The Summer of Next Summers
With the pandemic seemingly back under control and COVID fatigue in full throttle, summer 2022 is looking to be… dare we say it… normal-ish? After hot vax summer crashed and burned last year, this one will be the first to give us a real glimpse of what summers will be like for the foreseeable future.
Our prediction? 🔮 People will spend it with a newfound appreciation for what really matters to them, whether that’s the little things or finally putting the life back in work/life balance.
WHAT’S NEXT ➡️:
Bringing the Outdoors In
Have you noticed how many people have started turning their apartments into therapist lobbies? A snake plant here, a philodendron there, a money tree nestled behind a mid-century modern accent chair…
If the mental image is making you calmer, that’s the point. It’s called biophilic design, which aims to connect people to the peace and tranquility of nature. From staircase gardens to floral ceilings, you can expect this trend to grow [cringe] throughout summer. It’s another example of how people will spend it putting themselves first and doing what brings them joy.
Individuals aren’t the only ones, either. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce have already incorporated biophilic design into their offices, partnering with research organizations to study the effects on employees.The Return of Street Scaping
Taking advantage of pandemic era street scaping in major cities, like outdoor dining and Open Streets, will be another way people appreciate the little things this summer. These innovations have been broadly popular with residents, restaurateurs, and local businesses alike (though not so much the rats and trash they brought).
With renewed interest will come efforts to reinvent and build on these successes. Expect street scaping to get a makeover as it gets warmer, with tighter regulations bringing an end to makeshift sheds and shipping containers in favor of alfresco sidewalk cafes — a little bit of Paris in a parking space!
Maximalism
One way people are already starting to show this? Celebrating big styles and the fullness of their personalities by embracing maximalism. Y2K-esque extreme crop tops and maximalist “naked pieces” like Rihanna’s pregnancy wear have landed, dominating fashion brands. As temperatures rise, expect these skin-bearing statements to become ubiquitous.
These aren’t the only styles roaring back into relevance. Remember chiptune from, like, 12 years ago? She’s all glowed up and gone mainstream as Glitchcore, a new maximalist aesthetic based around tech nostalgia. This time, it’s geared toward Gen Zers who weren’t actually around for the 8-bit era. It’s a kind of longing for the little things called “anemoia”: the feeling of nostalgia for a time you never experienced.
WFH Is Just the Beginning
If you’re going to force employees back into the office, have a better reason than “cOlLaBoRaTiOn,” lest you want a wave of resignations from folks commuting only to spend all day on Zoom. Companies like the real estate firm CoStar are innovating how to lure folks back: daily raffles for $10,000, an electric Mo del S Tesla, and an all-expenses-paid trip to Barbados, as well as smaller prizes like gift cards.
Despite the mentality of some middle managers (sis, what do you even do?), remote work is here to stay. Data scientists at Ladders project that 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, and remote opportunities will continue to increase through 2023.
More to the point, this summer will be an opportunity to rethink work/life balance in a more fundamental way. Could every Friday be a summer Friday soon?
The Summer of Next Summers
With so much uncertainty, the GOAT vacation you’ve been hoping for may not be in the cards yet. 😔 But that just means people will treat themselves in smaller, more personal ways. And the biggest reason they’ll be able to is that thanks to vaccines, boosters, and increased access to testing, this summer will feel so much more normal than the last two.
Think of it this way: by the end of May 2021, less than 53% of Americans got their first job. Today, that number is nearly 78%, with 66% fully vaxxed. The numbers don’t lie: even if the pandemic isn’t over yet, all signs point to this summer — and future ones — feeling more like they did before.
WATCHOUT:
Does all this feel like deja vu? We had a lot of optimism for hot vax summer last year, and we all know how that turned out. A new variant could mean the same now.
And though we’re excited for what’s ahead, let’s remember that this summer will be difficult for many — especially those impacted by the war in Ukraine. If you’d like to support Ukrainians in need, consider donating to one of these organizations working on the ground through this crisis: