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We get used to seeing big-name brands like Pringles or Warner Bros everywhere. Like it or not, we form deep and even emotional ties with their qualities, logos, and characteristics. So when these companies decide to shake things up and change their "face" with a great brand refresh, the public takes notice. And since the stakes are this high, an obvious step in the wrong direction fires up our inner critic and almost begs us to poke fun at the results.

The margin for error is thin when it comes to redesigns, but it’s not only brands that get impacted by the obvious flaws designers didn’t pick up from the start. From products to artwork to our favorite animated shows, some updates simply go awry. In fact, they have even inspired one subreddit to go on a quest to shed light on some of the most unfortunate ones.

Aptly titled 'Crappy Redesign', this online community prides itself on sharing only the cream-of-the-crop examples of terrible changes in our favorite brands — and they mercilessly shame them online. Below, we have gathered some of the best cases from the community to share with you all. So continue scrolling, upvote the ones you loved hating most and let us know what you think of them in the comments!

Psst! If you're in the mood for some more poor design madness, check out our earlier pieces here, here, and here.

#3

What The Actual Fawk??

What The Actual Fawk??

Ovitsbole Report

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Ivo H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is to this date probably the worst redesign I've ever seen. I cannot grasp how this design could ever pass trough multiple layers of confirmation and release to public.

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We managed to get in touch with the creator of the 'Crappy Redesign' subreddit, Patrick, who was kind enough to have a little chat about the community, its background, and the common redesign trends that get featured on the group. When asked what inspired the subreddit in the first place, he told us that one post on the multi-million-member strong subreddit named 'Crappy Design' is to blame.

"It all started when I saw a post in 'Crappy Design' about a redesigned Tucan. When I went into the comment section, I saw that a user had commented 'r/CrappyRedesigns', Patrick told Bored Panda. "I could not believe that such a subreddit didn't yet exist, so I created it.” And from the looks of it, he didn’t look back.

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"The subreddit, to my huge surprise, blew up immediately and received thousands of members in under a day! I couldn't believe it," the creator added. "Currently, the subreddit has close to 8k members. I never expected it to grow that big!"

#4

Heroes In The Half-Shell To Whatever This Is

Heroes In The Half-Shell To Whatever This Is

neogeo5185 Report

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Na Schi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG, I wasn't aware that this has happened 😳 - that awful. Simply why?

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#5

Take A Design That You Can Use Correctly Even In The Dark And Replace It With An Abomination That You Can Get Wrong Even In Broad Daylight

Take A Design That You Can Use Correctly Even In The Dark And Replace It With An Abomination That You Can Get Wrong Even In Broad Daylight

reddit.com Report

#6

Well This Is Lame

Well This Is Lame

EthanIceWaffle Report

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Ivo H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The message is clear: "The brand is the only thing that maters to us now."

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Ever since this online community was created over two years ago, it has served as the perfect outlet for design enthusiasts to vent their frustrations. With the tagline "Cal Arts Galore", Patrick and the whole moderator team invites its members to share and poke fun at the unfortunate examples they come across online, as well as participate in meaningful discussions.

"The year is 2050, Cal Arts has taken over all forms of creative expression. Can be referred to oversimplified logos/etc..." writes the moderators in the description. The cases featured on the forum include some of the worst redesigns that range from cartoons to objects to our beloved brands and services. This online community is very open to new members and posts, as long as they follow some basic guidelines.

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#7

They Removed The Native American, But Kept The Land. Classic

They Removed The Native American, But Kept The Land. Classic

diphthing Report

#8

Developer Downgrade

Developer Downgrade

ItsDaDoc Report

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Tiger Lilly
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From artistic and interesting to boring and wouldn't even catch my eye 🙄

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#9

What Will Be Next ? It'll Finish The Circle ? Nothing Is Going Right With The New Logo

What Will Be Next ? It'll Finish The Circle ? Nothing Is Going Right With The New Logo

Stephanoi_Gamer Report

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Ivo H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Outline next. Then just orange arc, then orange line, then black line and then just transparent background with nothing on it. All in the name of all-solving minimalism.

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The number one rule on the subreddit is in the name — the post needs to be an example of a crappy redesign. Although when the brand refresh is very minimal (the moderators provided Google’s redesign as an example), it "doesn't change anything because they're similar to the older design." But if the update is clear and very poorly executed, members need to put the before and after images on both sides in the right order. The last thing to consider before posting is that the redesign must be official and made by the company listed.

#10

A Pointless Redesign

A Pointless Redesign

apieber81 Report

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#11

Virgin Cgi Bob vs. Chad Clay-Mation Bob

Virgin Cgi Bob vs. Chad Clay-Mation Bob

aPingapongball Report

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Alethia Nyx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I reject that, that cannot be meant to be Bob the Builder! It can't be! It looks awful, and nothing like him.

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Bored Panda was also curious to learn more about the community and what the past two years have been like for the subreddit. Patrick opened up that a few things have changed since he created the group. "The activity in the subreddit has decreased a lot since then, but we do still receive posts every now and then."

"Volunteers have largely taken over with the moderation, so I don't really take care of it anymore," he continued. "It was pretty stressful to manage such a large group for the first time though." But even in the most challenging times, he’s grateful for the people who joined him on this journey. "I really want to thank all the people who joined the subreddit! You really made this an interesting experience for me."

#13

Look How They Massacred My Boy

Look How They Massacred My Boy

AndyH16 Report

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#14

Modern ≠ Good

Modern ≠ Good

Au_Ti_S_Ti_C Report

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Na Schi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know this brand, but it looks like they have turned from selling real organic food to something made of artificial flavors with an extra addition of fake-colorants.

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#15

When You Sell Classic Fairytale Every Single Kid In Czech Rep 🇨🇿 Loves To China 🇨🇳 (?), Little Mole And Friends Becomes Little Bad Cgi And Panda???!

When You Sell Classic Fairytale Every Single Kid In Czech Rep 🇨🇿 Loves To China 🇨🇳 (?), Little Mole And Friends Becomes Little Bad Cgi And Panda???!

reddit.com Report

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October
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh no. Noooo! Did they also change the cute clicking sound when he blinks his eyes?

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The vast majority of the posts that end up shared on the group feature oversimplified logos. When asked about this modern trend in the design world, Patrick said he’s not sure where it came from. "Companies are trying to appear more trendy by redesigning logos, but unfortunately, it quite often results in an oversimplification of the logo," he added.

To the creator, however, 'Crappy Redesign' means more than only oversimplified logos. "Crappy Redesigns can be seen everywhere, whether it is a drop in quality of a product in order to reduce manufacturing costs or another way of making a device less repairable for consumers. I would hope to see different types of Crappy Redesigns in the subreddit in the future. Not just oversimplified logos all the time."

#16

From Restoration To Redesign Real Quick

From Restoration To Redesign Real Quick

sixfoldakira Report

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#17

So Will The Films Get More Simplified?

So Will The Films Get More Simplified?

Stephanoi_Gamer Report

As you’re scrolling through this list, you may feel a sense of frustration when seeing these well-known products and brands fail so epically with their redesign. But the truth is that sometimes it’s not only the design flaws that make our blood boil. Turns out, there’s a deeper problem in the way our brains are wired — we humans simply don’t like change.

As growth marketer Kushaan Shah explained in a piece on Medium, two factors contribute to the consumer-fueled backlash when it comes to brand redesigns. The first one is the visual disruption: "How different is the logo from the old logo? Does it pass the internet maturity test?" The second one is identity integration: "How integrated is the brand to our own identity?"

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#20

What Did They Do To Ms.frizzle?

What Did They Do To Ms.frizzle?

TheExekutive Report

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De Burke
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not Ms. Frizzle, it's her sister. I get what you're saying, but at least they have the decency to make her a different character.

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#21

This Is Just Awful

This Is Just Awful

MiJokri Report

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Na Schi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is by for the worst... turning a sweet, little humble bee into something anorexic with meth-eyes.

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Brands that got a positive first reception to a redesign "capitalize on something we know in psychology as the familiarity heuristic — a well-documented shortcut our brains take that makes us feel calm with the familiar, and apprehensive about novel experiences — regardless of their advantages," Shah said, explaining that brands who opt to visually disrupt usually receive all the outrage.

#22

He Looks Cursed Now

He Looks Cursed Now

JustinFFM Report

#23

From My Favourite Childhood Anime To Another Bland 3D Animated Show

From My Favourite Childhood Anime To Another Bland 3D Animated Show

MiJokri Report

#24

Thousands Of Cgi Assets Wasted In One Fell Swoop

Thousands Of Cgi Assets Wasted In One Fell Swoop

The_BackOfMyMind Report

When it comes to identity integration, Shah mentioned a study conducted by Pennsylvania State University called "The Starbucks effect". After surveying 632 college students and asking them to respond to various redesigns, it was found that consumers who are strongly committed to a brand tend to react more negatively toward new logos, while more casual customers typically view the redesigns as a positive development. "When we see a brand that we’ve built an emotional relationship with modify its logo or design," Shah added, "we panic."

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#27

Why Change It? The Old One Was Just Fine

Why Change It? The Old One Was Just Fine

WitleKidz Report

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Hippopotamuses
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably to save money. Printing in one colour is a lot cheaper than printing in four colours.

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"Redesigns take time, effort, and an investment into an identity and visual cue that will stay with the company for the foreseeable future. They’re rarely done on a whim and rarely done without a conversation that spans many layers of a company."

"What we’ve learned above is that there is at least one easy way to avoid backlash altogether and thrive: Make your logo changes simple. Focus on colors and symbols that your customers recognize. Remove ambiguity," Shah suggested.

#28

Probably One Of The Worst Redesigns In Cartoon History

Probably One Of The Worst Redesigns In Cartoon History

demonic_pug Report

#29

Formula 1. I Understand Why They Changed It, But Dammit, The Old Logo Was Iconic!

Formula 1. I Understand Why They Changed It, But Dammit, The Old Logo Was Iconic!

reddit.com Report

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#32

Fireman Sam. Norman Price Looks Like He Works For A Lipstick Company

Fireman Sam. Norman Price Looks Like He Works For A Lipstick Company

Celestial_Light_ Report

#33

This Is By Far The Worst Redesign I’ve Ever Seen

This Is By Far The Worst Redesign I’ve Ever Seen

JLirl Report

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btaglln
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I do not agree with this one ... I like yellow and it will make their planes stand up much more than the boring white and blue livery

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#35

I Can’t Believe They Just Did That

I Can’t Believe They Just Did That

RedditSlayer527 Report

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Ivo H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoever thinks that uniformity > usability should reconsider.

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#37

I Don't Like The New Fanta Redesign

I Don't Like The New Fanta Redesign

random___pictures1 Report

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#38

Death Of "Avenger Chuck" Never Forget

Death Of "Avenger Chuck" Never Forget

eagle-eyes777 Report

#39

Did They Really Have To Add A Bird?

Did They Really Have To Add A Bird?

pelmetalia Report

#40

Burger King Was Another Victim Of The 90s Redesigns

Burger King Was Another Victim Of The 90s Redesigns

imgur.com Report

Note: this post originally had 42 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.