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An anti-Syrian regime protester, waves by Syrian revolution flag during a demonstration to show support to the Syrian protesters, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Arabic placard reads ” Syrians people say: No for talks, get out”. (AP Photo)<\/p>\n
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\u2018The MAYANS believed Armageddon would take place in 2012,\u201d says former fashion designer and Natal Technikon graduate Dion Chang. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt Flux Trends we take a slightly different view. Perhaps not quite Armageddon, but the rules for a new world order are most definitely being rewritten. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe following 10 trends provide a snapshot of \u2018the state we\u2019re in\u2019 for 2012. We\u2019re watching them closely and believe you should too.\u201d <\/p>\n
l The blur between retail and advertising<\/strong> <\/p>\n As we continue to become more comfortable with digital media and the changing notion of users versus producers of content, many media companies are suddenly getting into the retailing business. Writing in the New York Times, Eric Wilson notes a rise in the number of fashion magazines offering readers the chance to make purchases from their websites. From Esquire to GQ and even Vogue, magazines are showing a keen interest in e-commerce as the world of print publication continues to struggle. <\/p>\n For readers, the benefits are obvious \u2013 in an age in which time is precious and convenience is king, there is no need to look further than the website of your favourite magazine (whose curatorship you trust) to purchase the latest fashion and beauty products. <\/p>\n Sony Computer Entertainment Japan President Hiroshi Kawano (L) and NTT DOCOMO Inc. Senior Executive Vice President Kiyoyuki Tsujimura hold Sony’s PlayStation Vita handheld gaming devices during a news conference in Tokyo September 14, 2011. REUTERS\/Kim Kyung-Hoon (JAPAN – Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY TELECOMS)<\/p>\n REUTERS<\/span><\/p>\n Howard Socol, former CEO of American department store Barneys, concedes that there are no boundaries any more as traditional brick-and-mortar stores that once viewed magazines as a way to sell their brand to customers could now see them as a threat. Brands take note: the \u201csee-click-buy\u201d mentality will herald a new age of shopping, in which consumers expect to be able to buy products wherever they see them online. Word on the ground is that this trend is set to unfold in SA early next year, with Media 24 planning to implement e-commerce ventures for a number of its titles. <\/p>\n l Rise of the artisan eater<\/strong> <\/p>\n Last year saw the emergence of the artisan eaters \u2013 the new \u201cfoodies\u201d who are interested in consuming local, hand-made products bought at small-scale urban markets. The micro-brewed ales and home-made preserves that adorn these market stalls are reflective of a sense of global nostalgia for idyllic rural life. <\/p>\n The shift in favour of high quality ingredients and craftsmanship of butchers, bakers and candlestick-makers, reasserts our value in upholding production standards that have been overshadowed by industrialised food provision. More profoundly, the artisanal food movement has created a culture of \u201cethical eating\u201d. <\/p>\n The use of local ingredients to diminish the effects of food transportation \u2013 in the attempt to reduce our \u201ccarbon-footprint\u201d \u2013 is an example of consumption that is consciously reflexive of effects of eating on the ecosystem. While the artisanal movement is predominantly evident in the food industry, it is only a matter of time before other lifestyle industries are affected. Brands that promote the use of high quality raw materials and show a respect for traditional craftsmanship will enjoy growing support from consumers in 2012. <\/p>\n l Revolution culture<\/strong> <\/p>\n The year 2011 has undoubtedly been the year of the revolution. In South Africa, the establishment of the Police Protection Unit in response to increased outbreaks of violent protest speaks of a growing need to manage civil unrest. On a global scale, waves of disillusionment have swept through youth culture, giving rise to what WGSN, global trend forecasting service, calls the \u201cradical revolutionaries\u201d \u2013 politically and environmentally conscious youth who have grown up immersed in internet culture and who use technology to create social change. <\/p>\n This form of digital activism or \u201cclicktivism\u201d is on the rise, as youth across the globe are harnessing the power of social media to organise campaigns and protests. Disgruntled by corporate greed, radical revolutionaries are calling for transparency, honesty and accountability from brands (and governments). <\/p>\n The second half of the year will see us usher in a post-protest culture, a time for reflection and consideration of a new way forward in 2013. <\/p>\n l Disaster design<\/strong> <\/p>\n With the number of natural disasters increasing each year, it is no wonder that designers are looking to environmental catastrophes for inspiration. This year we\u2019ve noticed an increase in the number of designers (architects, industrial designers and even fashion designers) who are showing careful consideration for the effects of natural disasters and going so far as incorporating anticipatory and responsive features into products. <\/p>\n Examples include the newly built Dali museum in Florida that is designed to protect artworks from storm surges and hurricane debris, and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which holds over half a million seed samples, that is designed to withstand a nuclear bomb. On a smaller scale, the disaster design movement is permeating consumer industries with items including Jan Kath\u2019s oil-spill inspired woven rugs and Ricardo Garza Marcos\u2019s San Andreas coffee table, which mimics a tectonic fault line, becoming sought-after by homeowners. <\/p>\n l On and Off, not On or Off<\/strong> <\/p>\n In 2012 the distinction between our online and offline lives will cease to exist \u2013 together they will just be \u201clife\u201d \u2013 fluid, dynamic and convenient. This blend of on- and offline living hints at consumers\u2019 growing desire for a human element in our everyday experiences as our lives are becoming digitally cocooned. <\/p>\n Tesco Homeplus Korea\u2019s \u201csubway supermarket\u201d initiative is the perfect example of creating this seamless dual experience for customers. The advertising agency behind the campaign, Cheil, erected a large billboard inside one of Korea\u2019s subway station platforms that was designed to look like a series of supermarket shelves complete with images and price codes of items. Shoppers were able to scan the QR code of the item they wished to purchase, thereby adding it to their online shopping cart. Once the web transaction was complete, items were delivered to the customers\u2019 homes at the end of the day. <\/p>\n In London, department store John Lewis initiated a similar \u201cclick and collect\u201d campaign. Shoppers could scan the QR codes of items in the window displays and collect them within 24 hours. These kinds of strategies should inspire weary brands to create unique experiences for customers who want to retain their \u201cdigital native\u201d status but also play an active part in the real world. <\/p>\n l Leasing lifestyle<\/strong> <\/p>\n This year will see an increase in the number of consumers adopting a transient model of ownership. In recent years we\u2019ve noticed a decline in traditional ownership as it implies a certain level of cost and commitment that does not appeal to consumers who are looking for convenience and the chance to collect as many experiences as possible. <\/p>\n For those living in dense urban environments where physical space is scarce, owning bulky and irregularly used items makes little sense, hence the shift towards a \u201cleasing lifestyle\u201d. With ubiquitous mobile access across the globe, consumers have (and desire) the option of booking items whenever and wherever they are needed. <\/p>\n While the trend is manifesting predominantly in the transportation industry (think car- and bike-sharing initiatives), its effects are being felt in industries including art and fashion with designer handbag rentals and virtual art buying on the rise. Businesses should take heed of the benefits offered by the leasing lifestyle trend \u2013 shared ownership presents companies with opportunities to broaden their audience as more consumers now have access to otherwise out-of-reach luxuries. For consumers, fractional ownership offers the possibility of perpetual upgrades and the ability to maximise the number of experiences they enjoy. <\/p>\n l Gaming for good<\/strong> <\/p>\n It is reported that the average young person today in a country with a strong gaming culture would have spent in excess of 10 000 hours behind a console by the age of 21 \u2013 the same amount of time spent in school from Grade 5 to matric, with perfect attendance. The glorification of the \u201cnerd\u201d in recent years (think of Marc Zuckerberg\u2019s rise to stardom) has led to a renewed interest in gaming culture, which has traditionally been relegated to the not-so-cool-kids corner. <\/p>\n While gaming is strongly associated with escapism and distraction from the real world and its problems, new game designers and theorists are exploring the potential psychological benefits of gaming. According to gaming expert Jane McGonigal, we become better versions of ourselves when we game: we embrace an infallible disposition and are more eager to co-operate and solve problems creatively. <\/p>\n New game designs will feature crises of our time \u2013 oil shortages, animal extinction and global warming \u2013 encouraging players to map a new way forward. <\/p>\n l Rise of the free radicals<\/strong> <\/p>\n In the past few years we\u2019ve noticed the emergence of the \u201cslashies\u201d \u2013 people who, according to global advertising agency Saatchi Saatchi, define themselves not by a single occupation, but rather by the diversity of their experiences, passions and networks. Last year saw the evolution of the \u201cslashies\u201d into what Behance CEO Scott Belsky has termed the \u201cfree radicals\u201d. <\/p>\n Dubbed the new professionals of the 21st century, free radicals \u201ctake their careers into their own hands and put the world to work for them\u201d. According to Belsky\u2019s Manifesto for Free Radicals<\/em>, this group of young professionals makes a living doing what they love and sharing their thoughts and creations on social networks, thereby building an audience that provides feedback and leads them to new opportunities. <\/p>\n Businesses take note: free radicals refuse to surrender to the status quo and make a point of questioning and challenging old-school bureaucracy and antiquated business practices, finding innovative ways around them. Continuous learning in the workplace is crucial \u2013 when their learning plateaus, free radicals will not think twice about leaving. <\/p>\n l The days of our (online) lives<\/strong> <\/p>\n Psychology experts are hailing this the \u201cfourth revolution\u201d \u2013 a time when technology is responsible for drastically shaping our perceptions of self and our crafting of identity. With a bulging global youth market that enjoys constant mobile connectivity, it is no surprise that we are placing significant emphasis on the development of virtual capital through our online networks. <\/p>\n Young people today are investing in \u201cbrand me\u201d from an early age, collecting friends, followers and badges that reflect their aspirations for the future. This year we\u2019ve noted a rise in \u201conline status symbols\u201d \u2013 virtual symbols that consumers acquire to display their contributions, creations or popularity to their peers online. Over and above this, 2012 will see an increase in the number of services that allow us to archive our digital lives. Examples of such services include Twournal, a site that enables Twitter users to transform their Tweets into a real-life published journal and Intel Museum of Me, which creates an online virtual museum based on users\u2019 activity on Facebook. <\/p>\n l Rise of the technocrat<\/strong> <\/p>\n When the traditional politician is rendered spineless and incapable, the electorate is tempted to seek the wisdom of outside experts in top jobs. This has been the recent turn of Greece and Italy which found concerted answers in candidates Lucas Papedemos and Mario Monti, after old political systems left them submerged in debt and crisis. <\/p>\n \u201cTechnocracy\u201d first abounded when the US assembled a group of engineers to combat the Great Depression. Indeed, the US government still holds on to economists like Larry Summers to help make the \u201cbig decisions\u201d. Singapore, Hong Kong and Mexico\u2019s Institutional Revolutionary Party link this form of control to autocracy. <\/p>\n The technocrat puts national interests above party interests, and his know-how makes him trustworthy to take exceptional political actions adequate for serious crisis: whether making spending cuts or closing military bases. There are plenty of elections happening in 2012, and much of the world seems to be on the lookout for rulers who have the capacity to make difficult decisions. The question, however, is whether scientists and economists with dazzling CVs will be favoured over those with political prowess, despite the fact that the technocrats\u2019 lack of political legitimacy has always proved them to be a short-term fix. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AP An anti-Syrian regime protester, waves by Syrian revolution flag during a demonstration to show support to the Syrian protesters, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Arabic placard reads ” Syrians people say: No for talks, get out”. (AP Photo) \u2018The MAYANS believed Armageddon would take place in 2012,\u201d says former fashion designer and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[8275,953,2143],"class_list":{"0":"post-7043","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-south-africa","7":"tag-durban","8":"tag-newspaper","9":"tag-the-mercury","10":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7043","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7043\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"NM](\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/plugins\/rss-poster\/cache\/e9c55_2891110274.jpg\")
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