In our last post, we spoke a bit about the process we used to start off the year with some intentional reflection on our organizational values and how those both helped shape, and have been shaped by, the past year. We then identified some attainable goals for implementing real, impactful strategies and structures in our work for the year ahead that will reflect those values on a daily basis.

With that in mind, we searched far and wide to compile our list of the top trends for 2020. These trends not only peak our interest and heighten our curiosity, but are also critical to informing our approach to partner engagements, no matter the nature and scope of the project. We see these trends affecting almost every industry and organizational department. By keeping these trends as a foundation for your engagement efforts this year, you will be more likely to tap into the forces driving consumer behavior at a deeper level. We’ll spend more time digging into how we see each of these trends playing out in different mediums over the next few months, but for now, here are nine trends that we are keeping a close eye on in 2020.

Top 9 Trends for 2020

Mindfulness

Mindfulness, as defined by Jon-Kabat Zinn, is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, without judgement. It’s a term that we hear used quite frequently and across all areas of life as a state that we should practice both at work and in our personal lives. When it comes to fulfilling your organizational mission, or finding creative design solutions to an ongoing challenge, there is no better place to start than being mindful of where you are and the boundless opportunities that exist to move forward in new ways if you’re open.

Sustainability

Sustainability is an issue on the top of almost everyone’s mind these days, organizations of all shapes, sizes, and purposes are tuned in to the critical importance of resources; where you get them and how you use them. From employing fair trade practices, to eliminating plastic straws and water bottles from meetings and events, to outfitting an office space utilizing products made from reclaimed or recycled materials, consumers and clients are paying attention to how businesses live out this imperative in their regular operations.

Origin Stories

A sense of personal connection and investment is important. According to research conducted by the Steelcase Global Design Team, when looking at the consumer mindset in 2020: “People are eager to understand the origin story behind where they work and what they consume. The consumer mindset is shifting away from perfection and toward embracing natural materials and diversity in design which connects to people’s desire to have a deeper connection with where they work and what they buy.”

Personalization

This refers to a lot of different considerations across the world of branding, design, and events. But, in the context of what we’re watching for, personalization is about tailoring experiences to give people a voice, more ownership in the content they’d like to see, the sessions they’d like to attend, the way they’d like to be communicated with. And while it may seem like a contradictory concept, especially given a few of the trends below, technology will increasingly play a more important role in creating personalized experiences.

Unconventional Venues

The best days of the hotel ballroom for meetings and formal affairs are in the past, at least according to some. We don’t think that’s entirely the case as there is a tremendous amount of flexibility and utility in the hotel market for hosting gatherings of all sizes. But, with so many websites and online services providing access and information on rental spaces, as well as the advent of host rentals such as peerspace (think airbnb for event spaces), individuals and organizations have a wide breadth of choices available to them. And in the pursuit of creating more personalized and unique experiences, nontraditional locations are more desirable than ever.

Face to Face Experiences

Yes, people still desire in-person interaction. Despite the ease and general cost-effectiveness with which we can connect and collaborate with one another from afar, we have not lost the necessity of what we call the “from-with-in” construct of face to face meetings: learning from, problem-solving with, and participating in engaging discussions. In fact, demand for in-person engagements is at an all-time high (we’ll cite our sources on this when we discuss this trend in more detail later).

Natural Light

It matters. We crave it in the workplace. According to Strong Project, natural light results in less eyestrain, fewer headaches, a reduction in sick time, and an overall feeling of alertness at the end of the workday. Benefits aren’t just physical either. Lighting represents the largest source of electricity consumption in US offices, the savings by the increase in natural light can be significant. So can the environmental benefits (see Sustainability above!).

Brand Colors

Brand colors in the Cristo Rey Network office we designed

Don’t be afraid to use them, but make sure they’re still the right ones for your organization. Color is one of the easiest ways to brand your space and collateral, but too much can be overkill. Striking the right balance is key. That’s all we have to say about that, for now…

With those trends in mind, we would love to help you refresh your brand or plan an event that gets people engaged in new and meaningful ways.

9 Trends for 2020: What We’re Focusing On