Design isn’t universal—it’s cultural

Design isn’t universal—it’s cultural.
What works in one country can completely flop in another. A few quick examples every designer should know:

1. Colors talk.
   White = weddings in the U.S. … but funerals in Japan.
   Red = danger in the West … luck in China.
   
2. Fonts carry history.
   Blackletter feels “gothic” in the U.S. … but in Germany it’s cultural heritage.
   
3. Icons aren’t neutral.
   Thumbs-up = friendly in the U.S. … rude in parts of the Middle East.
   
4. Style shifts.
   Minimalism rules in Scandinavia … while bold patterns and colors feel authentic in Latin America.
   

Design is translation. If we don’t understand culture, we risk miscommunication.
What’s the biggest cultural design surprise you’ve come across?