Our Lens of the Future - 2020

2020 was all about setting new goals, new bucket lists, and new adventures…. But the world flipped upside down overnight, and we’re all required to stay home to help our first responders and essential workers flatten the curve. If you’re reading this, this is a reminder that you’re doing the best you can to stay healthy and safe, even if it feels like you’re not getting anything accomplished during this time, you’re making an exponential difference to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

But just because the virus has put a halt on many of our lives, doesn’t mean we need to stop dreaming about the future. We dream about all of the things we can’t wait to do when we’re back to seeing each other and able to roam freely outside. Dreaming about the future helps us escape from our current sequester and propels us into an idyllic world filled with adventures we’ve taken for granted. It awakens our creativity from within that laid dormant from attending to our past distractions. We dream of change from our current reality. 

Over the past couple of weeks since the start of social distancing, we’ve collected trends from all corners of the internet that we see in the foreseeable future due to the effects of this global pandemic. 

It’s All About The Escape

Feeling trapped within our own walls, it’s easy to feel stir-crazy and anxious during this time. All we want to do is step out into the world and go explore, and some of us are blessed with those opportunities by taking walks within our given parameters, but sometimes it’s just not enough to fill our creativity. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, we all need a break from being on lockdown at home every day. We want to feel and we want to play outside of our own spaces we’re so comfortable with. Introducing vibrant colors, maximalist designs, exotic prints and patterns, novel accessories, and statement pieces will liven up your space and bring back the wonder and excitement closer to home. 

This trend also allows us to tap into our curiosity and creativity and see beyond the mundane every day. Our increased digital immersion serves as a tool to experience escape in new ways, such as trying a unique cuisine, searching for tutorials to redecorate spaces at home, or learning skills from the diverse resources provided online. Our personal spaces will take new meaning throughout the seasons, and although we cannot physically escape, it will change the way we think about our homes and how we find a sense of escape within our four walls. 

To Make Up For Lost Touch

Whether or not your love language is touch, we’re all craving physical human interaction that boosts oxytocin and dopamine in our brains, and staying the recommended six feet distance away doesn’t help. Findings published in the journal ‘Developmental Review' suggest that hugging can boost ‘happy hormones' in the brain, lower blood pressure, and lessen feelings of stress. The positive effects of a hug can be immediate – within seconds of being touched in an affectionate way, the average person will begin to feel less stressed. It’s no wonder that we just want to feel things! 

To make up for lost touch, tactile objects and experiences will be important as people look for cozy, buttery, soothing textures for comfort. From home goods to fashion and beauty, cozy, comforting materials, or soothing, calming ingredients will be important to consider when designing new products or experiences. 

Luxurious Cocooning vs Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone

Working from home, we all relate to the daily routine of preparing for online meetings with business on top, pajamas on the bottom. The effort that is put toward creating daily outfits are stripped away, and for now, effectively put us in the comfiest clothes we own in our closet.

But comfy clothes don’t always mean our old, stretched-out t-shirt and hole-y joggers sagging at the knees. Feeling good at home is important, especially when we are spending extended amounts of time at home. People will invest in high-quality loungewear featuring soft, luxurious fabrics, or restorative materials that make it easy to elevate the ‘self-care’ routine. Bright colors and happy patterns will be an addition to the luxurious daily loungewear that works both indoors and outdoors. 

There will be an increase in casual wear as people will still search for comfort when they return to commute, but we also see people taking the opposite route in showing off flamboyant colors, extravagant prints, and eye-catching pieces that they’ve been holding off for months.  People will come out of their own comfort zones to express liberation and discover newness. This is the time to explore trial-and-error, to feel wild and free, and offer styles that have the potential to be someone’s new normal. 

Human Connection and The Appreciation of What’s Really Important

Now, more than ever, we are seeing communities unite and care for each other, allowing space to reevaluate what is really important: our relationships, our time, our values, and our purpose. Though physically apart, we’ve intentionally connected with friends and family digitally and felt a sense of belonging that we’ve been deeply craving. The uncertainty of the future grounds us back to our roots and truly find answers from within and from each other to keep pushing forward for positive change. Because of the time that we are living, we are making new connections, with other creatives, with other parents at home with their children, with other like-minded individuals that we are learning from and creating new digital friendships. 

The sharing economy will diversify as society familiarizes itself with trusting each other and finding mutual interest to share material goods and services. This will change the way that we shop, and ultimately change the economic landscape for a vast amount of businesses. Digital connections between artists, musicians, athletes and craft makers will create interesting future collaborative opportunities that people will want to be a part of and promote. It will be important for businesses and brands to make intentional, honest connections with their customers to maintain strong relationships and long-term support. The sudden shifts in all of our lives will make the desire to stay connected more apparent even in the future, as we are doing our best in the current time to physically stay apart. 

Sources: WWD, FashionSnoops, ScientificAmerican, SightUnseen, I-D Vice