Some product designs have been around so long that we often take their convenience for granted. We all know that everyday items like keys or forks are designed with specific characteristics so that they can actually be practical in our day-to-day lives. But have you ever wondered how these same objects would look if they were intentionally created to make your life miserable?
If you're curious about such absurd design choices, look no further than the subreddit r/AwesomelyUseless. There, you'll find the finest collection of the most bizarre "upgrades" made by designers. While these creations may overall look great, they serve absolutely no practical purpose and might infuriate you instead. Reflecting on these useless items might lead us to consider how people with special needs might feel when faced with everyday objects that are difficult or even impossible to use.
So, next time you reach for a regular old fork or key, take a moment to appreciate the thought that some professional has put into designing it to make your life somewhat better.
This post may include affiliate links.
I’m Sure You’ve All Seen This Before, But I’m Posting It Anyway
"I bought some dehydrated water, but didn't know what to add" (Steven Wright)
Just Incase You Didn't Have Enough Trouble Finding Normal Golfballs
This Is Some Platform 9¾ Level Cycle Path
You Need A Trolley And An Owl To Get Off Of This Escalator
Make Your Baby Do The Cleaning
I've Been Wondering How I Should Rewind Dvd's All This Time
Post Not In Use
I Actually Really Want One Of These
Not Only Is This Useless, It Looks Like Even More Work
Oooh but I love the feel and sound of a typewriter so although useless I still want lol
This Has To Be A Joke Right?
What's The Point?
It's a 2-way mirror and the inside coating peeled off where they've put the sign.
Well Crap, There Goes My Dinner Plan!
This Picture Really Brings Light To One Of The Most Useless Gadgets Ever
The Sole Reason For These $425 Gold Pills Is To Make Your Excrement Glittery
People who are into nasty nasty things in the bedroom 😭
Load More Replies...If I could afford to spend $425 on something this useless and idiotic, I'd just give the money to someone who needed it. That would be putting it to far better use.
Only if I had a Dr expecting a stool sample. Then I can see their use.
U fckin talk like Ur bloody shait is fkin better then mine and shines like gold dunnit ? ....Actually, sir, yes, precisely, you are right about it
What's bad is there is way more expensive medications than this in America.
My mother was given gold as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis many years ago. It almost killed her.
I get this was like designed by some artist to represent "out of control consumerism" but they actually sell, this is actually real, how could you buy this when people are hungry? Like how could you buy this, have a laugh or whatever and not hate yourself? This just makes me angry, if that special someone literally has everything then make a donation in their name for Christs sake, this is beyond stupid and tone deaf.
This is great! Now I won't have to hunt down and eat unicorns anymore! Those things are getting harder to find every day.
Just ask someone you know who loves crafts if they have some glitter they can give you. I promise you they do. I have so much glitter. In fact, any Panda's want some glitter for their poo? I'll.gove it to you for the cost of shipping. Or, ya know, just head to your local dollar store.
Probably the same person who looks for poop after their dog eats a box of crayons.
Unless you use more than four sheets at a time, it would literally be cheaper to wipe your a*s with $100 bills.
Could you not just get the same effect from glitter? That way you can chose the color to fit your mood or outfit.
If anybody really buys these, they are sick and should use their money to feed someone.
Just go down to the dollar store and buy a bottle of glitter for $.99
If 'they' tell you something is good for you and you need more in your diet, some idiot will buy it.
What's the point of using real gold glitter? Why not save money and go to the crafts store for regular gold glitter? Next, inquiring minds need to know: How is the "material" handled, upon elimination. What purpose does it serve? And how is it disposed of, or, gulp, consumed?
If you paid for these to get sparkly poop, I bet you want EVERYONE to see!
Ancient alien people say that aliens created humans toine gold for them and they consumed it. Which is why gold ended up being extremely valuable to humans but they didn't know why. Look up the crazy woo woo stuff, monotonic gold etc. Kind of interesting.
Now your c**p can be as sparkly as a mystical, magical unicorn for the low, low price of $425.00. For an extra $100.00 we'll have you pooping literal rainbows!
Tell me this is not a thing, PLEASE TELL ME THIS IS NOT A THING!!!
https://justanotherrichkid.com/products/indulgences-gold-pills?variant=4578753028 Looks like it's real.
Load More Replies...I Thought I’d Seen It All... But Nope, USB Pet Rock
There’s One Key Flaw In This Design
This Sun Visor That Blocks Nothing
Stylish Diving Is The New Trend
I'm Sure It Has A Great View, But Good Luck Getting There!
I Bet They Made Some Serious Dough Selling These
Because Your Guinea Pigs Can't Go Around Looking Cute And Adorable!
No More Losing Remotes Down The Side Of The Couch
Perfect For On The Go Viewing When You're Out Of Data!
I Hope These Never Catch On
Take The Goldfish For A Walk
It’s A Dog Eat Dog World
Does This Offend Eastern Cultures Less?
I think that's actually really clever. Want to use chopsticks? Fine, use the ends. Need a spoon? Use the other end.
Picnic Pants
This Looks Like Something Only Lady Gaga Would Wear
Peel The Potato And Your Skin, 2 For 1!
I had one of these. There was a cover you put over the blade you weren't using that double as a handle. Very practical. I lost it in a move and still keep an eye out to see if I can find one.
Because Cracking An Egg Is So Difficult
No wonder the oceans are full of plastic waste... Who produces this bullshitt? And is there anyone of sane mind buying things like these?
Is This A Bowl Or A Spoon?
Good Luck Doing Any Sums That Involve 1's
What Could Be Cooler Than A Watermelon Coo... Oh Never Mind
This Door Doesn’t Even Lock
I Would Pay Good Money To Watch Someone Try And Water Their Garden With This
Lip-Stick This Thing In The Bin
You’d Wine A Lot About It If Someone Bought You This
"Every Inch Matters"
You Can't Even Eat The Cone After
Health And Safety Has Gone Mad
I'm Sure These Are Extremely Effective
Bingo But Every Card Is The Same !merry Christmas
What, Why, Who, No
Inflatable Neck Brace?
Well, some mornings I reckon I'd happily wear one of them and stick about 45psi in it to straighten-out the kinks.
A Tool That Can Slice Hot Dogs Into Little Hot Dog People, That Kids Can Then Devour Without Mercy
Can we call the majority of this list what it really is? Dystopian level mindless consumerism.
You’d Have To Be A Mug To Buy This
Let Me Introduce You To The Cuecat, The Early 2000 Home Barcode Scanner
But You Couldn't Just Use A Bag?
Is This The Most Spoilt Goldfish There Has Ever Been?
No. This would be a very unlucky goldfish: "moving the tank or the fish can cause great upheaval. It can even lead to injuries and stress-related sicknesses among your fish."
Really?
Absolutely Pointless, And Yet I Want One
Useful for parties when you have a plate of food in one hand and a fork in the other.
It's Probably More Effort Getting This Thing Out To Use Than It Is To Just Press The Buttons
Not everyone has two functional hands. This is an old picture of an occupational therapy device for stroke victims.
The Whole Thing Is A Ramp
Perhaps having the handrails there is useful - any wheelchair users care to enlighten us?
More Like Bay Leaf This One On The Shelf And Don’t Buy It
This is how they mostly package bay leaves. Cheaper for them to use the containers that they use for their spices than to make special ones just for bay leaves. I buy these all the time and I have never seen them in a bottle without holes. Except at Asian markets, some come in plastic bags.
Cute... and... we all know that more than half of these are items that were created **specifically** for the purpose of looking like it could be useful, but upon closer inspection is ridiculous, right?? They're NOT actual you-can-buy-off-shelf items . I remember some of these circulating in a book back in the 90s... Japanese term is "Chindogu" - look it up.
A lot of these were from an artist who deliberately designed the most frustrating products possible
I think Katerina Kamprani's comedic design work has been misrepresented in this post. Check out TheUncomfortable.com
A lot of these photos are really, really old. The "new" comments don't really make them better.
crop, copy paste, crop copy paste. Many of these are from the dawn of the internet.
Load More Replies...Not going to lie, I think I've seen most of these on Wish or Temu. Bizarre.
So they weren't mostly designed as a joke/ art piece/ gag gift, etc? I think we should be told. I loved this article, I was fascinated but also confused!
Load More Replies...These all give me 5 Miniute crafts vibes and I hate that I love the stupidity of the stuff
Why read it if you don't like it? I love it, just dragging myself away now.
Load More Replies...Oh gods. Most of there are fake, never made, just for clicks. Many are also from gag gift boxes. You put the real gift in the gag box.
So was the picture on here just the picture from the gag box? Even if a joke or an art piece, I thought the picture was real. Am I being naive?
Load More Replies...Cute... and... we all know that more than half of these are items that were created **specifically** for the purpose of looking like it could be useful, but upon closer inspection is ridiculous, right?? They're NOT actual you-can-buy-off-shelf items . I remember some of these circulating in a book back in the 90s... Japanese term is "Chindogu" - look it up.
A lot of these were from an artist who deliberately designed the most frustrating products possible
I think Katerina Kamprani's comedic design work has been misrepresented in this post. Check out TheUncomfortable.com
A lot of these photos are really, really old. The "new" comments don't really make them better.
crop, copy paste, crop copy paste. Many of these are from the dawn of the internet.
Load More Replies...Not going to lie, I think I've seen most of these on Wish or Temu. Bizarre.
So they weren't mostly designed as a joke/ art piece/ gag gift, etc? I think we should be told. I loved this article, I was fascinated but also confused!
Load More Replies...These all give me 5 Miniute crafts vibes and I hate that I love the stupidity of the stuff
Why read it if you don't like it? I love it, just dragging myself away now.
Load More Replies...Oh gods. Most of there are fake, never made, just for clicks. Many are also from gag gift boxes. You put the real gift in the gag box.
So was the picture on here just the picture from the gag box? Even if a joke or an art piece, I thought the picture was real. Am I being naive?
Load More Replies...
