Does Culture Matter for Product Design?

"Once upon a time, when I visited other countries, I would head to the department stores so I could experience the wide cultural variations in such things as cookware, cutlery and tools for crafts and gardening. Today, I seldom do this anymore because all the stores look the same." - Core77

http://www.core77.com/blog/columns/does_culture_matter_for_product_design_21455.asp