Category
Art & Design
Oven Aesthetics
3.7
Trend score
Trend
What is the Social Cities trend?
Social Cities: The design of cities and urban environments continue to evolve to suit today and tomorrow’s generations; with smaller homes and multi-generational households, cities are expanding their communal hubs and gathering spaces to bring urban communities closer together.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Social Cities trend
Consumers demand that contemporary urban infrastructure is built to facilitate communities, as many seek to escape the feelings of alienation that high-tech metropolitan environments can instill. Interested in connecting with one another, individuals are on the look out for spaces that will allow them to experience togetherness through socialization, learning new things and enjoying the outdoors.
Trend themes
Themes within the Social Cities trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Community-centric architecture
The demand for urban infrastructure built to facilitate communities has led to the expansion of communal hubs and gathering spaces, providing disruptive innovation opportunities in creating new, integrated spaces for socialization, learning, and outdoor activities.
02
Smart city infrastructure development
The integration of 5G technology and IoT infrastructure in cities, plus the implementation of autonomous transportation and other smart machines, presents expansive opportunities for businesses looking to work in research, development, and digital start-ups focused on AI, robotics, and other industries of the future.
03
Multicultural food markets
The increasing appeal of authentic multicultural dining is driving the rise of food hubs that bring together a diverse lineup of culturally inspired restaurants in lively spaces, delivering disruption in the culinary industry and communal dining experiences.
Industry implications
What the Social Cities trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Architecture
Architects and urban planners can be on the forefront of community-centric design developments, creating new and innovative public spaces that promote socialization and learning.
For
5G and IoT infrastructure
The development of smart cities via 5G and IoT infrastructure represents opportunities for businesses specializing in autonomous technology, AI, robotics, and other fields of the future.
For
Culinary industry
Multicultural food markets that showcase authentic cuisine from around the world are bringing disruption to the culinary industry, providing a platform for local chefs and creating new communal dining experiences.
Workshop question
How can your brand play a role in the consumer desire for more communal spaces?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Social Cities
Trend score 3.7 out of 10, from popularity 46%, activity 55%, freshness 9%.
Popularity46%
Activity55%
Freshness9%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Social Cities trend
7 featured examples from Mar 8, 2018 to Jul 26, 2019CategoryArt & Design
Socially Focused City Infrastructures
T Sakhi's Urban Project Promotes Public Spaces in Beirut
Architecture and design firms can explore new ways of revamping old infrastructure to create accessible public spaces.
CategoryEco
Wellness-Boosting Self-Sufficient Ecosystems
WilkinsonEyre Builds a Community-Enhancing Complex
Architects and designers can leverage the concept of self-sufficient ecosystems and community-focused complexes to create innovative and sustainable urban spaces.
CategorySocial Good
Urban Living Room Extensions
COBE Adds a Communal Meeting Space to the Red Cross Volunteer House
Architects can incorporate open-concept designs to create unique and functional spaces.
CategoryArt & Design
Warped Park Concepts
The Aljada Central Hub Features a Gravitational Design
Architects and designers have an opportunity to push boundaries and disrupt traditional design norms through gravity-inspired concepts.
CategoryLifestyle
Multicultural Food Market Hubs
Santa Monica’s SocialEats Market Highlights Authentic Artisan Eats
The food and beverage industry can leverage the trend of multicultural food markets and artisan eateries to create unique dining experiences and attract a diverse customer base.
CategoryWorld
5G Smart Cities
5G-Enabled Sprint Curiosity IoT Infrastructure is Coming to Greenville
Telecommunications companies can capitalize on the growing trend of 5G-enabled smart cities by providing the necessary infrastructure and services for IoT and autonomous technolog…
CategoryTech
Navigation App Bike Sharing
A Google Maps Update Will Show Where Users Can Get Bike Access
This opportunity can provide bike-sharing companies with more user-friendly options and increased visibility.
