I wanted to kick off the New Year with my design and business predictions to help you stay ahead of the trends! So get ready for my 2019 design and business predictions. I’ve looked at what is happening on social media and with the businesses I work with along with global trends from articles and podcasts to come up with my top 5 new year business and design predictions. Here we go!
1. Sustainable, handcrafted products
I see a massive move towards sustainability and the ethics and sourcing behind designs and brands. People are now aching for experiences that feel more handmade and unique. Personally, I’ll be exploring inspiration away from the screen and looking to include handcrafted elements in my design and branding.
One of my favourite examples of this is Aerende who create ‘Life Improving Homewares’. I worked with Aerende on their new packaging designs and I love the story behind each product which details the maker and how your purchase will make an impact.
2. Local, independent Businesses with a story and a heart.
With the recent plastic free movement and waking up to the damage fast-fashion and life is doing to our planet I see that people will be looking for slower design. Something that is less trend driven and feels more local than global. People will be searching for the story behind the brand.
I’m a big believer in finding your WHY and your WOW! Why are you doing this, what is your passion and purpose and finally what will make people go WOW when they connect with your brand. It’s all about building trust and connection through authentic branding and I think the best way to do this is when you are not afraid to be yourself. I see brands showing more of their face and personality, as we are all tired of corporate spiel and pretending to be something we are not.
You can read about my ‘WHY’ here.
BE A BUSINESS WHO SHARES SOME PERSONALITY, REALNESS & HEART
3. MINDSET, COACHING, COMMUNITY & CONSCIOUS BUSINESSES
Creative business coaches have been around now for a while but with the continued success of those who invest in coaches and also the wealth of business self-development books this looks like a trend set to stay and probably go more mainstream this year. ‘Playing Big’ by Tara Mohr was on most peoples reading list and acts as an almost therapy session for those mindset beliefs that are holding you back in business.
Smaller businesses will start to ask for their worth and I hope that we are willing to pay more for quality. In areas of business that are often scary for the independents, this mindset shift will help them to grow amongst the big corporates. All those things that many people have written off as hippy ‘woo-woo’ will now start to become part of everyday business language. Visioning, vision boards, auras, and intuition are all words I hope will start appearing in our 2019 business vocabulary.
4. Colour explosions
I predict an explosion in colour combinations that are often not paired together and eclectic mixes of influences from around the world as people move away from monochrome minimalism and the ‘Scandi’ styling that is now all too ubiquitous.
Pantone’s colour of the year is ‘Living Coral’ taking inspiration for the vibrancy of the natural world. Whereas last year focussed on forest greens and darker, richer tones this year looks to go bolder whilst still taking inspiration from nature.
Here are some example colour pairings with living coral
5. A focus on investing IN suppliers with a similar ethos
I know I try and work with people with similar values and mindset as they will ‘get’ my brand and I believe will only enhance it further. I see businesses searching for suppliers with a similar ethos as opposed to just thinking about the price. If there is a great story and mission behind that business then I feel that added value and don’t mind paying more for this.
You can read an excellent article by Fuschia Hutton talking more about this here:
The advantages of working with an ‘ethical’ professional services provide
INVEST IN PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAIR ETHOS
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Until next time,
CHARLOTTE
Hello! I’m Charlotte the founder of Creative Wilderness. I love to collaborate with forward thinking brands. I’ve had over 10 years in the design industry working at big agencies on brands including Wilkinson Sword, Peroni, Kozel, Energizer, McCann, The Hut Group, Pilsner, Aldi, Cambridge University, Harbour Hotels and many many more.
Before jumping into design I dreamed of being a Rock star and studied music at Paul McCartneys music school ‘The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts’. I spent a few years as a pro musician where I toured, played festivals, recorded albums and also a music video. I still love playing sax and bass in bands and music and design make me feel alive and inspired!
3 things that keep me motivated are yoga or runs every morning, matcha tea and 6music!