January 12, 2012
My last post listed a few things I expect to see in 2012. However, I saved the biggest trend for the new year: the death of trends. The reason is simply that business now moves too fast for what we traditionally think of as "trends."
Trends are largely a function of limitations. In the 20th century, people's taste in music, fashion, etc. was dictated by a limited number of magazines, record labels and shows emanating from Los Angeles, New York or London. Now that the Internet has blown the lid off communication, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine what "all the kids are doing." Micro-trends, which are just as likely to emanate from previously unhip cities or even the developing world, are rapidly replacing the mass culture trends of the past.
