The Trend is Your Friend

An important part of any business is understanding and anticipating trends. What will be the next big digital trend? What are some of the latest design trends that can give you competitive advantage. Read the article to find out more and check out some resources you can you in your trend research.

“The Trend is Your Friend” is originally a phrase from the financial markets where you can SEE in graph form which way certain markets are trending. It makes trends very evident.

And a large part of any business (including design) is being aware of and anticipating trends in your particular marketplace.

Being aware of trends can really give your business competitive advantage by positioning your company (and yourself) in line with the trend and not against it.

As in the financial markets, the most important thing is not really to get in on the very beginning of trends (as that is just sheer timing) but to capture the “meat” of a market trending upwards.

For example, if you notice in your trend research that web designers are using Adobe Flex to develop and build apps it might be a good idea to schedule time to research and possibly implement it in your design business.

Here are a few resources that can help you in your trend research:

Trendwatching – http://www.trendwatching.com/

Colorlovers – http://www.colourlovers.com/trends

Springwise – http://www.springwise.com/

The Hottest Marketing Trends for 2008 – http://tinyurl.com/3rolj2

Trendspotting – http://www.trendsspotting.com/blog/

Any books/products by Harry Dent – http://www.hsdent.com/

Any books/products by Faith Popcorn – http://www.faithpopcorn.com/

Happy trending!