I recently visited a sizable modern city where I took photos of public spaces. Your challenge is to identify the city based on everyday design elements seen on the streets. These elements, or clues, speak to the values of the culture and provide a guide to the city. Each photo includes one clue. Can you figure out which city I was in?

As we've done with similar challenges in the past, we'll provide answers next week, along with an in-depth look at two architectural places of note in the area.

Why bother with these common design elements? Quite simply, because the works of design that the greatest number of people see, touch and experience on a daily basis is arguably the most important design for society at large. Transportation centers are a prime example, as so many of us experience them regularly. When these centers are done well, Grand Central Station in New York City for example, their effects on us can be overwhelmingly optimistic and powerful. In the city I recently visited, transportation elements stood out. The spaces were exceptionally clean, occasionally austere and had bold graphics that were not dominated by commercial branding. The spaces employed flat benches with hardly enough padding to cushion your bum. What culture would be so spare and minimal?

The design of common domestic objects, such as hotel bedding or a bathroom fixture, is also often a guide to a culture. So is the design of boats used to get around in a river, as well as local residents' apparel and gear. Where would you find a guy wearing aqua trousers on his bicycle and feeling safe enough not to put a helmet on his child? This is a place where wine is poured in measured amounts, guided by a line in the wineglass. Look for clues such as these in my photos.

We apologize for not recognizing the winners of our summer salad contest sooner. I asked Café La Haye chef John McReynolds to review the entries with me, which we did last month (when it was still summer).

The winner is: Twisted Asian Salad by Mingda Liu.

This was John's pick for the following reasons: "The salad is very appropriate for summer given the tomato and cucumber elements. Visually it has nice contrasts, and the separation of the tomatoes from the other elements provides a nice counterpoint. The dressing seems especially tasty."

John liked the use of two pieces of tomato rather than three as this made for a nice balance and complemented the salad as elegant, unpretentious and casual, i.e. perfect for summer.

The other finalists (along with Chef John's comments) are as follows:

Shrimp, Heirloom Tomato and Cantaloupe Salad by William Mammes. "I'll try these undressed tomatoes in my kitchen."

Cucumber Mint Slaw with Marinated Ahi by Alan Wong. "Great recipe but the furniture kind of gets in the way." (See PDF linked below.)

Figs in Balsamic by Marcus Rios. "This wins for simplicity and visual appeal."

Summer Salad by Qiana Rickabaugh. "The basil and blackberry combination is terrific."

Salad Ladurée by Bradley Krueger. "All round nice ingredients and summer appeal. It's fine that it does not give you too much direction, as this allows for personal improvisation."

For a copy of the winning recipes, click here for a PDF.

Many thanks to all of our entrants.