Future Forecast 2022

The past year has ushered in The Great Acceleration, with the pandemic not only changing the world, but fast-tracking the ways in which we engage with it and the technologies we use to do so.

Now, however, as we look towards another 365 days in which to innovate, regenerate and inspire, businesses must conscientiously contain – and tame – the huge transformations shaping how we work, rest, play and shop.

Covid-19, alongside global meetings such as the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), will be remembered as pivotal moments, with the latter reminding us that we have little time left to spare unless we make fundamental and irreversible changes to our lifestyles in 2022.

Positively, across societies, people are tentatively re-engaging with truth and facts –goodbye Mr Trump and hello to science, technology, and new frontiers in innovation. This follows falling global trust in governments and media, giving businesses, brands and their leadership capacity to become highly trusted, transparent entities. At present, 61% of people globally trust businesses, viewing them as both more ethical and competent than governments, NGOs and the media (source: Edelman Trust Barometer 2021).

This optimism and re-embracement of truth, accountability and science bodes well for 2022, the year our analysts and researchers are referring to as The Great Re-engagement – a time when we are re-connecting more consciously, purposefully and rationally
with the world, people, organisations and experiences that surround us.

It is in this spirit that we present the Future Forecast 2022. In it you will discover 50 cross-sector trends and innovations, 10 industry disruptors, and the new directions to monitor for tomorrow.