For the last few years, we have been experiencing a period in which trends themselves have become a trend. In this context, new interpretations of the art movements that date back many years before, or the structures that other companies have prepared for themselves become popular -with the excuse of making things easier!-; brands and products have become subject to disidentification; people try to use terms -Blockchain, Chatbot, Artificial Intelligence- at least once in a sentence without understanding their technologies; or some terms are used in graphic design interpretations -Bold Typography, Gradient and Vibrant Colors, Vintage Illustration etc.- as they are only included in the trend writings, although they do not fit their character.

The spirit of our time leads people to be faster (or just to appear) while doing more in their lives. All brands want to come across everywhere and try to say more. Our world begins to be filled with unreal burdens, and people are trying to escape from these burdens.

Man, by nature, instinctively tries to protect himself when he is in danger. Like our body shuts itself out in the case of the slightest unhappiness or sickness, people block the ads to get rid of the burdens on them and block people who they don’t want to see. Therefore, someone develops this product which dims all the LCD screens in the surrounding! (IRL Glasses)

The number of people avoiding advertising all over the world is more than the number of people who terminate their subscription to all other services. As Nils Leonard says: “People are paying to avoid the things we devote to our lives.”

People don’t want the brand or products to place more burden on themselves, and they’re closing them down somehow.

Technology will continue at full speed -it’s nice till it spell the death of us:) — and trends will continue to be updated and changed. We can’t stop this. Because, human nature is interested in the new. This interest, as always, will continue its life with an increasing and decreasing curve graph. Now that people tend to get rid of the burdens in their minds, what we should do is to think in this direction. The growing interest of people in meditation and yoga, their pursuit of experiences that people feel more special, their blocking advertisements they don’t want, their desire to have simpler lives, and the fact that “The Headspace Guide to Meditation & Mindfulness” is one of Bill Gates’s favorite books in 2018, dictate to us: What we have to do is creating more plain, result-oriented, and easily accessible experiences, which our target group feel special at every point we come into contact with them.

Deciding where we want to be in the future, getting to know ourselves (product, brand, business etc.) better, forming our character, knowing what to tell to whom and how, thinking about how to appear to whom and where, being open to all kinds of innovations, but to understand and interpret these innovations and to advance in accordance with our own character creates a more reliable environment for us. We should also keep in mind that this is similarly true for our brand or product as well.

I wanted to write down some perspectives that would be good to keep in mind when performing compatible and right (although not trend) tasks, instead of titles such as “Bright colors are fashionable this year!”, or “The incredible rise of the mobile!”, or “10 Ways of retaining your customer’s loyalty’” or “Serif fonts are back!” (Explore why Serif fonts are easier to read and don’t be afraid to use them for your purpose, even if it’s not trend.) which you’re used to seeing under this title.

People try to feel more special. They want to take any shoes that everyone uses, and to customize it for themselves. This approach continues everywhere, from the clothes or items they use to their phones or the services they want to receive, and from the applications to the websites. It is an approach that we should keep in our minds, to keep track of the recent travels of the people and to facilitate their work accordingly, to know what might be needed and to provide them with simplicity, to make them feel special. Don’t forget! People don’t want to be followed, they just want to feel special.

We’ve been living so fast, there are some things we’ve forgotten during this mess. Yes, our physical and mental health! Many factors such as the unnatural burdens of life, intensive urban life, traffic and economy prevent us from thinking about ourselves. However, by its nature, man, by his own instinct of self-preservation, faces the things plainer, less tiring and make him happier.

Regardless of our product or brand, we need to reduce our cognitive load on people. Thus, people won’t get tired with our products, they can feel safe and happy.

You can do that even if you are a bank. Why not?

We’ll see brands and products that better understand that how invaluable is the experience for people. Structures will reevaluate their processes from start to finish.

Structures will re-evaluate their processes thoroughly. You ordered a product online which you wanted very much. How secure was the process of shipping and was it as you desired? Or how did the product make you feel? Or how would you feel if your product cut your hand while unpacking? Would it wipe out the whole experience until that moment? All these will make us consider how important each stage of the experience is.

Do not forget! Users are no longer as helpless as they used to be, there are many alternative ways and defense systems.

Yes, it’s cliché, but it’s still the most challenging. To be simple, to simplify and apply without complicating what you can do. This will be a period in which we reevaluate our processes and get rid of our overloads. Our users are much smarter than we think and want to draw their own simple ways. Let’s help them!

Lucky us! People, brands or products will do more favors, or they’ll look like they do. The turbulent world economy can lead us to do something without taking money. People will better understand that the spiritual satisfaction makes them feel better instead of the temporary material satisfaction. Perhaps the relevant practices will be at the top of the agenda. The same situation will also improve the company’s perspective on their employee. I hope!

Our brand or products must be able to adapt to all weather conditions. The importance of this is more evident in these periods when we live faster. Because users’ positions, ideas and needs can change very quickly, and you need to be able to adapt to them.

Going beyond the ordinary, becoming different or thinking differently to reach innovations, experiencing or whatever we call it… They all are inherent approaches and will inevitably reflect to digital media. Therefore, we can begin to see different layouts and asymmetric approaches as well as the usual ones.

Concepts of local or universal are redefined over time. What is called intercity centuries ago, can be called a neighborhood in our current understanding of the city. The cosmopolitan structures of cities allow different users from all directions to come into contact with your product. It’s getting harder and harder to guess when and where this happens. That’s why it’s time to think more universal. In fact, it’s time to add our “Nature-Centered Design” approach to our universal thinking methods.

The uncertainty of the global economy, the fact that habitable areas become uninhabitable and the traffic problem that stole from our lives make us forget what we share! This will lead you to share more for the world. Sharing also includes sharing our business as well as the necessary things for a more sustainable world. Now there is not much area in the business world that we call professional secrets. Everyone will share their business manner, equipment, and office. We will be sharing our experiences more.

Recognition and sticking in people’s minds was always the purpose of brands or products. The brands have so far been trying to reach their goals with the most known method, by showing them. Note that for a long time, we’ve heard the sound signatures at the end of the commercials (BMW, Renault, Coca Cola). But now brands need to focus more on our senses. Because, users can shut down their senses or ignore many things. For example, the fragrance your customers smell when they come to your store, the ambient temperature that they feel during their journey, and their feeling when they touch your products will make your brand unforgettable. Therefore, we must be ready for the experiences where all our senses are targeted.

In the world of design where we always talk about the future, it may be useful to take a pause and remember the past. At least, knowing the past resources of the concepts that are presented to us as a trend at the moment and understanding them, will support us to build our future on stronger foundations.

I think the weight and exhausting effect of the cognitive burden in the minds of people will help us in understanding the value of gaps. Thus, it will begin to receive the required and rightful respect on the customer side.