Dan Hastings-Narayanin

Dan joined The Future Laboratory in 2023 as deputy foresight editor of LS:N Global. An avid reader and writer, he has previously collaborated with over 20 magazines and news outlets worldwide and received a #30toWatch Young Journalist Award in 2021 by MHP Mischief. Obsessed with TikTok, Gen Z slang and Black Twitter, Dan leads The Future Laboratory’s research on youth and pop culture.

What drew you to the world of trends and foresight?

While studying magazine journalism, I encountered fashion trend forecasters while researching a piece. Their job sounded like the best of all worlds between anthropology, data analysis, fashion studies and journalism. I ticked only one of the boxes and immediately thought: ‘I’m not good enough for this.’ Life is definitely full of surprises. I’m now a trend forecaster doing precisely what 23-year-old me felt I was unqualified to do.

What makes LS:N Global unique?

Unique, that’s what we are. Although I loved my years as a B2C magazine journalist, I was always frustrated by Google’s power over my work and the lack of feedback from the readers. Thanks to LS:N Global’s business model, I don’t need to write articles based on what and how Google wants me to write. We’re not running after the news like everyone else is, we’re 100% in power. I can also talk directly to our subscribers and ask them questions about their needs and what they want to see us cover in the future because it’s a two-way street. We’re very privileged to have so much editorial freedom.