* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM FIRST APPEARED IN ‘THE DAILY MIRROR’ *

Trends expert and consumer futurist William Higham said: “Britain today is being rocked by change. Technologies are driving a revolution in the way we live, shop, eat and work that could be as big as that created by the printing press in the 16th […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘THE DAILY TELEGRAPH’ *

William Higham said: “The over-50s are a vital part of any publisher’s audience. They are typically heavy book readers, and up until now they were staunchly traditional in their attitudes to reading. But these new figures show that they are beginning to embrace the […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘METRO’ *

‘These types of holidays are on the increase,’ says William Higham, founder of trends consultancy Next Big Thing. ‘Nature fitness holidays – running, cycling, triathlons – are also on the rise and, as we look at health as a holistic issue, of managing our overall health […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘BUSINESS REVIEW EUROPE’ *

William Higham, consumer futurist and founder of strategic consultancy Next Big Thing, says: “Customers are feeling overloaded (with data, work, activities and responsibilities) and have also seen how technology can provide efficiencies: as a result they will expect more efficient products and services across […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘CAMPAIGN’ *

William Higham, a trend forecaster with The Next Big Thing, points out ads have been reflecting a “flux” in the roles of the sexes since 1969 and Saatchi & Saatchi’s famous “pregnant man” ad. “Men in particular are suffering from a kind of identity crisis,” Higham […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘FAST COMPANY’ *

If you go to work every day in a soul-sucking cube, we have some good news. Office chairs that adjust to your body based on biofeedback. Walls that slide, shift, and change color according to worker needs. Three-dimensional printers that produce food and replicate office […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘MEDIA WEEK’ *

William Higham, founder of consumer trend analyst Next Big Thing, who also worked with the London Paper on Generation Free, says free is not just about value, but also convenience. He reports: “One thing that came out of the focus groups was the fact that […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘THE EVENING STANDARD’ *

“The rise of extreme sports took place among Generation X, born 1979-1994,” says William Higham, managing director of trend forecasting agency The Next Big Thing and author of a trends guide of the same name. “Now that they’re growing up and are seeking opportunities […]

* THIS INTERVIEW WITH WILL FIRST APPEARED IN ‘DRAPERS’ *

The rise of Generation Y will accelerate the trend for shopping for clothing on mobile phones, according to William Higham, founder of consumer research consultancy The Next Big Thing.

Following the recession, time-poor consumers expect brands to “fit around their lifestyles”, which includes being able to shop […]