FuturistU > Demographics > Forecasting Micro-Generational Desire > Module 3 / 5

Forecasting Gen X Desires

Instructor: Armida Ascano
Convenience Culture
Download the Convenience Culture Trend Report
In this module, Armida will introduce you to our Generation X micro-generations: Gen XS and Gen Xenos. Despite the fact that these generations are in their prime spending years, they are often overlooked by marketers. A look through their formative years and their transforming values, however, will show you that discounting this generation and its influence would be dire.

So how do you capture the attention of such a busy generation? Understanding the nuanced differences between the Generation X micro-generations will help you achieve this.
Related Trend Report: Convenience Culture
Workshop Questions:
1. Gen Xers don’t trust anyone as much as they trust themselves; how can your brand work around that?
2. How could your brand or product provide busy Gen Xers with a sense of relaxation and ease?
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Featured Insights

Familial Workplace
As Gen X enters leadership positions, workplaces become more family-centric
Trend - Older members of Generation X–a.k.a, Gen XS–are family-focused. At the same time, this generation has many financial responsibilities that require dedication to the workplace as well. This makes work/life balance a point of tension; however, as this generation enters leadership positions in the workforce, they're able to enact changes that are conducive to family-centric work cultures.
Workshop Question - What could change about your corporate culture to become more family-centric?
3.2
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Incremental Entrepreneurship
Services that enable small steps help busy consumers start businesses
Implications - Many consumers today want to start their own businesses, however, juggling entrepreneurship and personal responsibility can be difficult. This is especially true for Gen Xenos consumers, who are both inclined to start their own business, and dedicated to their family life. Services that enable one to approach entrepreneurship in incremental steps help maintain a work-life balance while also enabling the pursuit of that dream.
Workshop Question - How can your company provide entrepreneurial employees with more ambitious opportunities?
5.5
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Mundane Multitask
Practices typically used in the workplace are applied to personal admin
Trend - Today's consumer is taking advantage of apps and services that apply the same productivity and multitasking methods typically used in professional capacities, to manage their responsibilities, daily routines and personal banking.
Workshop Question - What is one way you could alleviate pressure on your Generation X employees?
2.5
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Evolved Rebellion
The former Gen Xenos stereotype of teen rebellion is leveraged for new purposes
Trend - The younger Gen X micro-generation, Gen Xenos, is largely known for the rebellious Bart Simpson-esque stereotype associated with late-80s teenagehood. That spirit of rebellion has transformed into a desire to live by their own rules while balancing the responsibilities of middle age.
Workshop Question - What was your target demographic like 5, 10, 15 years ago, and how does that impact them now?
4.1
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Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Retail Moodboard
New apps let users create fashion moodboards, share looks, and shop together
Trend - New retail apps combine moodboard creation with social feeds, shared collections, shoppable tags and streamlined checkout so users discover styles, collaborate on looks, and buy directly from boards. These apps provide tailored recommendations based on each user's preferences.
Workshop Question - How can we incorporate collaborative, visual discovery elements to enhance user engagement and streamline the purchasing process?
8.9
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AI Goal
AI companies are creating trackers to help users achieve day-to-day goals
Trend - AI-powered apps designed to help users achieve their day-to-day goals work via auto‑generate daily micro‑tasks, forecast progress and contextual nudges across calendars and apps. Additional features include natural‑language setup, adaptive scheduling, progress forecasting and integrations.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage AI to develop features that enhance user empowerment and goal achievement while ensuring transparency and privacy?
5.6
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Positivity Platform
Social platforms with a positive focus rebel against the negative internet
Trend - New online platforms, whether private or social-focused, are launching with a focus on positivity and compliments. Some such platforms are powered by AI, while some are community-driven. However, each are designed to offer positive breaks from the negative nature of popular content platforms.
Workshop Question - How might we create a positive and uplifting experience for our audience to counteract the negativity often found in digital environments?
4.1
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Controlled Impulse
Budgeting and savings apps are used by Millennials to prevent impulse purchases
Trend - While personal finance management apps have existed for over a decade, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and data collection algorithms have made recent apps far more effective than before. These modern budgeting apps are used to prevent unnecessary spending while saving toward goals.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage AI and data collection to help its customers make more informed purchasing decisions?
3.9
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Visual Aid
Brands are designing packaging to be accessible for consumers with visual impairments
Trend - Brands are creating packaging designs with smart solutions for consumers with visual impairments. These solutions include scannable codes or symbols that interact with smart applications to provide either easier-to-read or audio-based information, more effectively supporting shoppers.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage technological solutions to make our products more accessible for a wider range of consumers?
6.7
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Social Community
New social media platforms are launching with an emphasis on personal connections
Trend - Companies are opening new social media services with the intention of fostering more intimate connections between users. In a rebellion against social medias built around endless feeds, these platforms connect users with similar interests and have convenient public and private group chat systems.
Workshop Question - How could your brand ensure its products or services are meeting the needs of its more niche consumer demographics?
4.1
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AI Household
Day-to-day family organization is streamlined through new technologies
Trend - Familial organization, from delegating chores to appointment reminders, is simpler with AI technology. This shows the adoption of technologies typically used in the workplace to the home. This development will simplify the act of running a multigenerational household, which is especially attractive to working parents.
Workshop Question - How can brands leverage AI technology to address the increasing demands on working parents and multigenerational households in a way that simplifies day-to-day organization and enhances productivity?
4.3
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