# Credit Crunch DIY Consumer empowerment reaches new levels. By [Jacob Courtade](https://www.trendhunter.com/jacob), Director of Business Development | Published Sep 22, 2008, updated Nov 19, 2009 | Category: [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/modern-art-and-design-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/diy-craze-consumer-empowerment-reaches-new-levels ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.7/10 - Evidence articles: 12 ## What is the Credit Crunch DIY trend? **Credit Crunch DIY:** Once confined to a limited number of industries, organizations everywhere are extolling the virtues of Do-It-Yourself products. Benefits go both ways - consumers have the control and customization they crave, and manufacturers save on assembly costs. Tighter wallets also drive the DIY craze. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 12 featured examples - Articles from: Jul 14 to Sep 17, 2008 - Published: Sep 22, 2008 - Patterns: [Convergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/convergence), [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence) - Megatrends: [Co-creation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/co-creation), [Prosumerism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/prosumerism) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Credit Crunch DIY trend ### DIY Movement Consumers are taking control and customization into their own hands, driving the DIY craze across a variety of industries. Companies should appeal to this DIY demographic by supplying them with customizable and easy-to-use products. ### Personalization Consumers are seeking products that can be personalized and tailored to their specific style, driving innovation in industries such as fashion, footwear, and sneaker design. Companies should consider offering customizable products to appeal to this growing demand. ### Pop Culture Adaptation Pop culture icon adaptation is sweeping the art and design industry, driving innovative new products such as IKEA coffins and custom ghost photography. Companies should consider adapting popular culture icons to create unique and innovative products. ## What the Credit Crunch DIY trend means for industry ### For Fashion With the advent of technology, customers are now equipped with tools that were previously only accessible to professionals. Companies should encourage consumer creativity by supplying them with current technologies and customizable products. ### For Art and Design Pop culture icon adaptation is sweeping the art and design industry, driving innovative new products such as IKEA coffins and custom ghost photography. Companies should consider adapting popular culture icons to create unique and innovative products. ### For Food and Beverage Consumers are seeking products that can be personalized and tailored to their specific tastes, driving innovation in industries such as cookbooks and DIY coolers. Companies should consider offering customizable products to appeal to this growing demand. ## Trend signals for Credit Crunch DIY Trend score 3.7 out of 10, from popularity 38%, activity 64%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 38% - Activity: 64% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Credit Crunch DIY trend 12 featured examples from Jul 14 to Sep 17, 2008. - [DIY Ghost Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-ghosts-easy-way-to-scare-your-friends): Scare your Friends, Be Awesome (Category: Unique) Implication: The DIY Ghost Photography trend is an opportunity for camera and equipment companies to market to playful and creative DIY customers. - [DIY Custom Flip-Flops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-custom-flip-flops-switchflops): Switchflops (Category: Fashion) Implication: Footwear companies can incorporate interchangeable strap systems into their product offerings, providing customers with customizable options. - [DIY Sneaker Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sneakart-sneaker-design): Sneakart Personalized Skins (Category: Social Good) Implication: Companies in the footwear industry can integrate personalized skin creation into their manufacturing process to offer customers customization options. - [Flat-Pack Funerals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-coffin-artistic-response-to-death): DIY IKEA Coffins (Category: Art & Design) Implication: The art industry can explore innovative ways of using popular culture icons, such as adapting them into funeral artifacts, to captivate audiences and drive engagement. - [DIY Activism](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-activism-caution-tape-for-social-commentary): Caution Tape For Social Commentary (Category: Tech) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing new tools and mediums for activists to convey their messages effectively. - [DIY Custom Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/custom-cookbook): Inkubook.com (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: With the trend towards personalized book creation, the printing industry can expand its services to provide more customizable and innovative printing solutions. - [DIY Modular Living Room Terrain](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/walking-chair-design-sutdio-mountain-sofa): The Mountain Sofa (Category: Art & Design) Implication: Opportunities for manufacturers to create customizable modular furniture solutions. - [DIY Music Remixes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/music-remix-musinaut): Musinaut Customizable MXP4s (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The ability to create music remixes at home using MXP4 format provides an opportunity for the music production industry to offer new tools for music enthusiasts. - [DIY Eco-Coolers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eco-coolers-cosmetic-tree-stump-coolers): Tree Stump Cooler (Category: Eco) Implication: Developing eco-friendly outdoor equipment and gear. - [DIY Video Mashup Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/youtube-doubler): YouTubeDoubler.com (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: With the rise of DIY video mashup tools, video editing software companies can capitalize on developing intuitive and easy-to-use tools for consumers to create visually appealing c… - [DIY Swiss Army Keys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-swiss-army-keys-fold-up-your-keys): Fold Up Your Keys, Pretend to Hot Wire Your Car (Category: Art & Design) Implication: E-commerce platforms can provide DIY key conversion kits and related tools to cater to the growing demand for organizing solutions. - [DIY Ballpoint Pens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/build-your-own-ballpoint-diy-falter-2d-pen): The Falter 2D Pen (Category: Art & Design) Implication: The Art and Craft Supplies industry can take advantage of the DIY Ballpoint Pens trend by offering assembly kits and individual components to create customized pens. ## Recent trend clusters - [Oven Aesthetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/decorative-casserole-dishes) (Art & Design) - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) - [Storyline Sips](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/themed-drink-menus) (Lifestyle) - [Bedtime Cocoon](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sleep-sensory-blocking) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Art & Design - [Park-Model Tiny Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/park-model-tiny-homes) - [Handmade Craft Tradeshow Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ny-now-handmade-division) - [Recycled Neon Light Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/encore-encore) - [Electrically Powered Airline Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/premium-economy-seat) All articles: [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign)