Trendspotting in Theory and Practice

Turbulent times increase the importance of innovation and transformation in all sectors. The understanding about future trends and how to identify them is an important skill.

About the course

Trend spotting is important in innovation processes to understand how needs and contexts may change from now and into the future. In this course, you will gain an understanding of how trend spotting and contextual analyses are relevant parts of the innovation process. You learn methods and tools that you can use in your professional role and other roles you have in life. As a professional worker, you can use the course's exercises in your own development work in parallel with your studies.

The goal is to create knowledge about the field itself, and to provide the conditions for self-reflection and a future-oriented approach to innovation and change. This is valuable both for individuals and on an organizational level.

The course includes pre-recorded videos, texts and articles for self-study and the study pace is flexible. There are no scheduled meetings in the course.

You will learn

• basic concepts, methods and models in trend spotting and contextual analysis
• to plan and carry out systematic scanning- and analysis work, as well as consider ethical aspects in the work,
• the function of trend scanning in innovation and development processes,
• to evaluate the quality of sources and assess their relevance regarding reliability in decision-making,
• to reflect on and discuss the importance of trends and tendencies for innovation and development.