by Lori Cunningham
I’m excited to attend Ford’s annual Trend Conference at their headquarters in Detroit, MI this week. This visit is my second, the first conference I attended was last year, surmised in this post, Forward with Ford: 3 Days in Detroit. Ford brought in experts from various fields to speak about the research behind the decisions Ford made in their vehicles. I found the safety sessions particularly interesting and wrote about them:
5 Tips When Talking to Your Teens About Car Safety
Protecting Children and the Elderly in a Car Crash
This year, the conference will focus around four major trends (as per the Go Further With Ford invitation):
1. Eco-psychology
People are becoming increasingly conscious of the impact of their everyday consumption on the environment. Owning or using fewer goods/resources or divvying up consumption with others is seen as helping the planet. In this session, Eco-cycology will explore the psychology (and solutions) behind the next ‘green’ movement and how consumer preferences and choices will shape what it really means to be eco-friendly.
2. Urbanization
We are part of the fastest urban boom in history. Consumers are being drawn to new opportunities in urban centers and are demanding innovation tailored to their unique circumstances more than ever. With this urban boom, there’s never been a more pressing need to rethink the rise of urban centers and communities. From health issues and quality of living, to the need for transportation, discuss and experience how the rapid growth of mega cities is driving the future of mobility, technology and consumer consumption.
3. Streamline & Simplify
Technology – If there’s one category in which consumers are willing to commit, it’s tech. Worldwide, high-tech devices and services are fast becoming as integral to people as food and clothing. The latest technology is much more than just a luxury, from the advancements in voice recognition, DIY health solutions and affordable touchscreens. But when does all of this tech, become too much? This session will explore the rapid growth and expectations of consumer technologies, as developers and brands battle information overload and consumer sentiment to actually ‘de-tech’ their lifestyles.
4. Age of Accessible Design
Consumers today are what some could call “design aficionados”. From Fashion and electronics, to housewares and automobiles, consumers have come to expect products that not only deliver the functionality and quality but also the style, personalization and in most cases, a designer label without the “designer” price tag. The consumer’s eye for design and aesthetics has transformed product expectations and in this session you will hear from designers, product developers and architects to discuss the age of democratization of design, exploring the new trends and philosophies that will shape consumer goods in the future.
Ford has brought in over 14 speakers from various professions and field to discuss these trends at the conference. Bill Ford will also be one of the keynotes. I heard him speak in Orlando earlier this year during the Car of Tomorrow event I attended. Bill Ford has vision and an entrepreneurial spirit. During the conference, I will focus on the Urbanization and Streamline & Simplify sessions and report back to you what I learn. Follow me @wellconnectdmom on twitter to get the latest updates from Ford.
*Ford paid my expenses for the flights and lodging. All opinions are my own.
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