After a year marked by divisive rhetoric and seemingly incessant bad news, it’s unsurprising that 2016’s Xmas ads move away from the idea of magical jollity. Canvas8 spoke to Rob Thomas, founder of Practical Semiotics, to understand why the idyllic holiday montage is a thing of the past.

Millions of people worldwide participated in January's anti-Trump march, and brands stood with them – at least in spirit – to show solidarity. But what does it mean for a brand to participate in an event that, by its nature, is about physical attendance and a frustration with higher powers?

In the US, Gen Y is the most diverse generation in history; 43% identify as non-white and 7% identify as LGBT (four points higher than average). Having grown up in a culture that celebrates diversity in race, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation, equal rights seem like a no-brainer.

It’s a tiny thing, but you probably see it every day. The little two-headed blob at the top of your Facebook newsfeed; the icon for ‘friends’. If you’re really eagle-eyed you might even have noticed that it’s changed. In a nod to gender equality, the woman is now in front.