change across culture, technology, and lifestyle. I organized my findings on a Miro board using clustering methods to group related signals and visualize emerging patterns. From there, I synthesized these into 2–3 overarching trends based on recurring themes, supported by articles, visuals, and manifestations. Each trend was analyzed for its drivers, from–to shifts, and relevance to future consumer behaviors.
1st round of Research & Analysis:
The first round of research included 10 of the latest news articles on retail trends, followed by an individual and group analysis based on similarities and in terms of finding the most interesting article.
2nd round of Research & Analysis:
The 2nd round of research included 10 additional articles on retail trends, followed by the making of additional buckets based upon similarities, as well as based on the most interesting articles
3rd round of Research & Analysis:
I started clustering my articles using pink Post-its to identify themed "buckets."
Final Presentation for a hypothetical client:
Conclusion:
Consumer expectations are shifting. To stay relevant, retail must reemerge as a culture-coded, community-driven, and curated physical experience — more than a store, a living cultural space.
