Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 433,068 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,165 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 336,141 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,165 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 336,141 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,158 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
During COVID-19, learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 433,068 cutting edge ideas.
FuturistU > Innovation & Change > Ability to Change > Module 2 / 7

Subtlety of Disruption

Instructor: Jeremy Gutsche
This module looks at how even the smartest business minds throughout history have overlooked and dismissed the potential of new ideas. When people miss an opportunity in their own industry, it’s not because they were blind to new ideas. Typically, smart people miss out because new ideas seem awkward and different. To find your breakthrough, you
need to better spot the subtle clues that hint toward great ideas.

To further illustrate this point, Jeremy draws on a wide range of examples from various industries including tech, auto and enterntainment. Even the most successful brands we know today have overlooked or passed on an idea that later saw tremendous success. You'll learn how even the most dominant companies can overestimate their market control and why this can steer you away from your next big idea.
Workshop Question:
What can you do to encourage disruptive thinking?
Get the 2023 Trend Report FREE

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Shoppable Short
Shoppable short-form video content enhances digital shopping experiences
Trend - Shoppable short-form video content and ads are becoming increasingly prominent digital strategies among brands across industries. This content merges traditional ads with modern tech habits--offering customers more engaging and convenient forms of online shopping.
Workshop Question - How could your brand more effectively engage customers with its online experiences?
7.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Nostalgic Collectible
Brands re-release or reference iconic 90s' toys for nostalgic consumers
Trend - The current 90s revival in pop culture has extended to toys that were once central in the childhoods of Millennials and Gen X. Brands are now re-releasing classic 90s toys, or using them as inspiration in new products—evoking nostalgia while still appealing to young consumers.
Workshop Question - How could your brand create stronger emotional connections with customers through its products or campaigns?
7.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Mindful Entrepreneurship
Brands release programs that help users learn about and build businesses
Trend - Between competitive markets and economic instability, entrepreneurship has become more challenging for the average consumer to take on. Programs that help users learn about and navigate the process of building a business (or aspects of it) are becoming popular among aspiring entrepreneurs.
Workshop Question - How could your brand better support employees or customers in their personal pursuits?
3.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Intelligent Inventory
Grocers are using IoT tech to streamline inventory management
Trend - Supermarkets are leveraging IoT solutions to improve inventory management processes. Not only do IoT systems ensure supermarkets are stocked with the right items in the right quantities, but they also help these brands achieve their sustainability objectives by reducing food and energy waste.
Workshop Question - How can your brand utilize emerging technologies to be more efficient?
6.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Accessible Snack
More brands in food retail prioritize accessible packaging
Trend - Accessible packaging and branding has become a priority for some brands in the food industry. Now, more businesses are designing food packaging that's easily accessed by people with disabilities--with everything from the incorporation of braille to easier-to-open lids.
Workshop Question - How could your brand be more accessible for underserved communities?
6.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Disability Wellness
The wellness industry is becoming more inclusion-focused
Trend - The "wellness" industry, which encompasses innovative self-care practices that prioritize mental and physical health, is now offering products and services that are specifically designed for people with disabilities. This shift includes everything from intimacy toys to VR-based fitness programs that are designed for individuals who deal with accessibility issues.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing accessibility and inclusion?
6.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Outdoor Offices
The ongoing pandemic has made outdoor workspaces more popular
Trend - Workplace flexibility has been a common topic of discussion after the the ongoing pandemic resulted in professionals working from home indefinitely. Now, businesses and employees are leaning into workplace flexibility with outdoor office spaces that balance productivity and function with comfort and convenience for workers.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing flexibility for its customers or employees?
7.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Comfort Commercial
Ad campaigns take on more positive and soothing themes
Trend - As the world gradually lifts pandemic-related restrictions, brands are increasingly prioritizing "wellness" to help ease people's lingering anxieties. This includes ad campaigns that focus on comforting and relaxing themes that offer a more positive outlook on the future than what has been seen in the last year.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing post-pandemic transitions?
5.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Augmented Salon
Brands are launching salons that are enhanced by AR technology
Trend - Beauty brands have been experimenting with beauty try-on technology for some time, but AR technologies are now sophisticated enough to use in salons reliably. Rather than solely relying on verbal communication, the software in the augmented salons helps both clients and hairdressers visualize the available options for styling, cutting, and coloring.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage augmented reality to enhance consumer satisfaction?
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Virtual Lab
Virtual innovation labs let consumers test and design products remotely
Trend - Pre-pandemic, brands in a range of industries experimented with innovation labs where they could display and test their most innovative products and ideas with consumers. Now, they're doing the same but virtually--as retailers remain restricted with how they curate in-store experiences.
Workshop Question - How could your brand create distinct virtual experiences for customers?
6.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends