Designing for the Life Span Segment 2
Designing for the Life Span Segment 2 
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[D]
Since the beginning of mid-century and the end of World War II, the focus of our consumer oriented society, educational systems and even the societies narcissistic concern with image has been driven by trends and fads among the young. By 1965, 50% of the population of the United States was under 25- paralleling the high point in American home-grown consumer product industrial development. By 1975, that same group had become older and half the population was over 35.
Who will be America's prospective target market in the year 2050?
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The population of young people under the age of 25 has dominated thinking about design of all consumer goods since the middle of the 20th century. In 1965, Time magazine proclaimed its "Man of the Year" as young adults under 25. In 1965, that population made up 50% of the American population. However, just 10 years later, the population over 35 made up 50% of the total American population. The impact upon marketing and product development by the youth culture has actually been diminishing for 4 decades.
Only recently, has there been a turning, a gradual turning, toward older adults - but mainly in the development of specialty products and pharmaceuticals. The automobile companies, sporting goods manufacturers and others have yet to fully realize their impact... just witness their advertising.
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