Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
50 Times People Encountered Such Bad Designs, They Just Had To Share (New Pics)
Designing a product, ad, or building is far more difficult of a challenge than you might think. Sure, you could argue that human beings are instinctively artistic and love aesthetics, but the sad truth is that there are far (far!) too many design fails out there. I’m not going to lie, sometimes they keep me awake at night. Thinking about them is both hilarious and terrifying at the same time. And the most powerful pics tend to haunt you for weeks and sometimes months at a time. Good design, why are you so rare?
One of the best places to find some outstanding examples of double-plus-ungood designs is this subreddit right here which shames and pokes fun at them for our amusement. Have a look through some of the best (worst?) design disasters that they featured recently. Remember to upvote the ones that you loved to hate the most and I’d absolutely love to hear which of these were your (least) favorite!
Pssst, Pandas, we know how much you love looking at epic design fails and aesthetic apocalypses, so we cordially invite you to check out Bored Panda’s earlier posts about them after you’re done enjoying and criticizing this list. You’ll find the articles here, here, and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Gas Station In Nebraska. The Station's Color Scheme Was Red. They Tried To Get Artsy
RELATED:
#2
The New School In My Community Has A Wheel Chair Access Button For The Door, But No Way For A Person In A Wheel Chair To Reach It
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
Inaccessible design is so common and it wouldn't take much thought to change it
#3
Lex? Derp? Lox? Nope, It's Supposed To Say Jax For Jacksonville, Florida For $18 Million Dollars
Hannah Edwards 4 years ago
Wow, what a ripoff. I could have done them the whole word for $17 million.
I I 4 years ago
WTF???????/ 18 mill for that crap , why are people hungry and homeless ? well we all need dumb ass unreadable signs dont we
Calypso poet 4 years ago
What a waste. I'm going to stop complaining about the goofy white Cleveland Script signs all over the city. They only cost taxpayers $40k each and you can tell what they say. 🙄
Load More Replies...
Zoe Gillenwater 4 years ago
Lerp would have been my first guess. They could change the name of the city to Lerponville.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
F*****g waste of $18 million that could’ve paid for a load of social safety net services.
Calypso poet 4 years ago
Good news, it hasn't been built and people are petitioning to not let it happen! Sane people in Floriduh? https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/artist-behind-jax-statue-one-park-jax-says-artwork-symbolizes-st-johns-river/QTYKQJ44HBHYBEBDTRSECGROLI/
Load More Replies...
Artoonist Corine 4 years ago
I would like to know what group approved this design before it was built? Did ANYONE see it? lerp? lex? Terrible terrible terrible
tuzdayschild 4 years ago
You probably have to be at just the right angle to see it. But for what I'm sure they paid for this, it should be Jax from everywhere.
Nothanks L. Walk 4 years ago
More importantly : how did the alien worm monster learn our alphabet?
Lisa Chambers 4 years ago
lol I live about 2 miles from here and I cannot stop laughing at this. Someone even made some socks that said this.
Mike Mischak 4 years ago
I'm sure the taxpayers are happy with what 18 million dollars of their taxes went for.
Mavis Garland 4 years ago
Sure does not look like this says JAX! What a WASTE of MONEY spent on this.
Chantel Cummings 4 years ago
This is just the concept. It hasn't been chosen or paid for yet. Most of us in Jax hate this idea.
Jill Tremblay 4 years ago
F-ing Idiotic. Meanwhile $18 Million dollars would have helped a lot of people and animals
Remind me where I am again ? 4 years ago
Though it may not be at all helpful. It is lovely....
Christine Peverley 4 years ago
I thought it was SEX. Probably says more about me than any sign but I am being honest I really did!
Callie Dryer 4 years ago (edited)
A very reliable source (Florida Man) told me it’s derp…. He may or may not have been drinking Natty Light.
Andy Little 4 years ago
Village near us in the UK has something similar. It's meant to look like abstract art from most angles - but if you're in the right area, I've no doubt that this will look exactly like Jax.
Kathryn Dodge 4 years ago
I'd say that's a winner compared to the "Golden B******e" in our city of Sterling Heights, Michigan!! https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2019/02/01/sterling-heights-erects-300k-golden-b******e-spreads-criticism-and-satire
Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
Why in the unholy f*ck did that cost 18 million dollars ??!!! I wonder who the money went to ?
Sawdust 4 years ago
Looks like this doesn't exist yet and was just recently (July 2021) approved. (I thought we were viewing a real sculpture from a bad angle, perhaps...but this is the angle rendered to show it off to its best?!) https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/22/design-plan-featuring-massive-jax-sculpture-picked-for-former-jacksonville-landing-site/
Natalia A 4 years ago
I'm sorry but how does that possibly cost $18m? How many homeless people could they have housed with that amount of money? How many hungry children and families could they have supported? Public libraries, public leisure centres, so much good could have been done with that money.
Michigan Guy 4 years ago
that's a J. (squints real fu**king hard) ...i...No. That's not a go**dam J. It's just not.
Daniel (ShadowDrakken) 4 years ago
Geebus... it's a good thing the Kismet (super-yacht) will be out there blocking that atrocity 3 months out of the year.
Chloe *Leah* Pheonix 4 years ago
I see jax but I swear the first time I saw it I almost yelled derp... its 6:30 in the morning
Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
Wow, it’s also ugly too . Had he done it with natural material it would of looked , well , better
The subreddit that makes fun of bad designs is a goliath on Reddit with a whopping 2.6 million members. The online group has been active since January 2011 and has become a true pillar of design discussion online, ranging from the silly and fun to the in-depth and serious.
Over the last two years alone, the subreddit grew by nearly a million members from 1.7 million adoring fans. Back then, they were getting 2 million page views per month. That’s proof enough of their popularity.
#4
Great Image To Help Your Kid Not Freak Out While Getting A Haircut
#5
Women's Jeans, I Want The Rest Of My Pocket
#6
Striped Carpet On Hotel Stairs. Hard To Use Even After Two Weeks And Completly Sober
I previously spoke to a member of the subreddit’s moderator team to learn a bit more about their community. One of the mods told me previously that the “original motivation” of the subreddit was to “point out” horrible designs.
“Nowadays, most subscribers probably come here for entertainment. However, it is common to have meaningful discussion here on why or why not something is [bad] design,” the mod told Bored Panda.
#7
The Placement Of This Baby's Head Wasn't Quite Thought Through
#8
Best Cat Carrier To Contain Your Sexy Cat
#9
Not Where Earphones Go
We might intuitively understand what good design is, however, it’s a real challenge to get the design just right. It’s not just about beauty or function, however (though these are vital, too!). The idea of good design goes deeper still.
For instance, researcher Don Norman believes that the essence of design is… communication. “Design is really an act of communication, which means having a deep understanding of the person with whom the designer is communicating,” he writes in ‘The Design of Everyday Things.’
#10
Pet Clippers That Let You Pull Naked Dogs Out Of Furry Behinds
#11
This Bench. Where I Live It Is Very Hot And It Is Impossible To Sit In This Park
troufaki13 4 years ago
But you can use it to fry eggs and grill some steak. Perfect for a picnic in the park.
#12
Why Is Clear A Green Button While Enter Is Yellow? I Kept Accidentally Clearing My Pin
According to Norman, design doesn’t have to be complicated. He argues that usability is just as important as aesthetics. Or, in other words, the product has to be functional and useful, not just a pretty thing to look at.
Norman explains that product design cannot ignore the needs of users. In the book, he argues that good, usable design is entirely possible, not just a dream conjured up by idealists.
“The rules are simple: make things visible, exploit natural relationships that couple function and control, and make intelligent use of constraints. The goal: guide the user effortlessly to the right action on the right control at the right time,” he writes that some products are able to satisfy customers’ needs while others only end up frustrating them.
#13
This Sign At The Akron Zoo That Looks Like A Man Peeing In His Own Face
#14
Rénovations Done To A 500 Years Old Tower
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
Seen this one before. This is the only design the council approved after years of fighting and rejecting many much more sympathetic ideas. It's an episode of George Clarke's Restoration Man
#15
They Just Don't Go Together
Dr Nostromo 4 years ago
The concept of jigsaw puzzles apparently eluded the designer of this one.
#16
Easy Way To Piss Off A Mailman
Sigrid Johanesdóttir 4 years ago
"yes, this is the mail man, I'm dropping all your packages in the gas station good luck"
#17
A Speed Bump On An Downhill Slope With No Drainage?
#18
This Is Not Vitamin D; It's An Emoji On A Bottle Of Magnesium
#19
If You Say So!
#20
Her Face Is Not Ok
#21
The Sign Says "Teaching Kids Good Manners", But It Looks Like You're Just Yeeting The Baby Into Trash
#22
Got This As A Gift And Honestly I Don't Want To Throw It Away Just Because It's Terribly Funny
#23
Thought It Was A Different Language At First
hyperunknown 4 years ago (edited)
It's a feature of Microsoft Word. Obviously. Let me elaborate: https://i.kym-cdn.co...809/345/144.jpg
#24
This Unfortunate Placement Of A Handle
#25
The Marbling In These Floor Tiles Makes It Look Like Someone Pooped All Over The Floor
#26
Sure, Place An Ad With A Guy Drinking Water Next To Rubbing Alcohol Of The Same Brand
#27
They Sell Suitcase Covers.. But The Photoshop Is Just Awful
#28
Maybe I Shouldn't Park Here
#29
Much More Convenient!
#30
Is This Andre The Giant’s Treadmill?
#31
Practical Bathroom
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
So the sink is downstairs? the bath in some sort of weird glass upstairs nook and the toilet in the cubby beneath? Wow
#32
How On Earth Can The Overpass Be Flooded?!
#33
Restaurant Bathroom: One Mirror Panel On Top, One On The Bottom...no Way To See Myself In Between
#34
This Amazon Photo Where The Kids Don't Even Look At The Toys
#35
Welcome Shorpers
Serial pacifist 4 years ago
Pirate shopping center. Arrrgh, shorpers, ye come in and purcharse something, ay.
#36
Don’t Have Hep C? Get Some!
#37
This Frozen 2 Temporary Tattoo Is Supposed To Say "Face Your Fear", But The First Two Words Are Written In An Orange-Ish Color
#38
This Shirt That Looks Like It’s Covered In Coffee Stains
beastmachine. 4 years ago
Oh this is perfect excuse shirt for Monday mornings when you drop coffee hastily
#39
He's Either Sucking On Her Head, Or He Is A Raccoon Cap... Not Sure Which Disturbs Anymore
#40
The Balcony Of My Hotel In Switzerland Is Only Accessible Through The Window
#41
This Tea Will Change Your Image Size Ratio!
#42
The Design Of This Pillowcase Makes It Look Like There Are Bugs Crawling On It
#43
This Hose Cart Creates Water From Thin Air
#44
Nev York
#45
Outdoor Tables With Rough Surfaces
#46
The Shower In My Dorm Freshman Year (I'm Only 5'7)
#47
Hedge Archway In The Neighborhood
#48
A Very Easy To Read Graph About Texting While Driving? Found In My High School Yearbook
#49
Is This Cake Like Deadpool?
#50
In A Friend's Wedding Goodie Bag
#51
These Sodas Are Kind Of Flat
#52
Water Bottle Designed To Go In The Freezer Breaks When Put In The Freezer
#53
The Cowardly Lion Has Seen Some Things
Zoe Gillenwater 4 years ago
Was this painted by the same woman who did the monkey Jesus painting in that church?
#54
Supplying Your Restaurant Ac Through The Giant Inlet Next To The Toilet
#55
A "Supposed" Spongebob Ice Cream. It Was Delicious Tho
#56
Extractor Hood Installed Low Over The Hob
Carmen Honacker 4 years ago
Oh dear. How does one actually cook on this? Looks like I can't fit a large pot on the stove either.
#57
This Bench Has A Fountain For A Backrest
Samantha Lomb 4 years ago
The sad thing is this HAD to go through multiple levels of planning and approval without anyone thinking this was an issue
#58
These Doors Open Into Each Other And Get Stuck Together
#59
These Plates With A Painted On Lipstick Smudge
#60
Our Baker Is A Clown!
#61
This Speed Hump They Installed In Front Of My House Is About As Useful As A Perforated Cereal Bowl. People Just Drive Down The Middle Of The Road To Avoid It
#62
Dog? Silhouette At A Well-Known Big Box Store
#63
My Dog’s After-Shot Bandage. It’s Not Blood, It’s Red Ice Cream Cones, Duh!
#64
This Soap Dish Looks Filthy
#65
A Very Long Torso
#66
Congrats 2201
#67
They Tried To Make This Hair Tonic Look Piratey, But It Only Really Looks Like Poison When You Put A Jolly Roger On A Bottle
#68
I Can See Into The Main Hallway Of The Building Standing At The Urinal
#69
Faces Printed On Car Windows Will Never Work Out
#70
Bought An Automatic Soap Dispenser. It Could Not Resist Water And The Batteries Rusted
#71
The Designer Were On Something
2WheelTravlr 4 years ago
Not a design flaw, and installation flaw. The unit should be rotated 90 degrees.
#72
It's Time To Sun Your Cheeks
beastmachine. 4 years ago
Does this also mean that you can't get a dog but still have to pick up random turd?
#73
This Uncomfortable Cup Which You Can't Hold Without Touching The Hot Side
#74
Its Like Someone Sh*t On It
#75
The Glare Was Dazzling Everytime The Sun Came Out
#76
The New High School In My Area Has These Football/Soccer Goals With No Sides To Stop The Ball
#77
I My Bike
#78
This Terrible Box Art
#79
I Just Wanted A Normal Sonic Figure But Got Whatever This Is Instead (From A Mystery Suprise Toy Box)
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Carmen Sandiego 4 years ago (edited)
Damnit I came here too late y'all stole the good comments before I could
RatherLoopy 4 years ago
Not sure exactly what Walmart was trying to accomplish with this 2017 display of emoji-themed adhesive bandages... Rainbow-Po...91a4dd.jpg 
Carmen Sandiego 4 years ago (edited)
Damnit I came here too late y'all stole the good comments before I could
RatherLoopy 4 years ago
Not sure exactly what Walmart was trying to accomplish with this 2017 display of emoji-themed adhesive bandages... Rainbow-Po...91a4dd.jpg
You May Like 50 Of The Most Poorly-Designed Staircases That May Leave You Awestruck In The Worst Way 25 Times People Had Very Creative And Cozy Ideas For Window Seats People Are Sharing Their Decked-Out Bedrooms, And Here Are 30 Of The Most Amazing Ones
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Žydrūnė Trukanavičiūtė
Related on Bored Panda
