Good thing designers are curious types, hyper-aware of the visual world around them. The designers I’ve met tend to mine their surroundings and experiences for creative fodder that feeds, consciously or subconsciously, into their work. Keeping an eye on trends—fashion, interior décor, color, type—is one of the ways creative pros can stay abreast of what’s fresh (or what’ll be fresh six months from now). So, how can you spot trends? Look at what teenage boys and girls are into, especially the cool kids on the fringes—they’re quick to adopt the next big thing. Keep an eye out for movies that are due to come out later in the year; as Pantone’s Leatrice Eisman has noted, the first “Shrek” movie made lime green very in vogue. And watch the trendwatchers. A couple of sites we like (subscribe to their email newsletters): Robyn Waters (http://www.rwtrend.com) was a VP of trend at Target before striking out on her own; she also presented at the HOW Conference (http://www.howconference.com) a few years ago. Trendwatching.com (http://www.trendwatching.com) has a finger on the consumer pulse. And Pantone (http://www.pantone.com) is THE source for scoop on next season’s hot colors. (Image via Pantone)
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