From weighted hula hooping to D&D campaigns, people have very different ideas of a good time, yet the promise of consumer fun drives entire industries. Canvas8 interviewed Professor Travis Tae Oh about the psychological pillars that make something fun and how brands can help people maximise good times.

Many people have looked to snacks and food for comfort amid the pandemic, with a real interest in nostalgic treats from childhood. McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes has reaped the benefits, launching a campaign for Jaffa Jonuts that tapped into a desire for playful, reminiscent, and tasty snacks.

People are giving new meaning to their clothes and finding joy in how they dress. Termed ‘dopamine dressing’, the movement reflects a recalibration of our relationship with the physical world and signposts the growing intersection between how people link mental and physical health.

While a few kind words can brighten anyone’s day, we often don’t take the time to tell people. Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Vanessa K. Bohns, an associate professor at Cornell University, to understand why we underestimate the power of compliments and why giving them can feel uncomfortable.