The Big Hairy Question: How Will Coronavirus Change The World?

Take a deep breath. Close all of your news tabs. Sit in silence for one hot minute. While it’s easy to get caught up in the intense blizzard of news, forget about all of that for a moment. Let your mind move beyond all of this and look into the distant future. Since we’re all sick of the c-word, let’s start looking past it. How will coronavirus change the world? 

We are living through a defining moment in history. If textbooks are still a thing in 2060, they will be talking about us. They will see us as a generation of innovators. We will be the survivors who pushed through to the other side and transformed the world in the process. 

As Bill Gates recently said, “this can either be an end, or a new beginning.” This is the time to rethink, innovate, and reinvent. Panic will get us nowhere and most of us aren’t going anywhere anyway these days! As we sit united in pyjamas, it’s crucial, both for our mental health and our future, to think of this as a window of opportunity.

Coronavirus Rebranding

How will coronavirus change the world? Fellow designer Jure Tovrljan created social distancing rebrands for Olympics, MasterCard, and McDonald’s. Massive brands like Chiquita and Coca-Cola revamped their logos to promote social distancing. Time Out has even become “Time In” as we all sit home and watch everyone and everything become a little more distant. 

How Will Coronavirus Change the World Economies?

As World War II created a sudden and sweeping cultural change by pushing women into the workplace, a seismic change will come from the Coronavirus. How many industries will fade away as vibrant new ideas come to the forefront? How many of us will continue working from home? (A question we ponder in our recent blog, ‘Working 9 to 5: What a Way to Crush Creativity’)

While Amazon soars in popularity, there’s no doubting that small businesses will struggle to ever open their shutters again. At the same time, as we move to a world of just getting by with essential services, the pillars of our society have been obvious. The medical staff who keep us alive; the grocery store staff who keep us fed; and the massive cleaning crews keeping the world hygienic are still out there. 

Meanwhile, the rest of us are off the streets. Our skies and waterways are becoming less dirty and grey while we plug away on our computers at home. Dolphins have replaced the tourists in the canals of Venice. Wild goats have replaced the Welsh in Llandudno. As we sit hyper-aware of the world around us, we question, what will we change in a post-Coronavirus world? 

Photo: @andrewstuart1

Some experts are predicting that up to one-quarter of us will keep working from home, at least for a few days per week. The food-delivery services that are exploding at the moment will be right there for us. A massive wave of older shoppers are getting online for the first time and many are expected to adjust their behaviour. Cinemas are finally making it easy and legal to watch new content at home.

Post-Coronavirus: A More Eco-Friendly, Virtual World? 

Is this going to be the kick up the arse we needed to consider how we are affecting the world? Are we finally ready to do what we need to do to keep the planet safe and sound for future generations? Experts have called the Coronavirus epidemic a “clear warning shot” that’s coming after “playing with fire”.

Like a punished child forbidden from going out, we’ve already heard about our mistakes. So, let’s talk about the positive side of things. Let’s imagine a world where greenwashing is gone and we’re all legitimately scared straight.  

As we step out of this crisis, a bit hardened, a bit more conscientious (and probably in need of a workout and haircut!), corporate consciousness will take on a new meaning. We’ll remember Zara, Prada, and others for making medical masks. People will know about BrewDog’s hand sanitiser for hospitals. And, importantly, we will be looking for more brands that are ready to step up. 

While no one really knows yet how will coronavirus change the world, it’s time to start creating the change we want to see. As consumers and creators, we are making history at this very moment.