Meet Generation X

Some believe Generation X will be regarded as the greatest generation of all time - we think it's certainly the coolest.

Older wiser cooler

Generation X was born between 1965 and 1980, arriving just in time to see the world turn from black & white to colour. It's a pivotal age group that was touched briefly by the previous age of post-war industrial grime, plain food and heritage attitudes to things like sexuality and personal hygiene. 

We had our first research-based contact with Gen X back in the mid’90s when this cohort defined the clubbing and fashion-obsessed youth market of that decade. Since then, we have followed Gen X’ers closely as they refused to grow old like their parents. 

Some believe Gen X will be regarded as the greatest generation of all time - we think it's certainly the coolest. 

Who is Generation X?

Generation X is a demographic age cohort that accounts for a larger share of the U.K. population than it does in the U.S. This means Gen X plays a comparitively bigger role in the U.K.'s cultural and economic life.

Generation ROAR Redux

In the late '90s, Colourtext's CEO Jason Brownlee had the privilege of chairing the ROAR project, which was UK media's largest continuous research initiative on youth culture, media consumption, and brand loyalty. Now, 25 years later, it’s fascinating to reflect on how some brands dominated the youth market—and how the landscape has shifted.

How Generation X grew up

The formative childhood experience for many Gen X'ers was the unprecedented growth of divorce and family break-up during the 1970s and '80s. Generation X heard everything and forgot nothing of what was said during the vicious late night fights between its parents.

Gen X responded with possibly the greatest burst of creativity in popular music and youth culture the world will ever see.

90s kids forever

Generation X has always been at the forefront of new trends in fashion and technology.  Now the coolest generation of all time has a new frontier of anti-ageing to explore.

Gen X will probably be the last generation to remember when humans were limited to a natural health span and lifespan.

Mark Uttley
Group Strategy Director, AKQA, San Francisco, US

"Colourtext always take a fresh approach to discovering hidden patterns in data. Whether you want to conduct segmentation or mine your CRM for deep insights, they will help you see your customers , and what they are seeing , in new ways."

Joaquim Bretcha
International Director of Netquest and President of ESOMAR, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

"Colourtext and Netquest have partnered on different occasions to showcase the power of the digital behavioural data extracted from Netquest’s consumer panel. Colourtext has not only the expertise of dealing with big datasets but also has brilliant creativity to make the most sense out of them. Working with Colourtext is a rich, agreeable and easy going experience"

Mark Barber MBE
Planning Director, RadioCentre, London, UK

"More than a decade of success for Radiog auge across the world is a testament to Colourtext’s experience and perseverance. There are many obstacles to creating a global currency for measuring radio advertising effectiveness - Colourtext has managed to tackle all of them."

"It’s rare to find research companies that really understand the unique radio / listener relationship and what makes radio advertising work. With experience of researching the medium on both sides of the fence, Colourtext is one of those rare companies."

Simone Lawrence
Director of Insights, Canadian Broadcast Sales, Toronto, Canada

Colourtext has an agile approach to research that ensures a successful outcome to every challenge CBS gives them. The depth of experience and understanding the Colourtext team brings to each study demonstrates their value in the audio space. We have a very positive nine year working relationship behind us that has created significant value for CBS and our clients. We remain committed to working with Colourtext in the coming years.

Jon Puleston
Vice President of Innovation, Kantar Profiles, London, UK

It's rare to find a partner with the mix of analytical, technological and creative skills offered by Colourtext. Jason and his team seem to roam around freely in data, find the stories that matter and bring a distinctive aesthetic vision to the presentation of information.