As more and more people worldwide use virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa, both within homes and on the go, it’s becoming increasingly important for brands to consider how these AIs respond with their ‘voices’. What should they sound like, and what kind of tone should they take with users?

Finance brand Mastercard has dropped its name from its iconic double circle logo, as it bids to stay in relevant in an age where physical payments are on the decline. With one eye on the future, the brand is banking on dropping a name that roots its functionality firmly in the past.

We’re now constantly connected – the average person checks their phone 150 times a day – but it’s an unwanted burden for many. Canvas8 spoke with cyborg anthropologist Amber Case, author of Calm Technology, to understand the importance of designing tech that respects people’s limited attention.

Whenever a brand decides to refresh its image with a new logo, user interface, or partnership, it inevitably attracts condemnation from some quarters. But why do people care about such shifts in position? Canvas8 spoke to Tarje Gaustad, a professor at Kristiania University College, to find out.