FuturistU > Innovation & Change > The 18 Megatrends of the New Normal > Module 4 / 4

The 18 Megatrends & The Recharting

Instructor: Armida Ascano
Artificial Intelligence
Download the Artificial Intelligence Trend Report
Capping off this course, Armida will speak to the Megatrends that are most relevent in the era of the Recharting. Which consumer behavior trends will form the future post-crisis, and why?

By the end of the 18 Megatrends of the New Normal course, you will be better equipped to navigate times of volatility in the future.
Related Trend Report: Artificial Intelligence
Workshop Questions:
1. How are you battling big-brand skepticism?
2. How can you provide consumers with a dose of adventure and escapism?
3. How can your brand provide fun and playfulness even in tough times?
4. How could you make digital touch points with your customer more exciting?
5. What opportunities for personalization could be integrated into your brand?
6. What technology is available to your company, and how could it be used for crisis support?
7. What would your crisis relief messaging be if the end user crafted it themselves?
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Featured Insights

Resocializing Initiatives
Brands launch campaigns helping people adjust to post-pandemic life
Trend - Brands are launching new initiatives designed to support the transition back to "normal." These range from reminding individuals of dining etiquette to tips on helpful hygiene practices to re-instate.
Workshop Question - How can your brand support consumers' transition to post-pandemic life?
5
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Megatrends

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Game Discovery
Game Discovery Platforms and Features Help Players Discover Games They Missed
Trend - Platforms are introducing discovery features that recommend lesser‑known games through personalized feeds, mood‑based browsing, social curation and AI‑driven matching. These tools aim to help players navigate an overwhelming release landscape and find titles they may enjoy but were unaware of.
Workshop Question - How might we create discovery tools that personalize user experiences by highlighting lesser-known options and aligning with individual preferences and moods?
5.6
Score
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Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Beauty Hotline
Beauty brands launch text and call helplines for personalized support
Trend - Beauty brands are launching text and call helplines as interactive campaign activations that invite consumers to receive personalized recommendations, confidence boosts, and real-time beauty guidance— evolving campaigns into two-way conversations.
Workshop Question - How can your campaign invite consumers into a personalized conversation instead of simply delivering a message?
7.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Experiential Poster
Physical, touchable media is being reintroduced to deepen sensory engagement
Trend - Brands are incorporating tactile elements into billboards and posters to create immersive, multi-sensory experiences. From textured surfaces to interactive materials, these physical formats invite touch and smell, transforming passive ad spaces into memorable, hands-on brand encounters.
Workshop Question - How can your brand use physical interaction to create more memorable consumer touchpoints?
8.6
Score
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Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Imperfect Marketing
Brands are turning real-life blunders into authentic connection opportunities
Trend - Marketing campaigns are shifting from showcasing perfect customer experiences to highlighting genuine consumer blunders and everyday failures. Rather than airbrushed perfection, these campaigns feature real spilled milk, burnt dinners, muddy footprints, and authentic human moments that resonate with consumers' actual lived experiences.
Workshop Question - Younger demographics quickly spot inauthenticity -- how might you authentically capture “messy moments” in a way that feels playful rather than patronizing?
6.3
Score
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Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Local Loyalty
Hyper Local Commerce shifts toward neighborhood-first shopping
Trend - Consumers are increasingly prioritizing local retailers, regional goods, and community-based shopping experiences. Whether it’s buying from a neighborhood store or choosing products made nearby, there’s growing momentum behind commerce that feels rooted in place. National brands are responding by incorporating local elements into their offerings, partnering with small businesses, highlighting regional sourcing, and localizing store formats, to stay relevant in a shifting retail landscape.
Workshop Question - How might your brand collaborate with local businesses, creators, or communities to build trust and relevance at the neighborhood level?
4.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Escapist Game
Game developers launch low-stakes farming-centric games for comfortable escapism
Trend - Game developers are increasingly releasing cozy farming games that offer serene, low-pressure virtual environments. These titles focus on gentle gameplay and emotional escapism—cultivating crops, caring for animals, and building intimate communities in picturesque, pastoral settings.
Workshop Question - How could your brand create engaging and relaxing experiences that current desires of its consumers?
3.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Boldened Snack
Packaged snack brands are refreshing packaging portfolios to improve recognition
Trend - CPG snack brands are refreshing their packaging designs to draw more attention to their products while emphasizing standout features. These features include better-for-you ingredients and reduced environmental impact, with intent to capture younger audiences with such practices.
Workshop Question - How might we innovate our brand's approach to packaging and product design to effectively resonate with environmentally conscious and health-focused younger consumers?
5.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Multi-Platform Progress
Developers are launching games with cross-progression for convenience
Trend - Game developers are increasingly integrating cross-progression features in their titles, allowing players to carry over their game progress, achievements, and in-game purchases across multiple platforms. This feature provides gamers with a seamless and flexible gaming experience.
Workshop Question - How can our brand react to the demands of its customers to ensure their convenience and accessibility needs are being met?
3.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Pizza Inspired
CPG and QSR Brands are Developing Snacks and Quick-Eats with Pizza-Inspired Flavors
Trend - QSR and CPG brands are tapping into the popular flavors and ingredients pizza to create unique and exciting snack offerings. These pizza-inspired snacks are designed to capture the essence of everyone's favorite comfort food while providing convenient, on-the-go options.
Workshop Question - How can we incorporate nostalgic and novel flavor profiles into our products to create convenient, exciting offerings for busy, modern consumers?
4.8
Score
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Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Trend Campaign
Brands are encouraging consumers to post in campaigns to start widespread trends
Trend - Brands are taking to social media platforms to launch interactive campaigns that encourage users to post unique content to enter. These post-based campaigns are intended to start wider spread trends where consumers boost the reach of the campaign far beyond its original audience.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage interactive and participatory elements in our marketing campaigns to inspire user-generated content that catalyzes new trends on social media?
4
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