How can trend forecasting improve your design for different materials and textures?

1 Why trend forecasting matters

Trend forecasting is not about blindly following the latest fads or copying what others are doing. It is about understanding the underlying drivers and motivations that shape the choices and expectations of your customers and stakeholders. By using trend forecasting, you can anticipate the needs and desires of your market, and design products that are relevant, meaningful, and desirable. Trend forecasting can also help you avoid costly mistakes, such as using outdated or inappropriate materials and textures that can damage your brand reputation, customer satisfaction, and sales.

4 How to apply trends

After you have analyzed the trends and their implications for your design, you need to apply them to your design process and decisions. To do this, you can use mood boards to create a visual representation of the mood, style, and atmosphere that you want to convey. Additionally, you can employ prototyping to create a tangible model or sample of your design that incorporates the trends and your design goals. Moreover, storytelling is a great technique to create a narrative or scenario that showcases the value and benefit of your design that incorporates the trends and your design goals. Through words, images, sounds, or videos, you can tell a story that engages and persuades your customers and stakeholders.

5 How to evaluate trends

Finally, you need to evaluate the trends and their effects on your design, as well as monitor their changes and developments over time. Feedback is one way to measure customer and stakeholder opinions and reactions to your design. Performance metrics can be used to measure results and outcomes of your design. Adaptation is also important; you can adjust and improve your design based on feedback and performance data, while also anticipating and responding to changes in the trends.