Last November, Tessa Mullen joined our London office as an intern on the Analyst team. Having just finished a History degree at Cambridge, she traded the library for a deep dive into human behaviour.

When she isn't halfway up a climbing wall or exploring the airwaves as a radio enthusiast, she’s helping us decode the "why" behind cultural shifts. From the rise of slow-crafts in China to the latest UK grocery trends, Tessa’s day-to-day is anything but ordinary.

We caught up with her to talk about the leap from academia into the world of insights, forgetting your lunch, and why a spreadsheet will never tell you the whole story. Get ready for a candid look into life as a Canvas8 intern!

What was it about Canvas8 that resonated with you and made you apply to an internship with us?

"I’ve spent most of my life wondering why people do what they do. As a humanities grad, the well-trodden paths of law and finance held little appeal; I wanted to keep thinking about culture in a way that felt current and human. Canvas8 offered exactly that: a space where 'why?' is the most important question in the room.”

Starting a new role can be a mix of excitement and nerves! What was the most surprising or welcoming aspect of those initial days and weeks at Canvas8?

"Besides forgetting my lunch three times in my first week, I was welcomed with open arms. The training was thorough and I was quickly trusted to write my own perspectives on cultural shifts.

By the end of my first month, I had pitched and written my first pieces for the Library on UK eating and drinking trends and joined a project about the future of shopping. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was encouraged to get involved from the get-go. The culture is built on rigour, but it's also incredibly inclusive; if you have a unique perspective, the team wants to hear it."

Walk us through a 'day in the life' of Tessa Mullen. From your morning routine to diving into projects, what makes a typical day here anything but ordinary for you?

"A typical day starts with hellos to the team; there’s always a friendly face at the office. I begin by scouring sources for a 'Signal': a short cultural article adding new insight to emerging trends. Once my signal pitch is approved, I dive into research that ranges from slow crafts in China to a spike in UK Bible sales.

Lunch usually means exploring St Luke’s for Greek sandwiches, Katsu curry, or the variety of a Tesco meal deal with a truly lovely bunch of colleagues.

The afternoon is for deeper project work. We use ethnography, desk research, and qualitative analysis to answer questions that brands want answered. No two projects are the same, so the work is incredibly varied, and is often a mix of cultural intelligence, social science techniques, forecasting and strategic consultancy. It’s an ideal environment if you love thinking across different subjects. You’re constantly approaching problems from new angles, as our research methods are tailored to every individual brief."

Looking back at your internship so far, what's been the biggest 'aha!' moment in terms of a skill you've developed or refined? And on the flip side, what's been the most rewarding challenge you've navigated?

"Watching the pros work is always fascinating. You learn how to craft the right story, land the right tone of voice, and balance evidence with a compelling argument. The pace is quick at Canvas8, so speed is key, and that can be a challenge. Trying to translate complex cultural phenomena into clear formats is a skill, but help is always on hand should you need it."

How would you describe the Canvas8 team? Are there any specific moments or interactions that really highlight what it's like to work alongside them?

"The team are in equal parts; interesting, smart, and kind. They are experts who teach without ego and present research without condescension. Many have moved through different parts of the business, so they can anticipate your problems before they even arise. This all adds up to a hugely enjoyable working environment. I struggle to imagine many other offices where the Monday morning meeting might involve discussions on tomato-growing techniques or the Amsterdam Dance Event."

Who would you recommend an internship at Canvas8 to, and why?

“I’d recommend a Canvas8 internship to anyone who loves thinking deeply about culture, from behavioural psychology to applied strategy. It’s a place where niches are celebrated. If you find the 'fringes' of culture just as illuminating as the mainstream, you’ll feel right at home.

Openness is key. This isn’t the place for those who prefer cultural shortcuts or view behaviour as entirely transactional. If you believe a single spreadsheet can tell you everything you need to know about people, Canvas8 might not be for you. But if you believe humans are endlessly, bafflingly interesting, you’ll find that curiosity is the starting point of every conversation here.”