Eight contemporary trendslikely to have a major influence between 2011 and 2015 – are described. Not all of the trends will affect all of societyindeed some of the trends run counter to one another. Nevertheless, it is expected that each will affect enough people to be significant. The trends have been identified on the basis of professional judgment and crossreferenced against the prediction of others trends specialists1. Possible consequences of each these trends for design are described in the context of their wider implications for commerce, manufacturing and society as a whole.