ADVERTISEMENT

School. It's somewhere we all have to go, whether we like it or not. They could at least make it a pleasant place to be, couldn't they? Well not really, no. Most public schools are formulaic, functional places that hardly make students want to be involved in the learning process, let alone inspire creativity, and the joy of knowledge.

With budgets being further slashed under conservative governments in the U.S. and UK, the situation in these countries at least isn't looking up. Not only are students and teachers dealing with boring architecture design, dilapidated school buildings and classrooms, but many also have to live with shortages of basic materials too, prompting teachers to leave the profession en masse. So much for caring about the next generation!

Bored Panda has collected a list of examples of school designers either taking shortcuts, not caring, or needing to go back to school themselves. From thoughtless toilet placements to hilariously offensive murals, these students can at least have a wry chuckle at the ridiculousness of crappy design.

Scroll down below to check these design fails out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

So we've seen the consequences of bad design, so what makes for good design? There are a few basic principles to stick to if you want to make sure your design is practical, relevant and makes sense!

According to Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer who was responsible for the design of Braun’s consumer products for many years, there are 10 principles of good design, also known as the '10 commandments.' Even though they were written long ago and technology has advanced beyond his wildest dreams, Dieter's principles still apply today!

#2

New Statue At A Catholic School

New Statue At A Catholic School

Carmineld91 Report

#3

This School Bus Ad

This School Bus Ad

reddit.com Report

Furniture designers Vitsoe have worked closely with Dieter Rams for decades, and helpfully summarize his founding principles of good design with the following explanations:

Good design is innovative The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.

Good design makes a product useful: A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Good design is aesthetic: The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use every day affect our person and our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

#4

It's Even More Fascinating When This Shit Happens In A Design School

It's Even More Fascinating When This Shit Happens In A Design School

raynehk14 Report

Good design makes a product understandable: It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory.

Good design is unobtrusive: Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

Good design is honest: It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

#6

"A Man Plowing A Field" On A Local School Building

"A Man Plowing A Field" On A Local School Building

JohhnyTheKid Report

#7

Interesting Take For A School Quote

Interesting Take For A School Quote

Windows_10_Faggot Report

Good design is thorough down to the last detail: Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the user.

ADVERTISEMENT

Good design is environmentally-friendly: Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Good design is as little design as possible: Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.

So three you have it, pretty simple right? If you are tasked with designing something and want to avoid the hilarious mistakes found in this list, check these principles off first and you should succeed!

#8

Being Helpful For The Blind

Being Helpful For The Blind

Bodkin2005 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

The Absolute Crap Design Of My School. This Is The Place Where Every Hallway Intersects

The Absolute Crap Design Of My School. This Is The Place Where Every Hallway Intersects

LuigiSaysKachow Report

Add photo comments
POST
marloes-hermens avatar
The Dutches
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And dangerous in case of fire. Hopefully there are a lot of emergency exits in the building.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

This School Just Renovated The Toilets At Their Gym

This School Just Renovated The Toilets At Their Gym

15min Report

#12

The Pie Graph In My School's Newspaper

The Pie Graph In My School's Newspaper

Man_Flute Report

#13

High School Gym In Pontiac, Mi. There Are No Words...

High School Gym In Pontiac, Mi. There Are No Words...

NeverSeenSandlot Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

My Schools Attempt At Being Multicultural

My Schools Attempt At Being Multicultural

Magnetronbaguette Report

#16

My School Has This Mini Park Inside It But No One Can Get Inside

My School Has This Mini Park Inside It But No One Can Get Inside

KarlRex12 Report

#17

Our School Has Fantastic Fans

Our School Has Fantastic Fans

Kokudko Report

#19

My School Locker Can’t Even Fit My Backpack Because Of Those Shelves

My School Locker Can’t Even Fit My Backpack Because Of Those Shelves

zucclivan Report

#22

One-Way Window Tint At School, So We Can't See Shooters, But They Can See Us

One-Way Window Tint At School, So We Can't See Shooters, But They Can See Us

himurakenshin87 Report

Add photo comments
POST
earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's really sad that their first thought has to be about someone using this to massacre them more easily.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

School My From Words Inspiring

School My From Words Inspiring

Molcomb Report

Add photo comments
POST
choykeanric avatar
Keanric Choy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

someone's gonna do just that when reading this as they walk up.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#24

There Is So Much Wrong With This Map At My School

There Is So Much Wrong With This Map At My School

KramwithaK Report

#25

Our School Must Be The Crappiest Design I've Ever Seen!

Our School Must Be The Crappiest Design I've Ever Seen!

pixelguymm Report

Add photo comments
POST
jessgunn77 avatar
JessG
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can't be legal to have see through glass doors on the children's toilets

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

The Wall Decoration At My High School, Red Is Supposed To Represent The Freshmen

The Wall Decoration At My High School, Red Is Supposed To Represent The Freshmen

oofIV Report

#27

The Pamphlet For My School's Special Needs Program

The Pamphlet For My School's Special Needs Program

JesseW625 Report

#28

My Schools Fine Arts Department Had Some Interesting Stickers

My Schools Fine Arts Department Had Some Interesting Stickers

Hey_Look_Whats_That Report

#29

This Graph In A High School Year Book

This Graph In A High School Year Book

SmoobBlob Report

#30

This Is On Our Wall In The School...

This Is On Our Wall In The School...

danielthepilot_ Report

#31

These Signs Are All Around My School, Let's Sell Some Children!

These Signs Are All Around My School, Let's Sell Some Children!

RapeMaster123 Report

#32

At First Glance, The White Lettering On This Pride Poster At My High School Blends In With The Yellow Background. Changes The Meaning Drastically

At First Glance, The White Lettering On This Pride Poster At My High School Blends In With The Yellow Background. Changes The Meaning Drastically

DJSalmonsloth Report

#33

The Mirror At The Men's Bathroom At My School

The Mirror At The Men's Bathroom At My School

Mexishould Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#35

My High School’s End Zone For Over 90 Years

My High School’s End Zone For Over 90 Years

athinnes Report

#36

This Person In My School Book

This Person In My School Book

Sambo5303 Report

Add photo comments
POST
shoshannahcohen avatar
NCC~1701
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don’t judge. Maybe he accidentally got to close to the fireplace and there was an accident!:p

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Off Centre, Misspelled, Hard To See Road Markings At A Local School

Off Centre, Misspelled, Hard To See Road Markings At A Local School

ReverendPickleChips Report

#38

My Friend's New Locker Has A Huge Pipe Running Through It

My Friend's New Locker Has A Huge Pipe Running Through It

Time2DoStuffCiaran Report

#39

Stalls In School's Bathroom

Stalls In School's Bathroom

Shiawase__ Report

Add photo comments
POST
imbriuminarian avatar
Bunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this picture so many times with many different descriptions. No idea where it actually came from.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

This Graph In My School's Yearbook...

This Graph In My School's Yearbook...

jazmine_carroll Report

Add photo comments
POST
ellenarndt avatar
Ellen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Would you rather" is what I'm most irritated about, what kind of question is that given the available answers?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

After My School Had A Fire Alarm (Planned) I Noticed This

After My School Had A Fire Alarm (Planned) I Noticed This

oyinad_is_yes Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#44

There Are Several Of These At My School And I Am Unlucky Enough To Be Right In The Corner

There Are Several Of These At My School And I Am Unlucky Enough To Be Right In The Corner

klaus2506 Report

#45

The Unfortunate Overhead View Of My School's Library Desks

The Unfortunate Overhead View Of My School's Library Desks

expressdefrost Report

Add photo comments
POST
alexk_1 avatar
Alex K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if someone is desperate to be offended, they will be offended with everything

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#46

Poster At My School. Lightbulb Looks Like A Noose

Poster At My School. Lightbulb Looks Like A Noose

1158523 Report

#47

This Wrestling Painting At A High School

This Wrestling Painting At A High School

positiveParadox Report

Add photo comments
POST
uwetheiss avatar
Uwe Theiss
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest, only with the outlines wrestling always looks like a sex scene.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

My High School Science Departments Lights

My High School Science Departments Lights

Domesniper Report

#49

Found At My School

Found At My School

nicktheflick Report

Add photo comments
POST
vaydabird10 avatar
BrokenFlame
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

for people wondering what it says: You will never have this day again, so make it count

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

The Design School I Graduated From Sent This Postcard Out

The Design School I Graduated From Sent This Postcard Out

edrini Report

Add photo comments
POST
patriciaross avatar
tuzdayschild
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good thing you already know how to design because they can't help you there.

View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 80 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.