Analyzing Trends
Episodes
The Grammar of the Photo Booth
06 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the photobooth’s 100th anniversary, its compact grammar of a fixed frame and timed shutter within a curtained chamber still teaches how machines ...
A Generation Without Thresholds: The social rituals that once marked independence persist in social limbo
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Younger generations find rites of passage unfulfilling because public life has thinned, connection is often performed, and identity work has shifted i...
The Year We Stopped Waiting for Normal: Revisiting 2025 Trend Themes
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are revisiting the 2025 Trend Themes with a clearer lens. Flexibility became a perk for the few, not a standard for all. Big donors shaped politics...
The Future Office: What Amazon’s Robots Are Really Telling Us About Work
25 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Amazon announced plans to replace more than half a million jobs with robots, most reactions focused on automation and job loss. The deeper story ...
What Yogurt Bacteria Know About Innovation
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Biological and cultural evolution follow the same logic: survival depends on exposure, not avoidance. Bacteria that developed CRISPR did not eliminate...
From Wellville to the War Department
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From the disciplined routines of Wellville’s sanitariums to the cathartic ordeals of EST, from Robbins’ firewalks to TED’s fireside polish, Amer...
The Culture Crisis in Consulting
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The pyramid worked because it taught you how to think. Once machines do the thinking, that whole cultural engine for building expertise starts to disa...
Global Cultural Dynamics 2035
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The old categories that divided the West as open and individualist and the East as closed and collectivist no longer hold. In 2025 the United States n...
Mapping the Next Television Era
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The 2025 Emmy Awards were more than a night of celebration. They offered a glimpse into where television might be headed. The winners reflected an ind...
After the Social Network
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The internet began as a research network. It was built to move facts between people who needed to verify one another. The social era translated that s...
Seeing Things: Cultural Hallucinations and the Future of Design Thinking and Foresight
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hallucination is not a malfunction but a feature of cognition. When signals are thin or ambiguous, the mind completes the picture, blending memory, ex...
The Quiet Crack - What Alien: Earth gets right about hybrid life and why it matters at work.
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This Labor Day has me thinking about monsters. Not the ones that chase you, but the kind that smile from a dashboard and tell you everything is fine. ...
When Brands Break Culture
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2025, branding no longer works the way it once did. Trust is in sharp decline, with fewer than half of consumers believing brands are honest about ...
Edges & Intelligence
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An edge is not missing data. It is the instruction set for seeing. That came into focus after I watched a Google Gemini clip that tried to “walk int...
The Dead as Cultural Mirrors
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2025, performative culture has no pause button. Every public figure is locked in a constant loop of self-presentation where each move is dissected,...
Rethininking Culture in Fashion
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When a global sportswear giant was called to account for releasing a sandal that closely mirrored a traditional Oaxacan design, it became clear that t...
Who Owns Innovation?
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Innovation isn’t just about ideas; it’s about who controls the language that defines them. When Elon Musk declared that xAI would no longer use th...
Shibboleths in Branding
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In cultural theory, a shibboleth is a subtle signifier that identifies group membership. Originally a linguistic term, it has evolved to describe any ...
Beyond Emotional Branding
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world where brands function as cultural artifacts rather than just commercial entities, traditional metrics no longer tell the full story. To und...
Decoding Scapegoats
28 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Scapegoating in contemporary culture reveals a deeper failure not only in public discourse but in the way research and foresight are practiced. When s...
Rethinking the Unknowns
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the wake of this weekend’s strike on Iran, the urgency to reassess how we understand uncertainty is clear. Strategic decisions are often driven b...
Measuring the Irrationality of Culture
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cultural behavior rarely follows a straight line. What looks irrational on the surface often reflects deeper emotional logics, shifting norms, and eme...
Foresight as Augmented Memory
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world increasingly shaped by GenAI, memory becomes an active tool for understanding, not just a static archive of the past. Rather than offering ...
Revealing Implicit Cultural Domains
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a world focused on logic and optimization, the real forces shaping our future often exist beneath the surface in the quiet codes of culture. From t...
Sport Design Futures: From Social Change to Data‑Driven Play
17 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Analyzing Trends, we explore how sport is evolving from a stage of protest and identity to a site of technological transformation a...
The Ozempic Era of Food and Health
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Metabolic health is no longer just a medical issue. It is a cultural flashpoint shaping body image, social equity, and how communities build trust. Wh...
The AI Purity Test
19 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the rise of the AI purity test, a new social instinct that quietly judges people based on how they use artificial intellig...
Let Machines Be Machines
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the future of AI wasn't about making machines more human, but about helping humans better understand themselves? In a world increasingly shape...
The Ghosted Generation
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a culture that often confuses performance with participation, quiet departures are becoming more common. Ghosting is no longer just avoidance—it ...
The Myth Beneath the Dream
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a nation’s most enduring promise starts to feel like an outdated script? This piece explores how the American Dream, long upheld a...
Crate Digging for Intelligence
29 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if we understood intelligence not as something machines possess or mimic, but as a shared, creative process that evolves through collaboration? D...
The Engineered Isolation of Modern Masculinity
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Modern masculinity is increasingly shaped by digital isolation, economic instability, and rigid social expectations, leaving many young men struggling...
Liquid Learning Futures
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Higher education is undergoing a transformation as traditional disciplinary boundaries give way to more fluid, adaptive learning models shaped by tech...
Quiet Luxury Never Left, It Just Got Louder
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fashion is more than just changing trends—it’s a living, breathing design language that reflects how we see ourselves and engage with the world. A...
Analyzing Possible Futures Using Structured Analytic Techniques
22 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Students in the Analyzing Trends course at Parsons School of Design used SATs to explore four key areas that will shape human life over the next fifty...
The Semiotics of the New Populist Identity
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Populist movements in 2025 are not merely reactionary forces but evolving cultural entities shaped by digital communities, linguistic codes, and ideol...
The Future of Fashion in a Post-Global World
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As Shein faces mounting investor pressure and regulatory scrutiny, the future of fashion manufacturing and consumption is set for major transformation...
Intragenerational Animus & the Riddle of the Sphinx
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The struggle between past and future is nothing new, but for Gen Z, the stakes feel higher than ever. As they navigate deep internal divides, their ch...
Orange Juice Identity Crisis
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Orange juice is experiencing a cultural identity crisis as shifting health narratives, climate instability, and changing consumer preferences erode it...
Post-Post Truth Futures
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2025’s Post-Post-Truth era, brands must navigate fragmented narratives, algorithmic bias, and misinformation. Success hinges on adaptive storytel...
The Algorithmic Flâneur
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The concept of the algorithmic flâneur reimagines the traditional urban observer as an AI-augmented entity that navigates digital landscapes to uncov...
Contrasting Trends from 2020 & 2025
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trends from 2020 to 2025 reveal dynamic patterns of continuity, contrast, and evolution. These shifts showcase how cultural, technological, and social...
Crisis Subcultures
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A discussion of the gaps in understanding the full dynaamics of culture in crisis managment and how to use Culture Mapping as a framework for using Ge...
How We Live with Technology in 2025
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This report explores how emerging technologies reshape living in 2025 by analyzing product trends from CES 2025, focusing on climate adaptation, senso...
2025 Trend Themes 2
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The 2025 report analyzes Rich Reset Culture, Paradoxical Populism, Inclusion Counter-Reformation, Beyond the Lone Wolf, and Aging Invisibility, offeri...
Measuring Resonance
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Resonance links emotional, cultural, and systemic connections. Embracing ambiguity and tools like Culture Mapping uncovers deeper insights, fostering ...
Language & Meaning (Workshop Study Guides)
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Language reflects and drives cultural change, revealing societal values and trends through explicit and implicit cues. By analyzing linguistic systems...
Time (Workshop Study Guides)
28 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Time is a vital framework for understanding and shaping our world. This guide explores how cultural perspectives, early indicators, and creative tools...
Structure (Workshop Study Guides)
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gain a deeper understanding of the role structure plays in research and analysis by uncovering connections between ideas, patterns, and context. Explo...
Are Brands Dead?
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores the challenges facing luxury and political brands, highlighting how inconsistent narratives and misaligned strategies have erode...
Gender Fault Lines
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gender dynamics reveal profound tensions, where men face crises of isolation and identity as traditional roles are questioned, and women strive to bal...
GenAI and the Art of Conversation
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This analysis explores the parallels between Stephen Fry's description of surface-level conversational techniques, such as repeating the last word to ...
Analyzing Trends Student Futures Work
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This semester, another outstanding cohort of students has participated in the Analyzing Trends course at Parsons School of Design - The New School. St...
South Korea & USA Synergistic Futures
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
South Korea and the United States are navigating significant societal pressures, including mental health challenges and shifting political dynamics, w...
Post-Hype Design Futures
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Post-Hype Design Futures explores innovative strategies for cultural, retail, and experiential design in a post-hype landscape, emphasizing sustainabi...
Post-Global Fashion Design Futures (Culture Mapping Futures Series)
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Post-Global Fashion Design Futures explores the fashion industry’s evolution under post-pandemic pressures such as fragile supply chains, nearshorin...
The Future of Food & Beverage (Culture Mapping Future Series)
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest episode, produced with the help of NotebookLM robots, we explore potential futures for the food and beverage industry under a second Tr...
AI & Bias in Cultural Research (Workshop Study Guide Series)
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest podcast episode, produced with the help of NotebookLM robots, we examine the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and culture mapping in ...
Culture Mapping the Future of Climate Policy & Action
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our latest podcast episode, produced with the help of NotebookLM robots, we explore how narratives shape both climate policy and brand innovation. ...
Music is a Primer for Hybrid Intelligence
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The episdode draws parallels between the development of The Real Book, a comprehensive collection of jazz standards, and the emergence of Generative A...
Drift Compatibility in the Design Classroom
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion explores the potential of generative AI to transform education by offering a more interactive and collaborative learning experience. Th...
Narrative Systems Study Guide Preview
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This preview study guide on Narrative Systems in our workshop series, utilizes the Culture Mapping to analyze possible innovation strategies. By under...
The Decline of Third Place
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This discussion explores the changing nature of third places, or social environments outside of home and work, and how the increasing privatization of...
Context & Patterns | Workshop Study Guides
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This study guide explains how to analyze trends by understanding context and patterns. It outlines tools such as PESTLE analysis and Hofstede’s Cult...
The Future of Talent
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
scenarioDNA examines the evolving landscape of talent and its impact on culture. It highlights the shift from traditional celebrity worship to a deman...
Subculture Futures of Work
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The episode explores potential future work environments and their implications for human-machine interaction. It categorizes these future workspaces i...
The Future of Sports Fandom
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode discusses the future of sports fandom and the impact of digital technologies, globalization, and changing demographics on the sports indu...
Culture Mapping Election 2024 Alternate Futures
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
scenarioDNA examines four potential future scenarios for the 2024 US presidential election, exploring the likely impact of each outcome on cultural sh...
Decoding Punk Culture
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Examining the evolution of punk culture and its expression of dissent through online subcultures. (Generative AI produced podcast episode based on res...
Visualizing Everything I Know by Buckminster Fuller
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Data visualization reveals key themes in Buckminster Fuller's 1975 lectures, highlighting timeless insights. (Generative AI produced podcast episode b...
2025 Trend Themes
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
scenarioDNA presents potential future scenarios for the year 2025 based on current cultural and social trends. The analysis focuses on five main trend...