After a year marked by divisive rhetoric and seemingly incessant bad news, it’s unsurprising that 2016’s Xmas ads move away from the idea of magical jollity. Canvas8 spoke to Rob Thomas, founder of Practical Semiotics, to understand why the idyllic holiday montage is a thing of the past.

Starting a family may once have been as simple as getting married, buying a home, and having kids, but as life stages blur and gender roles become less relevant, the traditional rules are being rewritten. Canvas8 spoke to sociologist Philip N. Cohen to understand how the family unit is changing.

Many brands have been slow to reflect changing family dynamics, but IKEA has chosen a different path. Its ‘Where Life Happens’ campaign depicts single parenthood, adoption and divorced parents with children. While the ads might not be aspirational, they're depicting the real modern family.

ASOS launched its first ever advent calendar in 2016, promptly setting the web ablaze. But rather than having chocolates or religious imagery behind each window, it instead houses little gifts for beauty buffs. From jumpers to festive decorations, how else are Christmas traditions changing?