More than 1,500 business executives have gained the awareness and strategic vision necessary to connect with young consumers by attending Trend School. Every quarter, the Intelligence Group brings its industry-leading Cassandra Report to life in this intimate, interactive, daylong immersion into youth culture and social trends. We go beyond what’s happening with young consumers by delving into why they’re acting, and reacting, the way they are. In January and February, our Trend Schools in Los Angeles and New York will take aim at Digital Media and Technology, the uncommon and unpredictable force that is driving so much of Gen Y’s ever-changing consumption behavior.

Our focus will be on the macro-trends covered in the latest edition of Cassandra, notably:

- With the recent growth of video technology and live-stream capability, Gen Ys have unprecedented access to tools for real-time connection and communication. Therefore, they are developing a DIGITAL PRESENCE that relies on technology to provide immersive, interactive experiences that brings them up close and personal with people, places and events across the globe.

- The “Yelpification” of the world means that there is seemingly no area of life that isn’t being evaluated. The same opinionated, networked, and oversharing generation that produces many of the ratings and reviews is now struggling to find the balance between needing to know everything and knowing too much in this LIFE OVERRATED.

- Faced with the economic recession, all-time high unemployment, and overwhelming uncertainty about their futures, disenchanted Gen Ys are experiencing a great AWAKENING that will have a huge social, political and cultural impact on our country for years to come.

In addition, we will cover Seven Emerging Areas for Digital Marketing, including “SNAP,” “MEME,” “TAG,” “MAP,” “CODE,” “PLUS,” and “PLAY.” Attendees will have the opportunity to see these developments in action and experiment with them throughout the day, along with hearing from and interacting with panels of both Gen Y trendsetters and digital media industry experts.

We know that today’s fast-changing, digitally driven landscape makes it difficult for even the most plugged-in to stay up on the latest technology advances. So, join us on January 10^th at CAA in LA and on February 7^th at Crosby Street Hotel in NY. It’s a genuinely hands-on event that places the newest digital innovations into context rather than just calling out “cool for cool’s sake.”

Please visit our website to find out more about the day. To inquire about cost and further details, contact Allison Arling at aarling@intelg.com.