3 Cultural Trends Driving Innovation
Trend (n): a general direction in which something is developing or changing
At the turn of the 21st century and beyond, we have been witnessing a rise in technologies that have created directional change across all industries, altering the way we live and communicate. This causal effect demonstrates how technology has shifted culture, and in the same breathe how culture has shifted technology. Some trends come and go, but others have seeped into technology causing waves that have rippled across innovation. As the Internet continues to change, we’ll watch these three particular trends shape our future:
Increase in the freelance economy
America built it’s workforce on an Industrial model: the 40-hour work week and the 9 to 5 life. Through increased connectivity, the development of new tools and access to work independent of your location, a move from this Industrial model to a more freelance economy has occurred.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2015, 15.5 million people in the U.S. were self-employed, an increase of about 1 million since May 2014. By 2020, we’ll see 40% (about 60 million) of the American workforce move to independent work. As these numbers increase, we’ll continue to see co-working spaces pop-up (WeWork will be opening new locations in DUMBO Heights, Santa Montica, London and more) making traditional offices a thing of the past.
Read: WeWork’s utopian vision of your future life — in the office
CloudPeeps recently launched Freelance Fridays, a community connecting freelancers, entrepreneurs and creatives under one roof (a co-working space) every final Friday of the month.
With more remote opportunities on the rise, we’ll continue to see employees, creatives and the like saying no to the 9 to 5 “survival” way of life, and adapt a more agile lifestyle.
Growth of immersive experiences
With Millennials (no way I could write this post without mentioning my daring generation) being such an important driving force towards innovation, we’re seeing digital brands and companies adapt to what millennials like best. One of the things we appreciate most is diving into an experience, feeling engaged rather than marketed to. 78% of millennials prefer a desirable experience rather than a desirable item. Sell me a lifetime (or life-changing) experience rather than some throw-away product and I’m sold.
Brands like Travel Noire have leveraged technology to tap into this culture of desirable experiences. (Seriously, have you seen their Instagram page?!) With this they’ve created an innovative company giving their community exactly what they want — access into the life of unconventional traveling.
Collaborative peaks
Between the rise of the freelance economy and technology adapting a cultural shift in immersive experiences, we’ll see collaboration more than ever. Peaks in collaboration have given way to the further development of the sharing economy. Companies like Uber and Airbnb, are allowing individuals to share everyday uses (cars, rental properties, etc.) to create alternative revenue streams.
Read: Airbnb and the unstoppable rise of the sharing economy
As Joe Kraus, general partner at Google Ventures, says, “the sharing economy is a real trend. I don’t think this is some small blip. People really are looking at this for economic, environmental and lifestyle reasons. By making this access as convenient as ownership, companies are seeing a major shift.”
What trends do you believe are driving innovation? If you liked this post, tap the green “heart” to recommend it and to keep this conversation going.
