As we enter the year 2012, many are looking back on the highs and lows of the past year excited for what the future brings. As a known authority on trends and innovation, Our Chief Trend Hunter Jeremy Gutsche visited Amber Mac and Sarah Lane of TwitTV's 'The Social Hour' to give a trend forecast for 2012.
WATCH THE FULL 1-HOUR EPISODE HERE
The beginning of this decade marked the mainstream introduction into social media, placing convenience and ease of use as top tech priorities. In 2012, social media does more than just digitally translate real-life experiences; it makes them better, faster and all around more interesting. In Gutsche's words, "This year you're going to see things cranked to a whole new level," with examples seen in Trend Hunter's PRO trends such as Digital Eating and Virtual Fashion.
Even Trend Hunter serves as an example, with new products and features such as SocialBusiness.org and the new Trend Hunter Platform/2012 Trend Reports adding an extra level of education, interaction and gamification to the site. SocialBusiness.org is Trend Hunter's sister site focused on social businesses; it harnesses the power of online media to make a difference within today's most important social issues. Platform is a set of tools that customizes the Trend Hunter experience for entrepreneurs and professional innovators, allowing each user to track patterns in their market.
The Social Hour: Jeremy Gutsche on 2012 Trends With Amber Mac and Sarah Lane
Social Hour Jeremy Gutsche
Trend Themes
1. Digital Eating - The trend of digitally enhancing real-life experiences such as dining presents opportunities for innovations like virtual dining experiences and augmented reality menus.
2. Virtual Fashion - The trend of utilizing technology to customize fashion experiences presents opportunities for innovations such as virtual try-on features and personalized styling recommendations using AI.
3. Gamification - The trend of incorporating game-like elements in non-gaming contexts presents opportunities for innovations such as loyalty programs that utilize game mechanics and interactive educational tools.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Incorporating digital enhancements to dining experiences can disrupt the food and beverage industry by creating new revenue streams through virtual experiences and increasing engagement with customers.
2. Fashion and Retail - The use of technology to personalize fashion experiences presents an opportunity for fashion and retail industries to increase customer satisfaction and provide a competitive edge.
3. Education and Training - Gamification can disrupt traditional methods of education and training by providing interactive tools that increase engagement and retention of information.