Category Archives: Publications

Trend Spotting Book Review: Millennials Go to College

Millennials Go to College is a continuation of the theory presented in Generations- that the United States has seen four repeating general cohorts since its inception, and that these cohorts have a significant impact on national trends. Millennials focuses on one of these cohorts in particular- the Civic generation. Today’s manifestation of the Civic generation is what authors Neil Howe and William Strauss call the Millennial generation, and what many others refer to as Generation Y.

Millennials Go to College discusses the implications of this generation entering university grounds. Strauss and Howe argue that, because this generational cohort is inherently different, it must be treated differently by university administrators and faculty- lest they suffer backlash or loss of prestige and interest.

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THE ULTIMATE Trend Photography Guide

Guess what? I’ve written a book on trend photography!

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Whuffie, Transparency, and Personal Reputation Systems

A couple months back, I read Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, a book by Cory Doctorow describing a future world in which wealth exists in the form of whuffie, which is a reputation-based currency. The more highly people think of you, the more wealthy you are.

Well, it looks as though we are moving toward this futuristic economy already.

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Modern Metaphors – offering a limited but GOOD view

We take our current viewpoints and paradigms for granted. As I am learning Jeremy Rifkin’s Empathic Civilization, our language, society, and even sense of self is by no means given- nor is the way we look at the world. In fact, the means by which we reconcile with and explain the world evolves along with our society and technology.

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Trend Spotting Book Review: Generations

There are only so many books in the world capable of revolutionizing the way one views people and trends. Generations is one of these rare treasures. This 538-page tome co-authored by William Strauss and Neil Howe, lays the foundation of a fascinating theory about generational, social, and political patterns and trends in the United States.

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Object Lesson: Chick Lit

Yes, chick lit.  It is a large enough genre to warrant a dedicated section in most bookstores, a decent amount of academic research and even special university courses, but where did chick lit come from?  What does it mean? And where will it go? Chick Lit Books defines the literary genre as one “mainly written [...]

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Trend Spotting Book Review: Let Them Eat Cake

Let Them Eat Cake: Marketing Luxury to the Masses- as Well as the Classes by Pamela Danziger explores the world of luxury, and discusses some very interesting trends within the luxury industry itself. Cake is an excellent trend spotter read because it provides some very interesting insights on key groups of early adopters, and suggests consumer trends that are sure to have an impact in the years to come.

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Trendspotting Company Profile: Mudpie

Mudpie supports fashion professionals via trend intelligence and design resources. The company offers online subscription services, printed publications, and design consultancy.
The company delivers its products through five major sites: Mudpie, Mpdclick, Trendbooks, Denimhead, and its Consultancy site. Mudpie also offers products and services via its collaborative partner Denimhead; a fashion service specializing in denim and casual sportswear.

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Trend Spotting Book Review: Curious Customs

Curious Customs by Thaddeus Tuleja explores the background behind nearly three hundred different cultural practices and artifacts. Entries are grouped into sections such as etiquette, gestures and postures, transitions, foodways, and holidays. Most explanations are no more than a couple of paragraphs, but include information on origins, evolution, and cultural significance. Though it isn’t exactly [...]

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Trend Spotting Lesson 2: Fight Your Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

According to trend spotter William Higham, effective trend forecasters must eliminate assumptive bias by believing the unbelievable and accepting the unacceptable. I think this open mindset is one of the key ways to develop that elusive special intuition that some people allude to when describing world class trend spotters.  Cayce Pollard, for example (a coolhunting [...]

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