I noticed how there's a big red line leading from point to point like a road. this might implie that hitachi is on  the road environmental safty.

In this image I noticed that the sun and the cloud are people. so its nature, people and technalogy in harmony. and that good for toyota because it well attracite alot of envirmentalist.

Image 1 came from HITACHI and image 2 TOYOTA. Image 1 is an add for environmentaly safe enery solutions and image 2 is an add for the 3rd generation Prius with solar roof .

1. What are trends? Why is it important to identify them prior to graphic design?
The stuff people are into. you can use graphic designs to that addvantige by work the trends into the grafic designs.

2. How does human nature play a role in how a product is marketed to a specific demographic group?
You can use it in the grafic designs.
3. How is a potential audience identified?
watching them.
4. What must you discover about the target audience prior to graphic design?

alot