With 2016, we will see a host of new technologies make their way to the spotlight. 3D Printing grew from strength to strength the last year and it is now moving mainstream. The role of robotics in manufacturing cycles also cannot be understated. Technologies like Hololens and driverless cars amazed everyone with their sheer ingenuity. For the upcoming year, we can expect the following trends to gain more prominence

A Mixed Reality Workspace: Technologies like Hololens that allows you to overlay 2D and 3D objects in your real-world living and work space - will change the way industrial designers collaborate. When combined with 3D design tools, you have an industry-changing piece of technology. This helps in a wide range of potential applications, including in the enterprise, and already it is being used in the design of motorcycles, Volvos, and to help NASA scientists visualize Mars.

Empowered Customers and the Future of Manufacturing: Changing consumer demands and preferences will put greater pressure on traditional industries and create new opportunities for start-ups to deliver customer-unique value in 2016. Companies that design, create, and sell products must change how they manufacture and the way they connect with customers—or accept defeat.

The Internet and the availability of information, converging industries, the growing maker movement and the expectation of bespoke and customer products - look at all of these elements, and then superimpose the speed. The velocity of change means that consumer- and industrial-product companies have to change the way they interact with customers.

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