Trend Q&A: A/W 23/24 product design trends and more

The impact of the metaverse on mental health, Web3 and the future of entertainment and the A/W trends anticipated for next year. That and more on today’s episode.

Want to know what’s next? Listen to the show where our experts from around the globe unpack your biggest challenges. This week, WGSN’s President and CEO Carla Buzasi takes us to London and New York. Hear from the friendly faces of our Insight and Content teams.

Watch the full episode below or read on for highlights of this episode:

Q: What implications does a maturing metaverse have on mental health?
“41% of global consumers are concerned about the dangers the metaverse poses to psychological health. This is because in the metaverse, consumers will be able to explore their identities by avatars. However, mass avatar adoption could cause them to disconnect from their physical lives and lead to phantom timeline syndrome, which is a phenomenon where the lines between physical and virtual are blurred.”
– Melanie Larsen, Strategist, WGSN Insight
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Q: How will Web3 shift the future of entertainment?
“Web3 promises to re-establish power dynamics between users and platforms, and this could alter entertainment as we know it. Throughout 2022, we’ve been closely tracking the evolution of the fan economy. Creators and celebrities are launching NFT collections and social tokens, encouraging fans to invest in them to reap big rewards.”
– Cassandra Napoli, Senior Strategist, WGSN Insight
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Q: What aesthetic trends are you predicting for A/W 23/24?
“WGSN called out three aesthetic product forecasts for A/W 23/24: NatureVerse, Creative Reset and Care Culture. NatureVerse explores the beautiful and surprising symbiosis between the technological and the organic. Creative Reset describes minimalist and efficient designs that will be coupled with a sense of fun, and fun will be coupled with serious intent as designers and brands align their creativity with a greater sense of purpose. Finally, Care Culture sees more inclusive design and design that heals. So think about the healing properties of nature combined with chromotherapy, cabincore and handcrafted elements.”
– Bethan Ryder, Executive Editorial Director, WGSN
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