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We are surrounded by items, buildings, and even software that was designed one way or another. It tends to stick out when something is so poorly considered that we have to stop and wonder “what were they thinking?” Fortunately, most of the things around us conform to our expectations. A table is a table and a street sign is a street sign. 

However, every once and a while, creative people make a novel take on a conventional object. So scroll down and enjoy this list of innovative and cool ideas people have made into reality. And if this article doesn’t scratch your awesome design itch, check out Bored Panda’s other collections here, here, and here. And if you want something a bit different, check out our list of terrible designs here.  

#2

Park Bench With Built In Shelter For The Homeless

Park Bench With Built In Shelter For The Homeless

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If this list leaves you particularly inspired, maybe to make some changes around your own home, it can be helpful to approach an area holistically. Or, to put it another way, to have a comprehensive, unified plan. Keeping to the design tenants of a specific style can really help bring a space together and make it look more cohesive. Let’s take a look at Scandinavian design as an example. 

First and foremost, think about local, natural materials. We associate Scandinavian furniture and houses with wood, no doubt harvested in some primeval pine forests. But the core idea is to use local materials to establish a sense of place and style. This extends to building techniques as well, as most traditional architecture is firstly functional. French doors do not help insulate a house while thatched roofs are probably too warm for southern climates.

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#6

The Jacket I Just Got Has Tiny Skulls As The Zipper

The Jacket I Just Got Has Tiny Skulls As The Zipper

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Scandinavian design also prioritizes functionality, which is often, subtly, emphasized by the use of neutral colors. Small wonder that the creators of Lego would approach furniture with an eye for practicality. Sometimes this does express itself as a sort of minimalism as one might see in an Ikea catalog. But there are myriad examples of more decorative or flashy items made by acclaimed Scandinavian designers that are also in keeping with the style's core tenants.

#7

Paint Sample Cubes, Instead Of Flat Swatches, So You Can See The Colors With Shadows

Paint Sample Cubes, Instead Of Flat Swatches, So You Can See The Colors With Shadows

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Design has also changed over the last century, with new styles coming and going. For example, the iconic Empire State building still stands out today as an Art Deco skyscraper among a forest of glass buildings. This style itself was a reaction to Art Nouveau which had been so popular at the turn of the century. While less ornate, Art Deco tended to use expensive materials like gold, and furniture in the style would feature exotic leathers like sharkskin.

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Modern design principles are less constrained by form and materials, so the guiding philosophy focuses more on the user. Sometimes this is referred to as literally user-centric design, though some will also call it human-scale design. The core idea is to make everything intuitive at a glance, even if you have never seen an object before. Maybe you are familiar with the design principles of Don Norman or at least the Norman door. Imagine a door with no handle, just a metal plate. Naturally, since you know it’s a door, it must move to let a person pass through. So with no handle, your only option left is to push.

#14

Any Love For Packaging Here? Very Thoughtful Hardware Package Design

Any Love For Packaging Here? Very Thoughtful Hardware Package Design

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Shyla Bouche
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to work in a home for the developmentally disabled. They went to "work" on weekdays, to a rehab type program that taught life skills. Some of the more intelligent clients had actual jobs, where they packed hardware for appliances and furniture. They each had a paper with life-size drawings of each item. The client would cover each picture with the matching part (like a toddler's jigsaw puzzle). Once each picture had its part, the client bagged the pieces.

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#16

Anti-Pollution Sign By A Lake In Evergreen, Colorado

Anti-Pollution Sign By A Lake In Evergreen, Colorado

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#17

Book Benches, Bulgaria

Book Benches, Bulgaria

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Laugh or not
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be the best if they had readable poems or extracts from books to tempt you to read the entire books.

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#19

Was Told This Would Be Appreciated Here. Sooo Here Ya Go!

Was Told This Would Be Appreciated Here. Sooo Here Ya Go!

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#20

"Piece By Piece Alzheimer's Takes Away The Memory". Campaign For Alzheimer Forschung Initiative

"Piece By Piece Alzheimer's Takes Away The Memory". Campaign For Alzheimer Forschung Initiative

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Ziggyc
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Watched my MIL suffer from this,it's a horrible disease,this poster really.speaks volumes

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#21

Colorful Glass Canopy In Sonoma, California. By: Olafur Eliasson And Architect Sebastian Behmann

Colorful Glass Canopy In Sonoma, California. By: Olafur Eliasson And Architect Sebastian Behmann

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#23

Newly Constructed 'Danish Prison Cells' Are Designed Better Than My Apartment

Newly Constructed 'Danish Prison Cells' Are Designed Better Than My Apartment

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Seth
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know you live in a prison state when accomodations that are beyond the means of a minimum wage laborer are considered a punishment elsewhere in the world.

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#24

Forget Abs Of Steel And Buns Of Steel. Get Abs Of Buns

Forget Abs Of Steel And Buns Of Steel. Get Abs Of Buns

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#25

This Bar Has A Chilled Strip To Keep Your Drink Cold

This Bar Has A Chilled Strip To Keep Your Drink Cold

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#26

Translation: (Their) Love Slipped A Little Bit? No, This Is Violence (Anti Domestic Violence Poster)

Translation: (Their) Love Slipped A Little Bit? No, This Is Violence (Anti Domestic Violence Poster)

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#27

Clever Little Airline Logo From A Recent Flight

Clever Little Airline Logo From A Recent Flight

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#28

My Vacuum Cleaner Filter Displays Taps When It's Wet After Cleaning, So You Know When It's Fully Dry

My Vacuum Cleaner Filter Displays Taps When It's Wet After Cleaning, So You Know When It's Fully Dry

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#29

A Bar Of Soap That Gets Sad As It Approaches Its Demise

A Bar Of Soap That Gets Sad As It Approaches Its Demise

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Lurking Panda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So the more you use the soap, the sadder it gets? Not sure if that's particularly great design, might discourage people from using it.

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#33

Samsung’s Galaxy Flip Phone Advertisement At A Bus Stop In Belgium

Samsung’s Galaxy Flip Phone Advertisement At A Bus Stop In Belgium

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Kim Fielding
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honest question for people in countries where English isn't the primary language: Do you get annoyed at all the English in advertisements in your country? As an English-speaker, I've appreciated the ubiquity of the language when I've traveled, but I'm wondering if it's irritating for the people who live there. (Where I live in California, all the ads are in English or Spanish; I don't mind the Spanish because it helps me practice my very basic language skills.)

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#36

Jeep's European Marketing

Jeep's European Marketing

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#37

The Logo For A Band Called The Makepeace Brothers. I Always Thought It Was So Clever

The Logo For A Band Called The Makepeace Brothers. I Always Thought It Was So Clever

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Kristine Johnson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The letters are supposed to also be a hand giving a peace sign. Took me ages to see it.

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#39

Cd Package Design For Chinese Folk Rock Band 五条人

Cd Package Design For Chinese Folk Rock Band 五条人

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#40

IKEA Advertisement

IKEA Advertisement

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SabbeRubbish
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They can laugh with themselves, or is it the customers they are making fun of? 🤣

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#42

House Of The Dragon Street Promotion

House Of The Dragon Street Promotion

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#45

Logo For Lune Croissanterie - A Pâtisserie Specialising In Croissants

Logo For Lune Croissanterie - A Pâtisserie Specialising In Croissants

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Frank
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"croissant" stands for "lune croissante" in French, meaning waxing moon (because of the form). So the name of the shop is quite nice too. And then the moon rocket... Some visual jokes translate badly ;-) Just like English word plays (sound plays?) with K9 (canine, dog) or French ones with K7 (cassette).

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#47

Substation, Detail Of Cornice, Hans Heinrich Müller

Substation, Detail Of Cornice, Hans Heinrich Müller

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#50

KV Bjørnøya, The Newest Vessel Being Built For The Norwegian Coast Guard

KV Bjørnøya, The Newest Vessel Being Built For The Norwegian Coast Guard

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Note: this post originally had 54 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.