Sweden: Unlike Anywhere Else on Earth
8. Companies Recognize Dads Can Change Diapers Too
Have you ever paid attention to how most diaper companies always have pictures of moms or babies on the packaging? It’s one of those laws of the universe, right? This pattern is true nearly across the board, but Sweden was doing something different. In place of the standard mom-and-baby tableau, a Swedish local diaper company depicts a baby napping blissfully on the chest of its dad. Isn’t that refreshing?
It really makes you think, though, doesn’t it? Why do we perpetuate the assumption that only moms can care for babies? This packaging is a subtle reminder that father’s are perfectly capable of changing diapers, soothing babies and being active parents too. We love to see a brand that recognizes how essential dad-filler parenting tends to be.
Sweden gets it. They know that parenting isn’t just about moms doing everything dads are in the trenches, too, doing their part. It’s good to see a brand take that no holds barred approach and remind the world that two parents regardless of their sex will always do their best to raise their little ones together. How cool would it be to have other brands do the same?
9. The Subway Air Vents Reveal a Fun Surprise
We love it when public officials or authorities join in a little pop culture, don’t you? It just makes them feel more human and relatable, doesn’t it?” Sweden is a perfect example of a nation that can enjoy themselves but can also be very practical. Take their subway system, for instance. It’s built to take people from point A to point B, but with a catch they’ve sprinkled little delights along the way to make the journey more entertaining.
One of these surprises is a Pac-Man scene carved into the subway vents. Imagine just sitting there, waiting for your train, and then you see Pac-Man being chased by the Ghosts from that old school arcade game. It’s such a great little easter egg that gives personality to an otherwise-uneventful commute. Who would have guessed that a train ride would put a smile on your face?
These are the kinds of things that make a city feel more playful and interesting Rather than being purely functional, the subway system is a space where fun little details jump out at you. It’s not just about the destination it’s about the journey as well. Wouldn’t it be lovely if other cities incorporated more touches like this?
10. Shopping Carts Include Grocery Maps
Now a days your average shopping cart has very little, if not zero features outside of the US. A shopping cart has a very simple function, and thus has a very simple design. But in Sweden, they have maps of the supermarkets on the shopping carts so that people can find their way around the stores easily. This is a lifesaving design for those who are directionally impaired and have ever gotten lost in a supermarket.
It seems like a tiny change, but it makes shopping so much less stressful. You do not have to wander around aimlessly between aisles, you just have to brief a look on the map on your cart and go to straight to what you need. It’s a smart fix for a universal struggle, making a mundane task a bit more seamless.
They not only have the maps built into the shopping carts, but also a place to actually hold a scanner and other small changes making big differences.
11. Sweden’s Sunrises- A Love Story
Like those cringe dating profiles where someone says “sunrises are so romantic!” We’ve all rolled our eyes at things like, “I want to sit and watch the sunrise with someone special.” But honestly who could blame them. If you lived in Sweden, you would have wanted to shout it from the rooftops! Just try imagining those marveling sunrises. Surely even the most jaded among us would have been inspired to a certain well-trodden cliché?
Imagine sky blending from orange to pink to purple, resetting bright blue in between, reflected back in still waters It’s a tableau that could give anyone a bit of a mushy feeling. If you were waking up to that every day, wouldn’t you want to share it with someone? Suddenly, those lines about sunrises don’t seem so cliché, they seem to be a true offer to share something beautiful with you.
So, the next time you spot one of those profiles, maybe take a second to think again. I mean, who wouldn’t want to begin the day with a beautiful Sweden sunrise? If that doesn’t create a connection, what will? Just look at it, it’s hard not to fall in love with it!!
12. Museum of Disgusting Foods
Have you ever considered how some foods we love make no sense to others? For instance, Twinkies and Pop-Tarts are considered childhood treasures in the USA. But can you imagine someone from a different country seeing those treats and thinking, “What on earth is that?” How funny to think about, right?
Next, on to Sweden’s “Disgusting Food Museum.” This is a place devoted to the foods locals consider pretty gross. Imagine this there are showcases of those all American snacks Twinkies and Pop-Tarts! It’s a riot of culinary dissent and it leaves you wondering what’s so disgusting about them anyway? If you’re the kind of person who can’t stand these snacks, you just might feel right at home in this quirky museum.
So, what do you think? Would you venture to a place that glorifies the disgusting in food? It might be a fun way to explore different tastes and possibly prompt a debate about what’s tasty and what’s really delicious. Food, after all, is a major component of culture, so it makes sense that there is a ton this museum can say about the subject!
13. Smart Biker Stands at Stoplights
Have you heard about how annoying stoplights are for cyclists? You know, that low-rent moment when you must get off your bike, fumble with your bag and then get back on the second the light turns green?” But hold on, Sweden has already addressed this problem with their cool Biker Stands at stoplights. Picture this you ride up to a red light, and instead of balancing your bike like a circus act, you simply slide it into a stand. Pretty neat, right?
And the best part no dismounts to put your bike up on these stands! So that when the light turns green, you’re not frantically trying to remount and impede traffic. You’re already ready to zoom off! It’s a minor change, but it’s a big deal for bikers. And, doesn’t that change the game?”
Sweden’s strategy is a brilliant reminder that good design in our environment underlines our very experience of life. There really is a lot for other nations to take away from this! What if every city had something like this you know? You would bike infinitely more and better. What do you think? Who would love to see something like this in your home town?
14. Genius Grocery Aisle-Pads Next to Chocolate
Have more fun shopping: Have you ever wondered how shopping for menstrual products could be a little more… entertaining? In Sweden, supermarkets have done the genius move of putting pads next to the chocolate. It’s as if they know that with the monthly visit must also come chocolate. Who doesn’t want to pick up a chocolate bar while browsing for the essentials? It’s a little convenience that makes for a potentially awkward shopping trip feel more like a treat. Just imagine not having to do two trips it will save a lot of time when walking down the aisle.
And admit it, this clever placement isn’t just for convenience, it’s a savvy business strategy as well. By grouping these objects, Swedish stores probably are moving more chocolate. I mean, who can say no to a treat when they’re already purchasing something for a not-too-fun reason? Well played Sweden for making a boring task more fun!
So next time you’re at the store, wouldn’t it be great if they could take a page out of Sweden’s playbook? What other pairings could help make shopping easier or more pleasurable for you?
15. Unique Indiana Jones Street Art
Sweden is no stranger to impressive art, but one piece in particular has caught the attention of many a pixelated street art representation of Indiana Jones. If you’ve ever seen the iconic scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, you know exactly what this artwork is referencing the moment when Indiana Jones swaps a golden idol for a bag of sand. This pixelated version of that scene captures the spirit of the adventure perfectly, while adding a bit of Swedish flair with its unique artistic style. It’s an example of how art can bring iconic pop culture moments into everyday spaces.
Street art often plays with the boundaries of what we expect from public spaces, and this piece is a prime example of that. In a way, it’s like a tribute to Indiana Jones, but with a modern twist. The pixelation of the art brings it into the digital age, while also tying it to the history of video games and digital art forms. It’s not every day that you see a pixelated version of a legendary movie scene on the side of a building, making it a must-see for fans of both classic cinema and contemporary art.
What’s interesting about this street art is that it brings a beloved film moment into the real world, making it accessible to passersby who may not have ever considered the significance of that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s just another way Sweden is showing how they blend art, culture, and history in the most unexpected and delightful ways. Would you stop and admire this Indiana Jones piece if you stumbled upon it in the streets of Sweden?
16. Artistic Subway Stations in Stockholm
All right, now let’s move on to public transport. And we all know that it can be a bit of a nightmare in many cities, no? But over in Stockholm, it’s a different thing entirely. The subway stations there– you feel like you just entered an art gallery! So imagine waiting for your train surrounded by stunning murals and full-size sculptures that take you to another world. It’s difficult to even think you are in a subway with the scenery being so gorgeous looking.
And though people still handle the usual waits and quirky fellow passengers, at least they are doing it in a place that feels magical. It has to make those drawn-out waits a bit more bearable, right? I could easily see myself taking plenty of pictures and enjoying the lovely atmosphere as I waited for my bus.
Have you ever been in a subway station and enjoyed it? What do you think would make public transport more attractive in your city?
