50 Times People Solved Annoying Problems With Surprisingly Smart Ideas (New Pics)

A lot of problems go unsolved simply because the people in charge of solving them don’t experience them at all. Think about how many public spaces we use, transports we take, or devices we rely on—yet so many of them aren’t designed with everyone in mind.

Once you start paying attention to how people with disabilities, learning difficulties, or even different cultural backgrounds navigate the world, it’s hard not to notice how many environments just aren’t built for them.

For me, what really changed my perspective on design was watching videos from wheelchair users showing what their daily routines actually look like.

Suddenly, I couldn’t unsee it—the ramps that are too steep, the doorways with high thresholds most of us step over without a thought, but that require real effort and navigation if you’re using a wheelchair.

And here’s the thing: modern inclusive design doesn’t just revolve around accommodating disabilities.

It’s a broader approach. It recognizes the full range of human diversity, including physical ability, age, gender, culture, and language.

The goal isn’t to fix one specific problem, but to create environments, products, and services that work better for everyone.

So, what does this look like in practice?

Let’s return to our wheelchair example. Ramps and elevators obviously help people with mobility challenges, but they’re also great for parents with strollers, delivery workers, travelers with luggage, or anyone who just doesn’t want to take the stairs.

That’s the beauty of thoughtful design, it solves more than one problem at once.

Another example? Closed captions and transcripts. Essential for those with hearing loss, sure, but also a lifesaver if you’re learning a new language, watching something in a noisy space, or just multitasking.

Personally, I can’t watch anything without subtitles anymore, not because I need them, but because dialogue is often hard to catch, or I get distracted, or I’m eating chips too loudly. Captions help.

Adjustable fonts and large print are another great example. They support users with visual impairments, but they also make reading easier on small screens or in bright light. It’s a win for everyone.

Unfortunately, even with all the brilliant minds working in this space, many environments still fall short. A study by PRP Architects found that 3 in 10 people don’t find their local public spaces accessible or welcoming.

One big reason is that, as PRP points out, the people doing the designing often don’t reflect the people they’re designing for.

“Who lives around us isn’t quite reflected in who [architects] are as a group of people,” says David Hawkins, PRP Architect and ED&I Champion.

In the UK, for example, 68% of architects identify as male, compared to 49% of the general population. According to the same data, 88% of architects identify as non-disabled, while that number is only 76% for the broader UK population. And 50% of architects live in London and the South East, hardly representative of the whole country.

So maybe we should all start noticing and educating ourselves a little more. Next time you’re at a playground, boarding a bus, scrolling a website, or walking into a café, take a moment to consider who can actually use this, and who might be left out.

Because that’s where the smartest solutions begin: by truly seeing the problem in the first place.