Monthly Archives: August 2010

Trend Spotting Industry Analysis: Desired Education

By Simone | Published: August 30, 2010

As is made clear in the preceding sections, trend spotting is by no means a formalized profession and manifests itself in many different forms and industries. It can therefore be fair to say that nearly any sort of education can contribute to one’s success as a trend spotter.

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Trend Photography Guide Part VII: Fashion Photography

By Simone | Published: August 27, 2010

Arguably the most prominent and mainstream form of trend photography, the enjoyment of fashion photography is by no means limited to forecasting firms, designers, and marketers. Rather, fashion photography has become a beloved art form enjoyed by mass markets the world over.

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Trend Spotting Industry Analysis: Methods Used

By Simone | Published: August 23, 2010

Trend spotting consultancies use a variety of methods and produce many different products and services. That said, there are some methods and offerings that repeat across trend spotter type and industry of focus. These are discussed below.

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Trend Photography Guide Part VI: Product-Based Research

By Simone | Published: August 20, 2010

Product-based photography is an excellent means by which trend researchers can discover and disseminate new and interesting products. CScout Japan (a subset of CScout, an international trend forecasting consultancy) regularly shares photographs of new Japanese products in its blog posts and trend reports. As these particular product features indicate, certain geographic areas see new products long before they are internationally released. Photographing these products as they first make their way into a cutting-edge market makes it easier for trend consultants to share information on product innovation with interested clients in foreign markets.

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Trend Spotting Industry Analysis: Industry Globalization

By Simone | Published: August 16, 2010

The trend spotting industry is clearly international in nature. For the most part, it would be impractical to address trends from a purely regional or national viewpoint as the world has become so interconnected. Even when investigating regional trends, trend analysts must consider international influences more than ever as what is worn on the streets of Beijing will eventually find itself to suburban middle America, designs generated by South American graphic artists will make their way to billboards in Germany, and new technologies developed in small-town New England garages may someday change the way people communicate across the entire planet.

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Trend Photography Guide Part V: Ethnography (Interviews)

By Simone | Published: August 14, 2010

Interviews comprise yet another subset of ethnography that can uncover invaluable information on new trends and significant developments. While most interviews are documented in written, audio, or video form, photographs can add significant depth and palatability to a written transcript, which is the most likely form of an interview as it would be included in a trend report.

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Venture Altruism and Trend Spotting

By Simone | Published: August 11, 2010

As trend spotting is such an elusive and constantly evolving form, it is difficult to pin under a single definition.  In the twentieth century, it was first positioned as a strategic tool to be used in time of war, and then, by governments.  Trend spotting subsequently entered a more flowery period of fashion forecasting during [...]

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Trend Spotting Industry Analysis: Industry Rivalry

By Simone | Published: August 9, 2010

Some of the key factors increasing industry rivalry amongst trend spotters are low concentration, and switching costs. This rivalry is somewhat reduced by the industry’s high differentiation and growth rate, as well as diplomatic competition.

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Trend Photography Guide Part V: Ethnography (Garbology)

By Simone | Published: August 6, 2010

Another subset of ethnography, garbology is the study of human behavioral patterns via observation of waste. A visual analysis of human detritus can reveal not only patterns of eating, working, travel, and leisure, but also a wealth of details regarding local infrastructure, packaging, waste management, and cultural values.

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Potential Trend Alert: Double-Jeaning

By Simone | Published: August 4, 2010

I’ve heard from several Bay Area residents that people are starting to layer their sagging jeans over another pair of jeans, turning an already pronounced fashion statement into one even more pronounced one.  I have not seen this double-jeaning myself yet, but am keeping an eye out and am most intrigued indeed! The entire jean-sagging [...]

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