A GameStop voucher may seem like an ideal gift for a gamer, but it’s not necessarily what they’d want to receive. Canvas8 spoke to Julian Givi, a doctoral candidate at Carnegie Mellon University, to learn why a fear of missing the mark means people shy away from giving something more meaningful.

Rather than worry about whether a loved one would prefer a bracelet, a bottle of wine, or a hot air balloon ride, a growing number of people are choosing to give the gift of technology. But why are digital devices so perfect as presents? And how do these gadgets integrate into recipients’ lives?

The traditional excesses of the festive season sit in stark contrast with the ever-strong healthy-eating movement. Does better-for-you behaviour have a chance against entrenched seasonal habit? How do ‘virtuous eaters’ celebrate and is there a new ‘clean Christmas’ trend in the making?

From moving, to arranging a wedding, we often plan chronologically. But is this the best way to achieve our goals? Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Jooyoung Park, an assistant professor at Peking University HSBC Business School, about how backwards planning can pave a better path towards success.