The Brief

Megatrends Defining Travel is Skift’s largest editorial project — an annual forecast relied on by a global audience of travel executives to set the tone for the year ahead. By its 10th edition, the franchise had earned its reputation as the industry’s agenda-setting moment. The challenge each year was to maintain that standard: produce 20+ editorial features, a live event presentation, original data visualizations, and a cohesive creative vision — on deadline, at scale, with a cross-functional team of editors, designers, and analysts.

The Approach

I led the creative and art direction across the full production: editorial features on topics from generative AI to India’s reordering of global travel, event presentations designed for a live audience of industry leaders, and a library of original illustrations and data visualizations that gave each trend a visual identity. The work required tight coordination between editorial (setting the trends), design (building the visual system), and production (delivering across digital, print, and live event formats simultaneously).

The Outcome

The 10th annual Megatrends reinforced the franchise’s position as the industry’s most anticipated editorial event. More broadly, it demonstrated what an editorial franchise can become when it’s treated as a product — with consistent investment in creative direction, production infrastructure, and a visual identity that audiences recognize year over year.