As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

The annual number of US weddings is almost back at pre-pandemic levels and is set to reach a historic peak in 2022, as couples return to the altar. For some couples, the wait has inspired them to spend more, but for others, increased costs and financial strain have made for tighter budgets.

With the pandemic having turned life upside down, how are people responding when their beloved rituals get disrupted? Canvas8 spoke to Daniel Stein from the University of California about the importance of rituals in modern life and why altering them can make people upset.

One way the pandemic has affected us all in equal measure is by disrupting our daily routines. To get life back on track and regain a sense of control and regularity, Britons have been adopting new rituals, from meditating to exercising, and many plan to stick with them for the long haul.

There are numerous ways in which to define oneself – from physical appearance to hobbies to religious beliefs – but what do people see as integral to their identity? Canvas8 polled 1,000 Americans and spoke to eight individuals to understand how they would characterize themselves.