Latest news with #everydayLife
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
22 Oddly Specific "American" Things That Aren't Really A Thing In Other Countries
Every culture has its quirks, but sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to realize what makes your own country unique — or, in some cases, kind of weird. Curious to uncover what everyday aspects of American life seem unusual to people from abroad, u/CommonDecision6391 asked, "What do Americans not realize is an American thing?" People from around the world chimed in, citing everything from ice water to tipping culture. Here's what else they had to say: 1."In-sink garbage disposals." —u/mdmoon2101 2."Red Solo Cups really aren't a thing outside the USA — except at explicit 'USA-themed' parties in Europe." "Also, high school sports, especially football — especially when there are major annual events between rival cities." —u/CatOfGrey 3."I've heard that other countries don't have commercials for medications." —u/Milvers619 "True in a lot of Europe, at least. You get what doctors prescribe you — that's it. You will see ads for some over-the-counter medications, though, like antacids and ibuprofen." —u/fenderbloke 4."Graham crackers. I was telling some Aussies about s'mores and then had to stop and explain what graham crackers were." —u/Marquar234 "I met an Australian named Graham once and at first thought he said 'Grant.' When he clarified, I said, 'Oh, like the cracker?' He was a bit confused." —u/KDawgandChiefMan 5."I recently realized Miracle Whip is a North American thing. For those unfamiliar, it's often used as an alternative to mayonnaise — on sandwiches and in some salads. I've heard it's similar to salad cream in the UK." "A lot of people say they don't like Miracle Whip, but I actually do — at least in certain things." —u/RolandMT32 6."Buying tons of things for very specific purposes. My mother-in-law is always amazed by all the junk we have: a clip-on book light, a lime squeezer (that only works on limes), etc." —u/LumberjackSueno 7."Wearing your college's name or athletic team logo in public on a regular basis. College sports being popular." —u/Electrical-Ad1288 8."The American lean." —u/noahsuperman1 "It's not abnormal, but I think Americans do it more. People say it's leaning 'against' things, but I've noticed Americans more often lean on one leg? If that makes sense? That's not to say other cultures don't do it — I do, for sure — but Americans seem to do it more." —u/freckledclimber 9."Wearing athletic shoes everywhere." —u/GirlWhoWoreGlasses 10."Estimating distance by time — like saying something's 30 minutes away." "Apparently, that's mostly an American and Canadian thing." —u/_dk123 11."Carrying a gallon of water with you everywhere you go." —u/one_pump_chimp 12."Big trucks." —u/Electrical-Ad1288 13."Air conditioning everywhere." —u/TeeTownRaggie "It's not that we don't want to; it's just never been necessary in Germany. And now it's very difficult to install. Most people living in cities rent, and you can't just put in an AC unit in a rented apartment." —u/Insane_Unicorn "No, lots of countries in Asia and Latin America have that, too." —u/fedeita80 14."Screens on windows." —u/dutchman62 "My sister lives in Australia. I can't tell you how many times she's told me they just leave doors and windows wide open — and have had to chase things out or scare them off. I'm always like, WTF! We have mosquitoes the size of airplanes here, and that alone is enough to make me NEED screens. I can't imagine living somewhere where everything wants to kill you — and practically inviting them in for coffee." —u/tjcline09 15."Everyone driving their own car." —u/KarmaSilencesYou 16."Being prudish about nudity on TV, but tolerating intense violence." —u/Electrical-Ad1288 17."Tipping culture." —u/Blue-Sea2255 "It's spreading everywhere now, unfortunately." —u/No_Perspective_242 18."Bars having 'last call' at 2 a.m. In parts of Europe, the party doesn't even start until about then. Some places don't stop serving alcohol at all, or not until 4 or 5 a.m. when they close." —u/KarmaSilencesYou 19."Medical bankruptcy." —u/WeirdcoolWilson 20."Prisons run by private companies." "And people getting arrested on a whim." —u/Lopsided-Weather6469 21."Ice in your water, and free water when you sit down at a restaurant." —u/SL13377 22."The idea of individual states having a lot of legal control over everyday cultural laws, as well — what comes to mind here are alcohol laws and driving laws." —u/CatOfGrey finally, "Not having a guaranteed right to vacation. Fun fact: Americans work 400 more hours on average than most other countries. Work-life balance is impossible here." —u/Genial_Ginger_3981 Did any of these surprise you? Or do you have your own "wait, that's not normal?" moment from traveling or living abroad? Drop your experiences in the comments — we'd love to hear them!
Fast Company
10-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Design for the edges
Over the past two decades, our team and I have spent countless hours in homes, healthcare settings, and community spaces, watching how people navigate the rhythms of everyday life. What stays with me are the quiet adjustments or life hacks. A bed lifted on risers to slide a storage bin of medical supplies underneath to stay within reach or to better facilitate a transfer. A bottom dresser drawer left empty because it is out of reach and there's concern it could lead to a fall. A nightstand pulled a few inches away to make space for a CPAP hose or oxygen tubing. These aren't rare exceptions. They're everyday adjustments to the built environment that hadn't previously caught up with real life wants and needs. In response to these observations, we design products to fill the gaps. From medical aids like canes and bath safety products to household furniture that directly addresses these needs, integrating novel functional enhancements into the product design helps create environments that work better for people. Responding to one definition of disability—a mismatch between a person's abilities and their environment—we strive to ensure that built environments are accessible, functional, and welcoming for as many people as possible. From the edge to the universal In design and in business, we're often taught to prioritize the average user. But the most meaningful, enduring innovations tend to come from the edges—designing with people who experience the world differently, whether through disability, age, or temporary limitation. What begins as a targeted accommodation often becomes something far more universal. Accessible features in furniture, kitchen tools, or other housewares tend to become quietly indispensable. Not because they draw attention to themselves, but because they solve problems most people didn't even realize they shared. When you design for the margins, you don't exclude the mainstream; you elevate it. Take, for instance, a bed designed with integrated armrests to support safer mobility, as we recently created in collaboration with Pottery Barn. It may have been crafted with accessibility in mind, but it ultimately benefits anyone recovering from surgery, dealing with aches and pains, or simply trying to get up more easily in the morning (or reposing in bed to comfortably watch TV or use devices). The same goes for a nightstand designed with discreet space for powering medical equipment. It meets a real need, while also improving daily use for people managing cords, devices, or the clutter of modern life. These design choices never come out of thin air. They come from time spent with real people, in real environments, observing where traditional products fall short and responding to those gaps with practical, thoughtful solutions. Michael Graves often referred to this as common sense. Design for accessibility Situational disability is something most of us experience regularly without really thinking about it. You don't need a formal diagnosis to encounter friction in your environment, yet it can be improved by surrounding yourself with thoughtful products. Think about navigating a dark hallway, opening a door with full hands, or focusing in a space that's too loud or too bright. These are temporary or contextual limitations that can turn an ordinary task into a source of frustration. Designing with these moments in mind doesn't dilute a project's creativity; it strengthens it, and leads to better customer experiences—a universal business goal. There's still a lingering belief that designing for accessibility means sacrificing style or inflating cost. But in practice, starting with constraints leads to sharper, more intentional design decisions; products with smarter features and a clearer sense of purpose. Many of today's most widely adopted design features—curb cuts, touchless faucets, voice control, ergonomic grips—originated as accessible solutions. They didn't stay niche. They became standard. The real opportunity today is not just designing for users, but designing with them. When we observe how people actually live, what they reach for, struggle with, work around, we find the insights that matter most. We call this approach 'Design With,' a process built on listening early and often, where lived experience isn't just part of the feedback loop, it's part of the product development foundation. Accessible design isn't a feature or a trend. It's a foundation. When baked in from the beginning, it expands a product's relevance, strengthens emotional connection, and makes the experience feel more human. It reflects the reality that ability exists on a spectrum, and that good design considers everyone on it. If we want to create more useful, more beautiful, and more accessible environments for Every Body, we have to start by looking at the edges. That's where the friction lives, and where the most meaningful design breakthroughs often begin.
