Design Talk | 2023 Trend Forecast

It seems that 2022 has rushed by in a blur. Somehow it’s already the last week of September and the end of the year is on the horizon. That means it’s time to start thinking about next year and time to jump into the Soft Serve Studio x Carryology Forecast 2023. Like everything this year, it’s a little later than planned, but it’s finally here and we’re super excited to be able to share it.

The digital report for our 2023 trend forecast is officially out today and you can download it free right here.

For anyone who missed the last two reports, the Forecast is our annual deep dive into the topics that will be shaping the carry world in the year to come. From the big ideas down to the littlest details, we map out what’s on our radar and plot where it’s all heading. For us, it’s not about predicting the future or prescribing anything. It’s more a chance to take the temperature of carry culture around the globe to make sure that design reflects life. We also take a look at who’s making waves, from the big brands down to the neighborhood makers, plus new developments in materials and manufacturing.

Before we take a look at what’s on the cards for 2023, it’s worth warning readers that the c-word does come up more than we’d have liked. After two long years with Covid-19 at the center of every conversation, we too were ready to put it in the past. Unfortunately, the long shadow of the pandemic still touches everything in one way or another. While life today has mostly moved on from the immediate threat and there are freedoms to celebrate, there are also new risks to navigate. It’s a quasi-post pandemic phase that’s maybe more ambiguous and uncertain than at any time in the past three years.

In response to these strange times, design in 2023 is heading in all sorts of directions, all at the same time. For some it’s lit a fire to make up for the lost time, driving trends like GOAT travel. For others, the response has been to focus on the simple things in life. Humble ideas like the backyard office and the Tom Sachs General Purpose Shoe are striking a chord with an audience that’s looking to get back to basics. Then there are the others who are mixing all these ideas together and more, like in the case of the crazy colorful Kidcore movement.

On top of all of that, there is of course the backdrop of the climate and the ongoing quest for sustainability. Not to mention a war, and some rough economic waters. Too much to mention in one post. To get all the details, download the free 42-page report here. In it you’ll find the full rundown of all the above as well as a detailed look at the styles, fabrics, details, and colors influencing the coming year’s releases. Plus we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at contact@softservestudio.com to give us your two cents on what’ll be big in 2023.

IMAGES

1. Humble design (Tom Sachs General Purpose Shoe) Vs Kidcore (IWEARUP – Clear Skies Backpack)
2. Flat-packed backyard office ‘A Room In The Garden’ by Studio Ben Allen