Category Archives: TREND SPOTTING / COOLHUNTING

Mexican Pointy Boots and Modern Pelts

By Simone | Published: April 16, 2011

While I’ve fallen down the gamification rabbit hole and have spent the past month and a half studying game mechanics and funware instead of blogging, I still have an eye out for fun new trends and the like. One of my favorites is the Mexican pointy boots trend.  About two years ago now, a bunch [...]

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Today's & Tomorrow's Trend Spotting Tools Belong to the Masses

By Simone | Published: March 12, 2011

I wrote a couple weeks back about a shift in the trend spotting industry.  In so many words, I think we are shifting away from referring to designated experts when it comes to trends and moving toward a democratized world of trend spotting and analysis. I pointed out that much of this is made possible [...]

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The New Era of Trend Spotting

By Simone | Published: January 27, 2011

I have had trouble writing about the trend spotting industry lately because while researching it over the past year, I learned that “coolhunters” have generally morphed in to “trend spotters” which have evolved into trend analysis agencies, which are now generally becoming full-service consultancies that simply incorporate trend spotting into their overall offering, be it [...]

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La Carmina & the Pirates

By Simone | Published: January 3, 2011

Three months ago, blogger/author/journalist/TV host La Carmina and Japanese-English translator Naomi Rubin launched a new business: La Carmina and the Pirates, which is configured not only to provide cool hunting and trend spotting services, but also TV and film fixing, on-camera hosting, social media assistance, translating, and travel-guiding.  Right as the company launched, La Carmina and Naomi graciously [...]

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The Complexity of Influencers – A New Documentary

By Simone | Published: October 9, 2010

This fall, a new documentary on tastemakers is coming out.  Influencers, a short film directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, focuses on the social and cultural power of prominent New York City-based creatives working in advertising, design, fashion, and the like. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the film, but want to point out [...]

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The Trouble with Naming Trends

By Simone | Published: September 30, 2010

Today, Slate served up some new criticism on a New York Times article claiming a “new” trend of fashionable women riding around New York City on retro bikes.  Jack Shafer points out that not only does the so-called trend lack numerical validity, it strongly resembles a trend described in a 2007 New York Observer piece. [...]

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Coolhunting Job Trends – Groupon Looking for Coolhunters

By Simone | Published: September 26, 2010

Four days ago, Groupon shared a job posting for a part time “Cool Hunter:” If you are dynamic, social and love uncovering your city’s hidden treasures then you will be perfect for Groupon. We are looking for people who are on the cutting edge of trends, and love spreading the word about cool new places [...]

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Trend Photography Guide Part XI: Conclusion

By Simone | Published: September 25, 2010

Whether you are a professional trend spotter or an amateur innovation enthusiast, you have much to gain from photographing exciting patterns, developments, and events as they unfold before you. It does not matter if you are interested in food, fashion, people, products, or places- there is always something to shoot and always something new and interesting to discover.

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Trend Photography Guide Part X: Limitations

By Simone | Published: September 18, 2010

While trend photography can yield a litany of information, it should be remembered that it is only a small part of the overall trend spotting and forecasting process. Used alone, trend photography can provide interesting insights, but they will be shallow at best.

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Trend Photography Guide Part IX: General Inspiration

By Simone | Published: September 10, 2010

Trends and inspiration often go hand in hand, hence a good proportion of many trend forecasting agencies’ work involves sharing inspiring information. New York-based PSFK serves as an excellent example, as it regularly posts pieces on innovative and inspiring people, places, and things. Inspirational photography can accompany product design proposals, augment color predictions, and flesh out trend boards.

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