The 11 themes of the Zeitgeist for 2011

1 networked or not?

2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

4 end of 9 to 5

The Zeitgeist: 2011 5 brands in the blender

6 sensory indulgence

7 immersive entertainment

8 terror tomorrow

9 social news curation

Created by:
10 wrath of crowds

11 everyone naked

The Zeitgeist: 2011 1 networked or not?

2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

1
4 end of 9 to 5

networked or not? 5 brands in the blender



We are all facing a fundamental choice 8 terror tomorrow

that will shape our lives. Many dive
10 wrath of crowds
headlong into a world of always-on
11 everyone naked

connection, open social networks, and
oversharing. A few cry halt and choose to
live only in the old world of tight-knit
personal communication. The result is an
increasing rift across society.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

2
4 end of 9 to 5

debt anxiety 5 brands in the blender



With the global economy seemingly 8 terror tomorrow

continually teetering on the verge of an
10 wrath of crowds
abyss, few feel assured about the next few
11 everyone naked

months, let alone beyond. Determined
debt avoidance will push discount hunting
and postponement of desire. Governments
ﬁnd that debt is the unavoidable elephant
that tramples on their best-laid plans.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

3
4 end of 9 to 5

mobile universe 5 brands in the blender



We experience the explosive inﬂection 8 terror tomorrow

point of almost everything we know
10 wrath of crowds
shifting to mobile. The inﬁnite resources
11 everyone naked

of the web are used mainly on mobile
devices, location-based services give us
context where’er we go, and printed
newspapers and magazines are
supplanted by the iPad. Our entire world
will be wherever we are.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

4
4 end of 9 to 5

end of 9 to 5 5 brands in the blender



Work has already moved far beyond the 8 terror tomorrow

office. Organizations respond by offering
10 wrath of crowds
flexibility to avoid traffic, pick up the kids,
11 everyone naked

and manage personal affairs at work. The
dramatic rise of global work means many
have phone calls at odd hours or find their
primary clients or suppliers in far-flung
places. Work now transcends time.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

5
4 end of 9 to 5

brands in the blender 5 brands in the blender



The time it takes for a powerful new brand 8 terror tomorrow

to grow is the same it takes for an old
10 wrath of crowds
brand to be trashed: next to no time. As
11 everyone naked

reputation shifts from corporations to
individuals, trying to keep control has the
opposite effect. Chopping and remixing
brand identity is better done by choice
than by others.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

6
4 end of 9 to 5

sensory indulgence 5 brands in the blender



With many of our basic desires assuaged, 8 terror tomorrow

we are free to indulge our senses,
10 wrath of crowds
exploring how richly we can taste, feel,
11 everyone naked

hear, and see. Fine dining explodes as an
affordable luxury, while we all become
oenophiles. Sensory luxury at home as
well as on excursions is a basic
expectation.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

7
4 end of 9 to 5

immersive entertainment 5 brands in the blender



Aldous Huxley’s vision of the ‘feelies’ is 8 terror tomorrow

here, as we use surround sound, big
10 wrath of crowds
screens, 3D, Kinect motion sensors, video
11 everyone naked

glasses, augmented reality, haptic suits,
and more to give us a complete experience
of our entertainment. Any and all
technology that immerses us in other
worlds is taken up with alacrity.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

8
4 end of 9 to 5

terror tomorrow 5 brands in the blender



With terror yesterday and terror 8 terror tomorrow

tomorrow, the interregnum is more
10 wrath of crowds
tedious than terrifying. Calls rise for
11 everyone naked

personal freedom and inviolate junk. That
is, until tomorrow becomes today, bringing
additional control and surveillance to
everyday life, with more pushback than
last time.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

9
4 end of 9 to 5

social news curation 5 brands in the blender



Who goes to the newspaper front page or 8 terror tomorrow

6pm news for their news fix? As more of
10 wrath of crowds
us share what we like and who our friends
11 everyone naked

are, individually curated news is at each of
our fingertips. Web, tablets, and mobiles
will offer us the all the news that fits who
we are.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

10
4 end of 9 to 5

wrath of crowds 5 brands in the blender



BP and Nestlé have experienced how 8 terror tomorrow

global mobs can egg each other on and
10 wrath of crowds
amplify their voices to ravage reputations.
11 everyone naked

Across nations, politics is becoming more
volatile, with missteps and mismatched
moods crystallizing concerted opposition.
The wrath of many will be expressed more
powerfully than ever before.


2 debt anxiety

3 mobile universe

11
4 end of 9 to 5

everyone naked 5 brands in the blender



WikiLeaks moving into the crosshairs 8 terror tomorrow

marks the point when society becomes
10 wrath of crowds
transparent. As individuals we are already
11 everyone naked

scrutinized by marketers who know us
better than we do. Corporations succeed
governments in their fear of inner
workings being unmasked. Many rail and
ﬂail but there is no going back.

Created by:

Ross Dawson is globally recognized Future Exploration Network helps
as a leading futurist, entrepreneur, leading companies and government
keynote speaker, and bestselling agencies to engage with the future,
author. He is founding Chairman of build effective strategies, innovate, and
Advanced Human Technologies, achieve outcomes.
Future Exploration Network, The
Insight Exchange, and Repyoot. Services include:

• Scenario Planning
Keynote Speaker. Dawson delivers
inspirational keynotes around the • Frameworks for Long-term Strategy
world on the future of business.
• Strategies for Innovation
Strategy Advisor. Dawson helps
• Thought Leadership Content
senior executive teams to prepare
for the future. • Executive Briefings and Workshops

rossdawson.com futureexploration.net
enquiries@rossdawson.com fen@futureexploration.net
USA: (415) 439 4890 USA: (415) 315 9566
Australia: +61-2 9994 8066 Australia: +61-2 9994 8011

The 11 themes of the Zeitgeist for 2011

Related slideshows

More Related Content

The 11 themes of the Zeitgeist for 2011