7 Things We're Thankful For...

In honor of tomorrow's holiday and in an effort to give thanks, we asked our team what they are grateful for this year. Here is a collection of 7 things we are thankful for...

1. Comfortable tradeshow shoes - In the last 10 years we've tested just about every brand, style and type of shoe that "claims" to be great for your feet. Some cute, some really ugly, but when we find a pair, like these Privos, we say Ahhhhh, thank you!2. Coffee... and donuts... and cake... and chocolate (you get the picture!) - We are thankful for all the little treats and delicious tidbits our co-workers bring in. Everyone on staff here at Sphere Trending has a sixth-sense when it comes to deadlines and stress - someone always comes to the rescue with cake. Yum! Here's one of our favorite recipes for a Tres Leches cake that will make your office happy too:

3. The printing press - While you can read pretty much everything online these days, sometimes we really enjoy a good newspaper, book or article that shares thoughts of innovation and inspiration with our team. It's great to look away from the screen once and awhile and read something the old fashioned way. A great book you should be reading right now:

4. You! - One of our consumer intelligence team members said it best, "I am thankful for the inspiration we get daily from everyday people struggling to make it through this recession; inspiration that is leading us to understand what the new sustainable middle class will want as we go into economic recovery."

5. The collaborative and interactive world of the internet - We would be lost without all of the bloggers, tweeters and sharers that we get the opportunity to talk to and work with daily. Inspiration and creativity is best when it's cultured, shared and discussed amongst friends and we are thankful to the many people that collaborate with us! A great blog to read for design and trend inspiration:

6. Technology - Everyone said they were thankful for technology, the internet, photoshop, my blackberry, Apple, iPhone, Facebook or gi-normous LCD displays. (Someone even said, "my space heater...". Maybe we should thank her by turning the heat up around here?)

But, what we're really thankful for is the ever-changing world of technology – the ability to meet artists (Etsy), read about conferences around the globe (TED), utilize social marketing to keep abreast of new news (twitter) and understand the possibilities of innovation that are occurring constantly.

7. Our team - each and every day every member of the Sphere Trending team gives 110%. We work late, we get up early, we travel in coach, we drive the world's tiniest rental cars and take public transportation. We're searching, collaborating, creating, typing, editing, presenting, walking, talking and investigating new trends and innovation and for that, we say thank you! We wouldn't be anywhere without the dedication of our team. You're like family and we appreciate each and every one of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Color Caffeine Palette Inspiration

Our weekly series featuring inspiring color palette continues with this lovely hue - "heartfelt". For a recap of our entire collection of palettes, visit our flickr page to see them all!

A Sphere Trending Giveaway!

UPDATE! Since we are so, so late in choosing a winner... Everyone wins! Thanks for entering, Burgin Construction, Joni Golden & tdickenson - you all are winners! Contact us and we will ship out your prize right away. This week, our newsletter theme is all about the emotion of "compassion" in today's consumer lifestyle and how it relates to design, retail and product innovation. (Sign up here, it's free!) To celebrate, we are being compassionate and supporting one of our favorite local artisans with a giveaway perfectly timed for the holiday season!

We love, love, love the BohBon Soap Company from northern Michigan. Did we say love? Just checking! Anyway, we're giving away two (2) of the Spice of Life Soap Trios to the two lucky winners of this giveaway.

The Cinnamon Swirl Soap, Ginger Clove Soap and Gypsy Spice Soap are three of my personal favorites and they smell absolutely divine and just like the holidays. All natural and handcrafted in a small cottage in the U.P. along Bay De Noc, each soap is hand poured, cut and cured. And, they are wrapped in the cutest (and recyclable!) packaging that is sure to make you smile.

All you have to do to win, is leave a comment below telling us who your favorite local store, crafter or artisan is and why. We'll choose two winners on Tuesday, December 2nd at the end of the day. Happy Holidays!

Order today!

Contact us for ordering information. Email: mmankvitz (at) spheretrending (dot) com to learn more about this exciting publication!

Compassion in Home Design - Sol Austin

During our trendspotting trip to Austin, Texas it was hot. I mean really, really hot. After over 60 days of straight triple digit temperatures, the relentless heat did not let up just because we were in town. On an intense 103 degree day, we headed about three miles outside of town to tour Sol Austin - the only SOL (Solutions Oriented Living) development of it's kind.The development team at Sol partnered with the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation to provide 16 units of affordable housing; 8 units that will be rental and 8 units for ownership. Unique in design and floor plans, the homes are community focused and designed with passive energy consumption qualities such as widows that face north and south to maximize daylighting while minimizing heat build up during the summer months. A net zero energy development, the homes offer community courtyards, a modular design, water conservation techniques, geo-thermal HVAC and solar energy solutions.

If you happen to be in Austin this weekend (Nov. 20-22), Sol Austin is part of The East Austin Studio Tour that includes innovative home tours, gallery exhibition, foods and unique musical venues across town. And, I am sure the weather must be much cooler this fall!!

From Bowling Alley to Modern Furniture Designs

A bowling alley no longer in use is repurposed into furniture designs that are both modern and earth friendly. The chic designs are crafted from reclaimed strips of wood from what used to be the Tava Lanes Bowling Alley. Designer and woodworker William Stranger created wall hangings and a floor level coffee table as part of this new collection aimed at creating sustainable designs with compassion for the environment.

Via: Inhabitat

Compassion at Work - Giving back at CMG

Our blog will be dedicated to trends in compassion in product design, retail and media for the next few days, and today we wanted to thank CMG (Color Marketing Group) for taking the time to help us all give back last weekend as part of the fall conference in New Orleans. It was hard work, but rewarding, and a perfect example of compassion in the workplace. Thanks to the generosity of CMG and the conference attendees who spent their Saturday with paint brush in hand and the spirit of compassion in their hearts!

Progress Coffee - Austin, TX

We're moving from fun to compassion in our series of emotion in product design and marketing strategy both here on the blog and in our upcoming newsletter (subscribe!). A great example of compassion for community is Progress Coffee in Austin, TX. In a converted part of a 1942 warehouse on the east side of town, Progress is a contemporary and comfortable coffeehouse with local and sustainable roots.

The coffee is fair trade, organic, shade-grown and locally custom roasted by hand in small batches. The food is local and organic, prepared fresh daily using only seasonal ingredients and everything from the cups to the spoons and napkins are compostable or biodegradeable.


Dedicated to being part of the local community, supporting the local industry and their customers, events held at Progress include art installations and music performances. We highly recommend making Progress your first stop when you arrive into town, it's the best place to acclimate yourself to the Austin way of life, get the scoop on events around town and grab a slice of the world's best cinnamon toast!

Color Caffeine - Deep Cypress

Urban Infill - Mueller Austin

The 711-acre Mueller site, vacated when Austin's airport relocated in 1999, is well on its way to becoming home to approximately 10,000 people, 10,000 permanent employees, 10,000 construction jobs, more than 1,100 affordable homes and approximately 140 acres of public open space. Unique features of the airport remain, such as the control tower and an old hanger converted into a theater, but the homes and streets are brand new and great examples of creative home design.

There are row houses and condos, but some of our favorite designs are that of the larger homes. A modern craftsmen style seems to permeate the development and the use of stone, woods and metals make for a unique statement in the Austin area: