Your world according to trends

In this mass-media saturated world of ours, the ebb and flow of trends determine the focus or direction for a variety of communication tools and consumer items – from business plans to advertising strategies, the shape and look of your favourite fashion item, your home and even food to the design of the hottest new technology and gadgets.

“Hit the pause button”

Comments Chang: “The conference will allow delegates to hit the pause button and to take stock of where we are, and where we're going. As we find ourselves bombarded with information 24 hours a day, we have less time to absorb, less time to reflect and as a result, less time to make measured or informed decisions. We edit the information flung at us, and discard the information that is not immediately within our immediate area of interest.

“But there's a problem: the information we edit out (and don't believe is relevant), is becoming increasingly interconnected, so we inadvertently begin to place blinkers on our perspectives. As a result, our social interaction is affected, the generation gap widens and we start to miss out on crucial business opportunities. The Flux Trend Review aims to help you make more informed decisions and adjusting your strategies with confidence.”

The conference aims to consider ‘the state we're in' across a number of industries and sectors that have a direct influence on our daily lives, as well as the way we interact with each other, and ultimately, the way we do business with each other.

Corporate review

The Corporate Review takes place on Friday, 7 September 2007. It's aimed at corporate companies, big brands, media planners, strategists, marketing managers, advertising agencies, media agencies and… anyone who needs to navigate the ever-changing face of South African business.

The following topics and speakers have been lined up:

• State of our nation – Ferial Haffajee: Mail & Guardian
  
• Technology review – Toby Shapshack
  
• Culture (Black Diamonds) – Siphiwe Mpye: Random Window
  
• Political review – Justice Malala: Political Analyst
  
• Media – Irwin Manoim: Big Media
  
• Marketing – Petros Kondos: WCIT on Bluetooth and the digital mobile environment.
• Youth report: “The birth to 20” project – Prof Linda Richter: HSRCl
  
• Flux observation – Slow thought – Dion Chang: Flux Trends

Consumer review

The Consumer Review will take place on Saturday, 8 September 2007. It's aimed at small companies, retailers, property developers, décor enthusiasts, fashionistas, advertising agencies and anyone interested in what's happening in the creative and lifestyle industries.

The following topics and speakers have been lined up:

• Technology/Gadgets – Toby Shapshack: Stuff magazine
  
• Colour forecast – Anne Roselt: Plascon
  
• Food – Sumien Brink and Maranda
  
• Engelbrecht: Taste magazine
  
• Décor – Annemarie Meintjies: Visi magazine
  
• Fashion – Jackie Burger: Elle magazine
  
• Popular Culture – Randall Abrahams
  
• Property – Ronald Ennick: Pam Golding
  
• Flux observation: Carbon Credits – Dion Chang: Flux Trends

Venue: The faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture (FADA) auditorium, on the new University of Johannesburg Campus – Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

For the launch year, the conference will be marketed as an exclusive opportunity for delegates, with very limited numbers – only 250 seats per review. Full day Corporate Review: R1800. Full day Consumer Review: R1200. One hundred “early bird” seats, for the full two-day conference are available at a discounted price of R 2500. Conference price includes finger lunch, tea break refreshments and goodie bag.

For more information and bookings, which open on 1 July, go to www.fluxtrends.co.za.