TRENDS, NETWORKS, AND

CRITICAL THINKING IN THE 21ST

CENTURY
Course The course provides opportunities for students to discover

Description: patterns and extract meanings from emerging trends. It aids in

developing their critical and creative thinking skills-- essential tools for
decision making and understanding “ethics of care”. Global trends in
the 21st century are examined and are either accepted or rejected on
a sound set of criteria. Students will be asked to create and analyze
scenarios that will challenge them to (1) formulate their stances on
issues or concerns; (2) propose interventions and; (3) formulate
alternative futures. The students will realize the interconnections
between their neural connections and social realities.
 1. Which of the following refers to the larger patterns of broad
trends that reshape and transform our lives?
A. Fad B. Megatrend C. Microtrend D. Trend

PRE-TEST 2. Who stated that trends never turn on a dim, its reversals build
slowly and the first sharp dip always finds buyers and the first sharp
rise always finds seller?
A. Allan Farley B. Allan Forley C. Sander D. Soper
3. What do you call to an identification of new trend?
A. Projecting trends
B. Trend analysis
C. Trend spotting
D. Trend style
4. What refers to an act that assumes the future which will be a
logical extension of the past?
A. Projecting trend
B. Trend analysis
C. Trend spotting
D. Trend style
5. Which of the following allows populations to be proactive in
response to future events?
A. Projecting trends
B. Trend analysis
C. Trend spotting
D. Trend style

6. Which of the following refers to a short-term event, which others

called as the flash in the pan?
A. Fad B. Megatrend C. Microtrend D. Trend
7. Which of the following refers to the forces that have been shaping
human behavior for years?
A. Basic needs B. Changes C. Drivers of change D. Innovations

8. What is the constant thing in this world?

A. Change B. Effort C. Emotion D. Time
9. What refers to the recurrent phenomenon that takes place over
time and gives rise to speculation on the future?
A. Fad B. Megatrend C. Microtrend D. Trend

10. Which of the following refers to short-live and doesn’t

guarantee long-term?
A. Fad B. Megatrend C. Microtrend D. Trend
 Our environment plays an important role of who we were
yesterday, who we are today, and who we will be in the future.
Nowadays, we cannot determine what lies ahead of us as we live in this
world full of uncertainty, but we all know that we are going to that
direction. Few go straight, but some of us go upward; others go
downward while others go upward and downward without consistency.
These are true to our lives. The moment you step into a minefield of
potential confusion; you are exercising trends without noticing it. What
are the latest models of cell phones today? What are the hottest news
today about celebrities? What are the trending dance moves or tag lines?
What is the latest and updated online game? Are you concern about what
type of business boomed today? Unsurprisingly, trends are about us: how
do we behave, what we want, and how do we view the world around us.
This is the trend of our existence in this world. But what is trend?
 Trend is a continuous development towards
something new or different. It simply reflects on
what seems to be going around at any given time.
Sanders, Soper and Rotwell (2009) define trend as a
―recurrent phenomenon that takes place over time
and gives rise to speculation on the future. It can be
What is in any area and doesn’t only reflect fashion, pop
TREND? culture and entertainment, but to all dimensions. It
could be socio-cultural, economic and/or political
dimensions. Moreover, it is a change evidenced by a
rise or fall of variables when measured between at
least two points over time (Gordon, 2008). Thus, a
trend is a sequential pattern of change in recorded
data
In 1985, American Heritage Dictionary
defines trend as a direction of movement,
as ―the trend of a line,‖ or the movement
in a specified direction, as in ―the
prevailing wind trends east-northeast.‖
Hence, a trend is the general direction or
tendency in which is going to move,
develop or change
 The way of doing new things of an
individual, group or societal approach then
followed by many people is called as
trend. It has ability to influence or even
direct people to adapt, accept and follow
what is new. Also, trends tend to shift
peoples’ needs and wants as it distracts
the present trends then proposed new
ones in the form of innovations (to be
discussed in the proceeding part).
 Megatrends and the microtrends are
the two types of trend. Megatrends are
those larger patterns of broad trends that
reshape and transform our lives while
microtrends is the advocate localization as
opposed to globalization It recognizes
that people and communities have never
been more refined and more conversant
about the choices they make in their
everyday lives
 Trends gain power over time as they
are not just merely part of a moment, they
are tools, connectors and will become more
valuable as other people commit to
engaging (Seth Godin). They solve problems.
They represent new ways of life. Some
trends are fun, some fabulous, some
appalling, but however long they last, you
can be sure there will always be a new trend
coming along to replace the old.
 Trends never turn on a dime.
Reversals build slowly. The first sharp dip
always finds buyers and the first sharp rise
always finds sellers.‖ – Alan Farley It is
How to spot a important for us to understand that trends
trend? do not go straight up or straight down.
They tend to zigzag back and forth from a
new high back to a lower high, then to a
higher high and go down. Thus, it has no
consistency on its own manner.
 Trend is considered as a collage of
present circumstances that extend current
patterns into the future (Cornish, 2004 and
Canton, 2006). However, an examination
of these phenomena and speculation on
the likely impact they will have in the
future is called trend analysis. In addition,
the practice of collecting information and
attempting to spot a pattern, or trend, in
the information is also known as trend
analysis.
 Sanders, Soper, and Rotwell (2002) stated
that ―an examination of trends phenomena and
speculation on its likely impact in the future is
called as trends analysis.‖ Moreover, trends
analysis grants ―future vision.‖ It allows
populations to be proactive in response to future
events. Furthermore, trends analysis is the
widespread practice of collecting information
and attempting to spot a pattern in the
information. It will be used in predicting future
events or estimating uncertain events in the
past, and distracting present events just to
promote new ones.
 The process of identifying of trends is called
trend spotting. Rehn and Lindkvist (2013) define
trend spotting as attempting to see the future in
the present situation. On the other hand, the
people who notice and report on new fashions,
activities that people are starting to do is called as
trend spotter. Conversely, an act that assumes
the future that will be a logical extension of the
past is defined as act of projecting trends. Thus,
projecting trends will be based from the past,
present and what will be in the future regardless
of defined and undefined factors that contribute
from its changes or development
 1. Anticipate change
WAYS TO 2. See it coming
SPOT AND 3. Distinguish between short-lived fads and
CAPITALIZ long-term trends
4. Make sure your solutions are realistic
E ON
5. Create a competitive advantage
TRENDS
 The constant thing in this world is change.
Assume that change is coming and look for it.
Change can be either social -- as in the rise of
socially responsible business -- or technological,
as exemplified by the growth of gadgets.
Anticipate Sometimes change can be both. The great
Change example of it is social media. Don’t forget the
cyclical, up-down, back-forth nature of business
while you are searching. Change doesn’t have to
be permanent to provide a viable opportunity for
business creation and growth. Remember, the
nature of trends has no consistency.
 The basic tools of the trend tracker are
seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and
touching. In other words, every sense that
can be used to get information about the
world should be employed in seeing for
upcoming changes. Start by reading and
See it Coming watching everything you can. That should
include general interest news outlets, trade
publications, blogs, government reports and
casual conversations overheard in elevators.
Be updated of problems people are talking
about. Be proactive as it comes
 Strive to identify big changes that create
lasting problems that many customers will be
happy to pay to solve. The idea is to wind up with
a business model in which revenues are larger
Distinguish than costs for a long period, not one that limps by
on slender profit margins before competitors take
between short- even that away. To filter out fads, talk to the
lived and long- potential buyers of the solution to the problem.
term trends The more frustrated they are, the more likely they
are to pay for a solution. In extreme cases,
potential customers may be willing to fund the
development of solutions. With this, it is not hard
for you to win them. Another way around is by
talking to experts.
 Again, it’s relevant to talk to target
customers. Make sure the solution you
envision is one you can realistically provide
with features. Costs must establish
Make sure alternatives will compare favorably. It is not
all about your desire product to proposed,
your solutions it’s about their problem to be solved. What
are realistic you can do conveniently and inexpensively
may be of little value to customers. The
sweet spot for a trend-exploiting start-up is
at the intersection of business capability and
customer’s need.
 To get the biggest benefit, be the first doer. Be
courageous! It is uncommon for any single
entrepreneur to be the only one who sees an
opportunity. Most will hesitate and not move at all.
Many others will not move quickly enough. Lasting
competitive advantage usually goes to the first entrant
Create a to stake a market out and capture customer loyalty.
competitive Those who come later usually have to settle for
slimmer profits and more competition. Being first is not
advantage sufficient, of course! Business history is besieged with
well-financed start-ups directed by well-regarded
leaders who committed too much, too early and in the
wrong place. So test before committing. Again, look for
revenues that overwhelm costs and customers who are
overjoyed.
 Fads and trends can be used
interchangeably by most of the people.
They are forms of collective behavior that
Differentiate a develop within a culture, a generation or
social group in which a group of people
trend from a enthusiastically follow in an impulse for a
fad finite period. There are a number of
industries whose very survival depends on
recognizing the difference between a fad
and a trend (Web Finance Inc., 2005).
 Merriam Webster’s Dictionary
defines fad as something, such as an
interest or fashion that is very popular for
a short period of time. It is an intense and
a widely-shared enthusiasm for
FAD something, especially one that is short-
lived. In addition, a fad is something
(products, fashion, style or etc.) that has
little, if any, utility and is characterized by
a quick rise and popularity followed by a
quick decline and popularity.
The reason about this type of nature of fad is
because it usually does not satisfy a strong
consumers’/users’ needs and wants. It is
temporary fashion, a craze, interest, or activity
that people follow enthusiastically, but lasts for
a short period of time. Thus, fad is something
that will rise rapidly and fall relatively rapid also
once the perception of novelty is gone.
Nevertheless, the best guesses for future events
or patterns that are based on present peripheral
and historical information is called as trends
(Cornish 2004). Through the interrelatedness of
all things in the universe, trends are complex
fusion of past, present, and future information
and represent human’s best predictions over
time which allow for preemptive judgments and
actions toward future events and conditions.
 According to Naisbit 2006, fads are
normally micro-trends that exist under the
umbrella of an actual trend. Thus, all fads
are trend, but not all trends are fad
accordingly. However, the ability to frame a
trend in time is what ultimately gives a trend
its credibility. Thinking of trends along a
linear timeline however, is not always
correct as trends can revert back on
themselves becoming cyclical or trends can
fuse or converge with other trends occurring
in the same time frame (Canton 2006).
 A fad by definition is a short-term
event, what some may call a "flash in the
pan." It does not guarantee lifetime. It’s
short-lived or some will say it’s just For-A-
Day. On the other hand, a trend has the
potential of becoming a long-term
influence on the future of a market. It’s
long-lived. These two may resemble each
other at first, but there is almost always a
definite beginning and a definite end to a
fad.
 Reason for rise.
Trends generally have identifiable and
explainable rises, driven by consumers’
functional needs and consistent with
Factors that other consumer lifestyle trends. By
differentiate contrast, fads are driven by an
fad and trend emotional need to purchase, based on
hype and idealistic product
perceptions. The benefits are ethereal
or ill-conceived, and don’t deliver what
was promised to consumers
Incubation period and life span.
Trends rise slowly, whereas fads spike—
and die out— quickly. For example, demand for
multiple fashionable handbags and accessories
for each occasion has grown steadily over the
years, fueling Coach’s decade-long growth and
healthy 11-year compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 19 percent. Beanie Babies, on the
other hand, went from $400 million in sales in
1997 to $1.3 billion in 1999, a CAGR of 77
percent, before dropping to $850 million the
next year and steep declines thereafter
Scope.
A trend usually encompasses several
brands or products that are applicable to
many different consumer segments, while
a fad typically includes only a single brand
or product and has limited appeal outside
of one narrow consumer segment. A trend
possesses some agility and consumers
have granted it permission to expand
beyond its current platform while
maintaining authenticity.
 BASIC NEEDS
These are the forces that have been
Point out the shaping human behavior for years (if not
elements that forever!) as it is necessary to sustain life.
make up a These are the minimum requirements of a
trend community for a decent standard of life. It
consists of adequate food, shelter, and
clothing plus some household equipment
(trendwatchin and furniture. Likewise, these include
g.com) essential services provided by and for the
community-at-large such as safe drinking
water, sanitation, health and education
DRIVERS OF CHANGE
As the constant thing in this world is
change thus, there are no trends without
change. Drivers of change is considered as
one of the most well-known and
comprehensive publication series as it
investigates the key global issues and
trends driving change in our societies and
markets. It analyzes change, thinks in
terms of Shifts (long-term, slower) and
Triggers (specific factors or events).
INNOVATIONS
Innovations generally refer to
changing processes or creating more
effective processes, products and
ideas. They are considered as catalyst
for growth and development, but
they aren’t trends. Conversely,
without examples of customer-facing
innovations, a trend can’t be said to
exist fully yet.
 (On areas of modern web design)

1. Unique and Large Typography

Most companies have a particular font or typography that
they use to help their customers immediately identify them from
their competitors. For instance, JOLLIBEE OR MCDONALDS are
recognized easily through the use of their unique fonts on their
trademark (brand name or brand mark) which distinguish them from
their competitors because of its own originality and uniqueness. The
moment people will see their typography; they already have their
positioning in mind that these businesses will not necessarily inform
customers through different types of promotion because they have
already been known.
Large & Responsive Hero Images
Hero images are the large promotional
images. Examples are the large pictures on
the walls of establishments. They may have
texts in the image itself and present unique
problems for responsive designs. Also, these
can help tell the story without having to rely
on just text. Moreover, large and responsive
images make for a good user experience such
as taking pictures and etc.
Background Videos

It will greatly help to a page when videos

can automatically play in the back ground. They
can be used to tell a story and significantly
reduce the amount of other content needed to
explain the business. These will give
convenience especially to those individuals
who are not interested on reading and/or too
busy to read because of some factors, but can
listen while doing other things.
Google's Gmail is a 4. Semi-Flat Design
great example of flat Flat design is not only easier for users to
design 2.0. In the latest comprehend, but it can also load more quickly on websites
version, small black without complicated or overly-technical elements. As flat
captions pop up when design is any element that does not include or give the
you hover over icons, perception of three dimensions, such as shadows. It is
so that users know simple, but easily readable. In terms of manipulating a
their function and that website, it is important to be consistent in using design
they're clickable. regardless of whether you fully design your website using
Many other sites are flat design or utilize shadows and other elements in order
using flat 2.0 by to help visitors/customers/viewers understand your
adding shadows content more quickly. However, adding elements of depth
behind their buttons. can also bring it to life.
Hamburger Menus
Hamburger menu was created as a
website design feature to incorporate a site
menu without taking up too much room. Its
three lines stacked together to roughly form
the shape of a hamburger. While it serves its
purpose of condensing information, achieving
a minimalist aesthetic, and keeping uncultured
site, still it may have relevant drawbacks.
Taking the visitor directly to where they desire
is its advantage. However, it generally take up
a ton of relevant screen space.
Giant Product Images
The important attack of a
certain business especially online is
to catch the attention of the
viewers or clients. Displaying large
product images on your site to
highlight different features or parts
of the product will do so. It helps
designers to efficiently and
effectively highlight different
features of the product. In addition,
large images help visitors to
generate a solid understanding of
what the different product features
do.
Card Design

Users can pick and choose which

articles they want to expand through breaking
up unlike pieces of content into cards. It keeps
homepage clean and organized, without
relying on a ton of text. Card design helps to
deliver easily digestible chunks of information
for users. Moreover, it can help highlights
multiple products or solutions side-by-side
8. Short Product or Feature
Videos
In addition to background videos, companies are also
beginning to use short product or feature videos to highlight a
specific use case. These short videos are great at bringing your
solution to life, while not overwhelming the visitor with a long
experience that they must sit through. Short videos allow prospects
for quick understanding that is best for top of the tunnel. In
addition, these allow prospects to understand it quickly without
watching a really long, in depth experience.
 As a pattern of gradual change in condition, output, and or
process trend has its own characteristics. Merriam Webster
dictionary defines characteristic as a distinguishing trait, quality, or
property. However, in business dictionary it means ―a
distinguishing feature or attribute of an item, person, phenomenon,
etc., usually divided into three categories: physical, functional, and
operational. Thus, characteristics are what separate you or
something from others. It pinpoints the mark of uniqueness of
someone or something. This time, let us apply the five (5)
characteristics which used by the professionals in fashion design
skills.
  Even if you are trying to imitate a popular
style, be sure to always bring something
new when designing. Because no matter
how consistent or repurposed a popular
fashion or trend might be, always
Innovation remember that something will replace it.
But, the moment you add something
personalized (own touch) to it, it might
distract the present trend and will be the
next trend. Change is constant,
remember?
 Brand positioning means you
are going to place your product or
service in your customers’ mind.
Attaining this requires brand
Brand
Consistency
consistency and loyalty to all your
creative designs in order for your
customers to remember what
separates you from your
competitors.
 Outwear is very popular in every cool
season. Ability to wear is well
Outerwear- appreciated by the customers
ability especially in clothing. Creating simple
but elegant design makes you
presentable.
 Design versatile fashions for
every season continuously done
with outwear ability. They spend
Versatility less on the things they acquire.
Making your audience happy
means a challenge on your
fashion design ability.
 Creating simple yet innovative
fashion design is like setting yourself
up for professional progress. One
thing is that versatility usually calls
Simplicity
simplicity. It is easy to remember if it
is simple. Empowering your audience
and building does not necessarily
expensive. Make it simple
  Microtrends-
 Macrotrends
Characteristics
 Megatrends-
of a Trend
 Gigatrends-
 Are “little things that happen all
around us all the time, the tiny
shifts that occur in everything
from clothes we wear and the
Microtrend snacks we eat to the way we
work, play, and love.” These
trends happen right now and are
outright observable.
  Are “aggregated microtrends or
more sweeping changes that are
affecting society.” They provide
major changes that are perceptible
Macrotrend
in the societal level for a longer
period. These are more stable than
microtrends, which can quickly fizzle
out.
  Are “macrotrends that have grown up
and moved out. They are big and bold,
and affect the lives of great swathes
of the human race.” They can last for
decades and are “so pervasive as to be
Megatrends generally known.” Because of this
condition, megatrends are regarded
as so obvious and evident. In other
words, they have become the
prevailing condition that has become
too normal.
 Are “trends that are so general
that they affect most areas of
human life—or, at least, more
Gigatrends than one aspect of life or more
than one industry.” Gigatrends
are usually identified to define an
era.
 Internet connection is now considered a
gigatrend as its function are now tied up
to the everyday activities of people all
around the world. It has become too
normal such that it is now the base of
several vital activities like banking,
business, online communication,
information gathering and
dissemination, research, entertainment,
transactions, gaming, shopping and
more.
 Smartphones can be considered a megatrend (if not bordering on
being a gigatrend itself). They have affected many lives and
industries. In fact, many check their smartphones first thing in the
morning to read text or priva te messages
 Each part of something is
connected to the whole of that
Identify parts
something, and every whole has its own
of a whole parts. It cannot be considered as whole if
it does not have parts.
 According to Merriam Webster’s
dictionary, part is one of the often indefinite
subdivisions into which something is regarded
Defining as divided and which together constitute the
whole. On the other hand, whole means
part and something constituting a complex unity: a
whole coherent system or organization of parts or
working together as whole. It shows the
totality of the pieces and segments that
somehow we consider as parts. We can
identify that something is part of a whole if we
know what all is that something about
Trend has constituent parts of
portions that are interrelated.
Their confluence, as well as
how the adapt them, makes
the trend viable, especially
the megatrends ( and giga
trends
 it was mentioned that trends are formed from the combination of
things.