FuturistU > Innovation & Change > Adaptive Innovation > Module 2 / 5

Warnings

Instructor: Jeremy Gutsche
In this module, Jeremy introduces various steps you need to take to refine your idea. He reviews the warnings and traps to be aware of when you're working on something new. As humans, we can easily succumb to bias or other ideas that are too similar to ones we've had before, and this can prevent us from realizing those outlier ideas, which are key to success and breakthrough.

Throughout this module, Jeremy will teach you the proven tactics to extract better thinking from your brain. These tactics are rooted in learning how to avoid the traps we can fall into when brainstorming or looking at new ideas.
Workshop Questions:
1. What are the main traps that are going to block you from thinking creatively?
2. What is the existing core product you will overly cling to? What is the path you might stay stuck on?
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Insights by Trend Hunter AI

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?
9.3
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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?
8.7
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Organic Home
Construction companies turn to organic-based materials for regenerative properties
Trend - Construction brands increasingly turn to hempcrete, mycelium panels, straw‑bale systems, engineered timber composites and bio‑based insulation across projects; offerings stress environmental efficiency, regenerative properties, durability, and wide compatibility with existing materials.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage organic-based materials to enhance sustainability and meet the evolving demand for eco-friendly construction solutions?
6.1
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Alpha Upskilling
Generation Z Tribe is receiving an early education on AI and future technology
Trend - Though AI upskilling is popular among adults in the workplace, educating kids on future technologies is an emerging pattern. The education system embraces AI to varying degrees. In order to equip children for a more AI-driven world, education is taking place inside and outside of the school system.
Workshop Question - How can we incorporate educational initiatives to better prepare the younger generations for an AI-driven future?
6.5
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Air-Fried Dessert
Brands increasingly make dessert and snack products compatible for the air fryer
Trend - Brands are increasingly launching dessert products that can be warmed up or prepared in the air fryer. These post-meal delights cater to consumers’ desire for convenience and cravings for sweets at home, aligning with the rising popularity of air-fried foods and at-home snacking rituals.
Workshop Question - How can your brand respond to an emerging trend with an appropriate product?
5.3
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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?
3.7
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Book Discovery
AI tools that locate and recommend new books to read are gaining popularity.
Trend - AI brands are introducing book discovery tools that analyze user preferences, reading history, and literary trends to recommend new titles. These tools aim to provide personalized reading suggestions, uncover hidden gems, and help users navigate the overwhelming abundance of choices present today.
Workshop Question - How might we leverage AI-driven technology to deliver personalized and curated experiences for our customers amidst overwhelming choices?
4.1
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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?
6.6
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Branded Rage
Pop-up rage rooms provide a space for consumers looking to de-stress
Trend - As rage rooms become popular among consumers, brands are replicating this activity in their activations to craft a memorable experience that is also an effective outlet for stress reduction. This controlled environment allows individuals to release built-up frustration in a tangible, expressive way.
Workshop Question - How could your brand incorporate wellness concepts into its product or service?
5.6
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Incremental Game
Games that passively progress over time are gaining popularity
Trend - Incremental games are titles that progress over time without user input. This progress can be accelerated by actively playing the game. The passive progression model leads to consistent progression for the players, which is often satisfying and addicting, regardless of the players' busy schedules.
Workshop Question - How could your brand ensure its products or services are usable by consumers with minimal free time?
5.1
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