Students in the Analyzing Trends course at Parsons School of Design used SATs to explore four key areas that will shape human life over the next fifty years: cities, education, fashion, and work. Their work revealed both exciting possibilities and deep vulnerabilities that society must address to create a better future. In the case of cities, privatization may make urban environments more efficient, but it also threatens to exclude lower-income residents from essential services. If corporate-run districts replace public spaces, people may lose access to the parks, libraries, and transit systems that allow communities to thrive. This shift could lead to economic segregation where only those who can afford premium city access can participate in the best parts of urban life.

Populist movements in 2025 are not merely reactionary forces but evolving cultural entities shaped by digital communities, linguistic codes, and ideological paradoxes. These movements leverage humor, aesthetics, and redefined political language to navigate tensions between decentralization and centralized figures, reflecting deeper power struggles beyond traditional populism. By analyzing these networks of meaning through semiotic foresight, we can move beyond oversimplified labels and better understand the cultural and strategic dynamics at play in contemporary political realignments.

As Shein faces mounting investor pressure and regulatory scrutiny, the future of fashion manufacturing and consumption is set for major transformation. This discussion explores how strategic foresight can help brands navigate a post-global world by shifting from mass production to decentralized, AI-driven, and consumer-participatory fashion models. By examining possible futures, from collapse to transformation, we uncover how brands can prepare for localized manufacturing, empower consumers as makers, and adapt to evolving economic and policy landscapes.