In our view there is already a ton of coverage of the trends that ivory tower professors and billionaire fund managers are seeing. What’s the edge in hearing the billionaire consensus view over and over again?

The edge comes from hearing new perspectives and new information like from the wedding planner who has worked with hundreds of couples during the pandemic and has noticed that couples are allocating significantly more of their wedding budgets on “small details” like personalized neon signs and eco-friendly customized digital invitations rather than paper invites. Or the accountant seeing how there’s a huge uptick in ecommerce clients generating revenue from in person popups.

Below, you’ll find some of the most thoughtful entrepreneurs and creatives in across various industries and markets sharing the trends they are seeing.

Sydney Smith

I am a career changer – prior to working in the entertainment industry, I did marketing and communications for a nonprofit network, specializing in representation of marginalized groups. Our network was small but mighty, and we had to figure out how to finance a lot of our projects in advance. Read more>>

Daëlle Coriolan

One of the biggest trends I see in the natural hair community is the focus on hair growth, especially among those just beginning their natural hair journey. The most common question I get is, “How do I grow long natural hair?” And honestly, I get it, I was the same way. When I first started taking my natural hair journey seriously, my YouTube search history was filled with things like, “HOW TO GROW WAIST-LENGTH NATURAL HAIR IN 10 DAYS.” Read more>>

Lily Pham

In the photography industry, I’m noticing some stunning new trends emerging, especially around weddings. One standout trend is the use of drapery at wedding altars, which adds a sense of elegance and softness. The flowing fabric creates beautiful backdrops for photographs and adds a romantic touch to the ceremony setting. Whether it’s light and airy fabrics or heavier, more structured drapes, they are becoming a key visual element in wedding photography. Read more>>

Jerel Smith

One of the biggest trends I’m seeing in the content creation space right now is the rise of “How To” and process driven videos. People are no longer just engaging with aesthetically pleasing photos, they’re drawn to content that takes them behind the scenes, showing them how something was created or achieved. Audiences want to feel like they’re part of the process, learning something rather than just observing. For someone like me, who naturally leans toward privacy and a bit of mystique, this trend has been a learning curve. I used to believe that a polished, well composed photo was enough to captivate an audience. But recently, I saw firsthand how much engagement shifts when you let people in on the process. Read more>>

Jamie Evans

Since entering the cannabis industry in 2017, the trend I’m most excited about is the evolution of cannabis-infused beverages. While still a nascent category, these drinks offer a compelling alternative to alcohol and continue to gain popularity as production ramps up across the U.S. They’re particularly resonating with younger consumers, especially Gen Z, who tend to consume less alcohol than previous generations. Read more>>

Lauren Utsch

Biophilic Design – This trend emphasizes the connection between nature and indoor spaces. Incorporating natural elements like stone, plaster, raffia, plants, pottery, Layers of texture. We recently had a new build where the couple enjoyed all sorts of outdoor activities so we wanted to incorporate natural elements into the scope of the design. We used stone on the interior walls, plaster fireplace, steel doors, wood beams and fabric that gave a nod to nature. In the end the spaces felt organic and cozy. Read more>>

Savy

AI has been on the rise across the world wide web. While many use the software for day to day organization and simple google searches, AI has had a unique impact on the creative industry. I often have encounters with non-creatives and those from other industries who ask me “Are you afraid of being replaced by AI?”. Simply put, no. At this point AI is nowhere near sophisticated enough to come close to replicating human creativity on it’s own. Read more>>