Sleep deprivation can be so harmful and distressing that it has been used as a form of torture and interrogation for centuries! Around 50 to 70 million Americans experience sleep deprivation with 35.2% of all adults sleeping less than seven hours each night on average. Of course, many factors influence sleep deprivation trends, including age, occupation, race, and location. So where in the United States do adults struggle the most with getting proper sleep? The team at Charlotte’s Web has analyzed data from the University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute to find the most sleep-deprived areas in every state.

Click below to zoom

There are many “cities that never sleep” in the United States, it seems. Many of the states and counties that struggle the most with getting adequate sleep appear to be in the South. In McGreary County, Kentucky and Mingo County, West Virginia, 49% of adults reported insufficient sleep! The U.S. Average is 35%, so that is a concerning degree higher. West Virginia also struggles significantly with mental health – another fascinating chart by Charlotte’s Web sheds light on how 30 out of the 50 U.S. counties with the poorest mental health are located in West Virginia (including the top 10). While I am sure lack of sleep is not the driving factor in these alarming statistics, I am sure it is all connected. From a design perspective, I really appreciate how the muted yellow, somber blue, and open eye capture the sense of dreariness that comes from lack of sleep. And then you have the punchy colors of the U.S. map, much like the unrelenting responsibilities that hit hard each day no matter how tired you are. I am not sure if this is how the designer intended it, but it works!

It is no secret that sugar does more harm than good – especially for children! Studies show a negative impact on learning, memory, and academic performance. It is also linked to obesity, fatty liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and gout. Of course, cutting down is far easier said than done, especially when 70% of packaged foods and 80% of kids’ foods have added sugar! Of course, a sweet treat now and then most likely won’t have a long-term harmful impact, but it can be hard to place boundaries on sugar, especially with children. The American Heart Association reports that American children consume an average of 81 grams of added sugar per day – that is 65 pounds of added sugar per year! Where do children in the U.S. eat the most sugar? The team at MainStreetSmiles.com conducted an intriguing survey of parents on how many sugary snacks their children consume per week and day.

Click below to zoom

Do any of the results surprise you? I was honestly quite shocked by Pennsylvania, where parents reported an average of 3.266 sugary snacks consumed per day! I did a little digging on why this might be and found a few possible explanations. Pennsylvania is known as the “snack capital of the world”, the Pretzel Belt, and the Snack Belt – it is home to Hershey’s, Utz, Snyder, Just Born (Peeps, Mike & Ike’s), Breyer’s, and other major snack companies. Overall, it has a thriving snack food scene! While snacks are wonderful, moderation is key. Check out the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s tips on how to reduce sugar in your child’s diet. Overall, I love the color scheme and adorable header – I just want to take a bite out of those letters! The proportionate donuts are such a clever way to visualize the rankings. Fun and functional!

Trademarks might not be something you think about often, but they are essential for both protecting the integrity and success of brands! The origins of trademarks can be traced back to the Stone Age; cave paintings of livestock with branding meant to identify personal property have been found. In Ancient Egypt, stones were engraved with marks to indicate the origin of the material as well as the laborer who completed the work. Since then, trademarks have evolved into legally intensive and global agents that are crucial for the flow of commerce. Every country has its own system that involves applications, fees, renewals, and more. The team at Nominus.com has created a chart that visualizes which countries apply for the most trademarks around the world.

Click below to zoom

Something fascinating I have learned from this chart is that trademarks are not universal and you are only protected in the country you applied for. Fortunately, there is an epic-sounding system called the Madrid Protocol that allows you to seek protection in 129 countries at once! So what is the most “creative” country? Of course it’s far from the only measure of a country’s inventiveness, but Monaco takes the cake with 11,609.20 trademarks per capita in 2021! Out of the most populous countries, Germany applies for the most trademarks per capita. That does not surprise me as Germany has a reputation for quality, innovation, and vigorous manufacturing output. In fact, it ranks #1 in Statista’s Made-In-Country Index, which is a measure of how trusted a country’s name is on labels.

Overall, I really love the color scheme used for this chart – it’s easy on the eyes, effective, and unique. Have you ever applied for a trademark? How did you find the process? We would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!