2022 at The Future Laboratory

Our New London HQ

Even before Covid struck, our working practices had begun to alter and we had started the search for something more compatible with our changing needs. As with so many things, the pandemic accelerated our need for a new space that was more aligned to our requirements in the Transformative Twenties – that and the fact that our office in grade II-listed Georgian townhouse in historic Spitalfields had been sold.

Thankfully, we didn’t need to look long or far, and at the start of 2022, The Future Laboratory moved to a purpose-built space in the heart of one of London’s most vibrant cultural quarters – Haggerston.

Our new home is a special one. Located on the banks of the Regent’s Canal, the fully accessible, zero waste construction has prompted our team to consider our vision for the next stage of growth and development for our business itself.

As part of a series of initiatives to proactively tackle its carbon footprint and environmental impact, The Future Laboratory has launched a sustainability policy comprising tactical decisions on its future that will have direct environmental benefits; the move to our new office was carefully chosen for its sustainability rating and carbon-neutral status, and reducing our office space to less than one third of its previous size will also contribute to a marked reduction in our ongoing carbon footprint.
DISCOVER OUR NEW HOME 

Trend Tracker : Six New Macrotrends

The Future Laboratory has been identifying and tracking macrotrends for two decades. As The Transformative Twenties begin, we have mapped out how all these trends have evolved.

This year, we've added eight new macrotrends to the interactive microsite, including:

: Neo-collectivism
: Hyperphysical Stores
: Accredited Beauty
: Guilded Luxury
: The Paralysis Paradox
: Adaptive Appetites

Use our bespoke Trend Tracker to learn how Experiences, Brands and Consumer behaviours have changed – and what this means for the future.
DISCOVER TREND TRACKER 

The Return of Trend Briefing

After a three-year hiatus, our Trend Briefing event returned to London at the Royal Academy of Arts, where we explored how, post-Covid, markets are in flux, and the realities of Brexit, COP26 and ongoing global unease are now affecting consumer behaviour.

Diversity & Inclusion at The Lab

The main difference between our 2022 & 2021 Diversity & Inclusion approach is that our structure is circular. Our mission has always been to create an environment where people feel they can be their authentic selves. However, as stated by our training provider The Other Box, diversity & inclusion is forever work, therefore the end goal has been removed and replaced with a circular continuous learning format. The ultimate goal we have is liberation, not just of our employees but the clients we deal with as well. We define liberation as freedom from oppressive systems, these include the transphobic, racist, ageist, ableist, Islamophobic we have all wrongfully been taught to accept as just.

We have four main pillars that make up our circular D&I strategy, the sections being covered are: Framework by Paige Owusu, Relearning by Cliff Bunting, Reformation by Alena Joyette & Healing by Fiona Anderson. The team is made up of staff members from different positions & backgrounds to provide a rounded view of the employee experience. Together we strive to move beyond equality into the realms of equity, where marginalised groups who have been disenfranchised are given a true level playing field to achieve success in the workplace.

You can catch up on our full Liberation strategy here and our D&I at The Lab blog series below to find out more.
EXPLORE OUR D&I AT THE LAB SERIES 

Together we are stronger

In November, we announced that we are joining forces with Together Group and its family of founder-led luxury lifestyle agencies.

As foresight specialists, at The Future Laboratory we pride ourselves on knowing what’s new, next and game-changing. And for the past year, the game as we know it – politically, culturally, corporately – has changed radically and irrevocably. Old hierarchical brand structures have fallen away, while among next-generation brands and consumers themselves there is a greater push towards togetherness and collectivism, as we identified in our recent Neo-collectivism trend.

This isn’t just about collaborating or partnering with others to improve your position in the game (whatever that game may be). It is also about using the talents, skills and insights of the partners you work with to strategically improve your collective firepower when it comes to dealing with those BIG issue challenges that the year ahead will undoubtedly place before us.

Against the backdrop of these shifts, and in the great tradition of The Future Laboratory daring to know and daring to do differently, we have become part of a select group of creatives that really are making a difference to how our collective tomorrow looks, and how we can help our clients to co-create that tomorrow in ways that benefit them – and, crucially, the collective aspirations of their customers.

We are very much looking forward to using Together Group’s collective energy, creativity and independence from the mass ubiquity of the old-world agency model to make what is set to be a difficult coming 12 months for our many clients navigable, optimistic, and of course, with the right thinking, actionable and profitable.
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