Look Ahead 2023 Trend Overview

2023 will be the year of post-consumerism. This doesn’t signal the death of consumerism, but it does mean that people will be seeking new ways of living and communing, working and creating, and co-operating and communicating – with brands, each other, and the wider world. This moves beyond the stale values of consumer culture.

The volatility of the last few years, from Covid-19 and the climate crisis to devastating inflationary pressures, has rung the death knell for consumption as we previously knew it, creating an atmosphere where consumers will be hungry for radical change.

Spurred on by the energy crisis, governments, tech companies and service providers will collaborate to fast-track eco-minded technologies that allow consumers to benefit from green(er) energy. While solar panel subsidies and tax cuts for electric vehicle (EV) owners have dominated strategies so far, more sophisticated schemes are brewing – like affordable housing that doubles as a virtual power plant.

A post-pandemic desire for a slower, sustainable pace – among both consumers and designers – will drive a shift in values, replacing an obsession with productivity and novelty with a yearning for connection and longevity. Additionally, sustainable habits and the cost-of-living crisis will compel people worldwide to dramatically slash their consumption. Eco-minded actions will no longer be a lifestyle choice, but an economic imperative.

The geographical relevance of resilience-enhancing products will expand. For example, toilets with water-free flushing systems – initially developed for remote communities – are already proving appropriate for drought-stricken areas anywhere. And amid the cost-of-living crisis, self-powered cars and electronics will keep gaining popularity.

The growing rifts between populations will be impossible to ignore in 2023. People will increasingly feel isolated – fuelling the loneliness pandemic – as gaps between political parties, values, classes, generations and regions become more pronounced. Cornered into identity siloes, people will reach out for solutions to overcome differences.

Making responsible raw material choices has never been more important, given the impact of climate collapse and the necessity of rethinking what fabrics we produce, and where and how they’re made. Biodesign, biomimicry and synthetic biology will be key to innovative new product developments.

In response to the volatility of the modern world, we’re seeing increased interest in the revival of ancient rituals, Indigenous craft and design techniques, and the celebration of the identity and artistry of diasporas across various cultures.

In 2023, the best brand spaces will recalibrate to represent and accommodate myriad mental and physical abilities, levelling the playing field. This means representation – from the ads we’ll be served (see Irish retailer Dunnes Stores’ fearless 2022 back-to-school ad campaign including children with Down syndrome), to the virtual worlds where we’ll self-represent. And while digital life is often deemed escapist by default, for many, it will also be a place to take pride in lived experiences.

Where will the metaverse go next? For 2023, expect concepts bringing these virtual, immersive, always-on worlds closer to everyday life – a reminder of how the metaverse will both transcend gaming and is also (pleasantly) pervasive.

In a world rife with serious challenges, some playful escapism is needed for essential respite. Across industries, we’re seeing this trend being met with enthusiasm and vigour, as wildly creative design, fluid fantasy, and experimentation capture the imagination. Importantly, this visual extravagance is being delivered with innate pragmatism and responsibility.