Diverse representation is an expectation, but as individuals no longer allow themselves to be defined in singular terms, there's mounting pressure on brands to understand and sensitively reflect how the intersections between race, gender, class, and ability impact people's everyday lives.

As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

Milka has introduced a Beeping Bunny product that provides sonic cues to enable visually-impaired children to participate in Easter egg hunts. The campaign demonstrates an effective way of prioritising inclusivity, going beyond virtue signalling and brand purpose while maintaining sector relevance.

Vodafone piloted a headset during the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, allowing visually-impaired tennis fans to better experience the on-court action. With disabled sports fans still feeling excluded from events, there’s a demand for brands to make access to live sports more equitable.

The pandemic has exposed how the visually-impaired community is being failed by poor web and app design. This report examines the implications of the growing ‘senior surfer’ cohort and opportunities for brands to increase revenue and build a stronger society through user-centric design.

From typewriters to screen readers to closed captioning, technological innovation has long been driven by the needs of people with disabilities. But how can businesses ensure that new platforms and devices are inclusive? Canvas8 spoke to Reginé Gilbert about how digital accessibility is evolving.