Our community is fortunate to have so many brilliant, insightful entrepreneurs and creatives and so many of them have front row, ground level seats that allow them to see emerging trends before the so-called experts, industry leaders, etc. We wanted to create a space to connect members of our community where they could share these insights on trends and opportunities they are seeing.
Eric Wu
The biggest trend is definitely AI. AI has both shaped how designers work and changed how design will be in the future. There’re some who are pessimistic about the future of user interface design due to both the rise of visual AI and the predominance of chatbot interfaces. However, I think that design as a discipline of systemic thinking will always have its place. On the topic of whether AI interfaces will converge in one direction, I’d like to point out that analog note-taking apps still prosper today even though more efficient input methods like dictation and typing exist in the digital era. I think that design will always be about not just what’s objectively more efficient but also what caters to our subconscious pathways, and that will offer unforeseen opportunities. The future of design will expand with the introduction of new technologies. Read more>>
Cory Fisher
As a creative director in the freelance space, one of the biggest trends I’m seeing is the rise in freelancers. I know this firsthand—I’m one of them. Over the past year, I transitioned from an in-house creative team to freelance, and I’ve seen several friends do the same. Read more>>
Heather Moody
In travel, we’re seeing a couple of trends: interest in visiting lesser-known destinations, and a desire for curated, private experiences. That’s where your travel designer comes in! A longstanding, adventurous client of mine has seen much of the world. While on a visit to Cuba, we opened a map and realized he’d not yet been to Suriname. We were able to extend his trip and quickly connect with a great local tour operator. Suriname is a hidden gem with many cultures and languages, stunning scenery and wildlife. This impromptu trip quickly became a top experience for him, a destination he found as remote and stunning as Southeast Asia, only a 5 hour flight from Miami. Read more>>
Maria Ryan
In the photography industry, trends are ever-changing. We have such a saturated industry filled with so many amazing artists and storytellers that sometimes, it feels hard to keep up with. Currently, the trend is to capture photos in a documentary style; story telling and nostalgic are a few other trendy words that we see a lot right now. Photographers, such as myself, are moving towards an approach where you do not pose or manipulate your subject to display authenticity rather, allow the moment to happen in real time. I’ve always strived to accomplish this style from the beginning as I have never felt motivated to put my subjects in an uncomfortable or unnatural pose. So this is something I have worked on and continue to perfect in my work! Read more>>
Spencer Rampersad
In this industry trends seem to come every so often but fazes out very quickly. Example the “fitted” look lasted for while until history repeated itself and the “baggy” look has once again become a trend. Read more>>
Erin Nakkala
The teeth gem industry is rapidly evolving as demand for personalized, high-end tooth adornments grows. Initially focused on simple rhinestones, the market is shifting towards more elaborate designs and customization. Clients now seek unique combinations of crystals, shapes, and colors to reflect their personal style. The rise in popularity of gold charms has significantly contributed to this growth, offering a luxury option that blends fashion with dental artistry. Gold accents like hearts, stars, and initials are becoming staples, attracting a diverse audience eager for a bold, eye-catching smile accessory. Read more>>
Kelsey Muma
The wedding industry as a whole is one constantly evolving trend and similar to fashion, it’s been fun to seen some cyclical trends!
For the most part our parents and grandparents did not have weddings the same way as we see for Millennials & Get Z today. Every detail is perfectly orchristrated and there’s a lot of room for individual expression that never existed decades ago. In older generations wedding were quite simple and today starting with save the dates all the way to cakes, there is abundant opportunity for punches of personality, creativity and uniqueness. Read more>>
Katie Goebel
Yes, whether we like it or not, social media seems to attract tribalism & polarizing viewpoints. However, brands should not shy away from that. Instead they can use these top 5 trends I am seeing right now in the short form video industry to lean into their values more than ever & use their products & services to genuinely connect & serve the world. Read more>>