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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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#12

Shark Fin "Wet Floor" Caution Sign

Shark Fin "Wet Floor" Caution Sign

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

Scandinavia actually makes a point of reintegrating its offenders back into society, and very successfully so

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

It's been shown that 'nice' prisons like this have much lower reoffender rates than 'tough' prisons. People who are given an opportunity to get an education or training, and therefore a decent paying job and a secure home after release have little reason to return to a life of crime. Putting people back into the poverty they were in before they went to prison means they often reoffend due to necessity.

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

That‘s why most countries make rehabilitation their main goal, instead of just punishment.

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magix (they/them)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's a prison cell?! it looks like a hotel room! i'm gonna need to commit some danish crimes...

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Christel Nellemann
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, danish criminals really dislike having their freedom taken away and beoing locked up. But . We really have inequality problems in the world. (And the cells are not all that new and greatlooking anyways.

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

An experiment showed that prisoners preferred Dutch mails because although the cells are nice, the guards and prison system in these prisons are les friendly

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

What experiment was done? I would actually like to read some more about the subject.

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

This would be considered a nice "affordable" apartment in New York or London.

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

Doubt affordable, in NYC a closet goes for $2000 a month.

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Stephanie A Mutti
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of the northern eastern countries are handling incarceration in such a more humane and successful manner than some of the western counter-parts. We have so much to learn.

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

Aye. But we have over 33,000 gangs doing business in America. Most are not home-grown. They have no regard for American law and mores (much like our politicians). Those individual gangs represent millions of gang members all fighting for territory, all fighting to protect their business interests. Our aging prison system cannot keep up... it just can't.

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

So I googled. That part that really surprises me is this is a maximum security prison. Their class 1 or whatever they call it. Storstrøm Prison

kathmorgan avatar
kath morgan
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks nicer than the student accommodation I had to pay for!

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Mari Mar Pinta
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like a room that is meant for a prisoner who is doing well and has a successful chance at being reintroduced to society... I don't think high-level offenders are deserving of something like this. I mean not even our Homeless Veterans get to stay in rooms like this.....

mariedahme avatar
Marie Dahme
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I currently reside in an US skilled nursing facility (temporarily!!!!)….and while they take all my money albeit $50, these accommodations are far superior than what they provide for our disabled and elderly here. So in other words.Danish prisoners are given better treatment than US disabled/elderly in the US !! What the ever loving fvck….

luthfiagustian avatar
Upil
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it wont work here in my country, how ever good the prison room is i think most people will turn back to comitting crime. It is not about how they treat you in the prison, because when they get out they will face the same problem that got them to the prison in the first place, being poor. It is so sad knowing how hard it is to make a living here, even when you have a skill you still need money to start over.

dersebbl avatar
der sebbl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's why it's not only the room here, there is also work done to educate people while in jail so they have a chance of starting a better life

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

Hmmm…treating prisoners like they are still people. Interesting concept!!!

staphgirl79 avatar
Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought that was a giant bug on the wall in the bathroom

josurf avatar
Surfing Panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My elderly mother would love to find an affordable place that looks like that...

caseyb avatar
Casey B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And there is actually a question as to why criminals have no fear of going to prison... Seriously

dennycwiek avatar
Pandasizing World Peace
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shoot, nice accommodations, free rent, three free meals a day? Just give me something to play computer games on and I'm set for life!

patriciaross avatar
tuzdayschild
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I going to Denmark to steal a pack of gum. This is an introvert dream.

grahamsnyder avatar
Grahamalama09
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"the best way to stop prison escapes is to give the prisoners no reason to want to leave" - these people

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

Thats because they humanize people unlike here in America, they treat people with dignity instead of like trash, which all the adult Americans think are horrible and say is injustable. Another reason why im leaving the country when i have enough money and im old enough

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

dang these r pretty nice! lots of natural light (?) I bet they would even let u have a plant or two

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

A few good books meals delivered and a TV maybe a laptop.. who wants to be good?

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

Try to tell America that Charles Manson or Jeffrey Epstein would serve their sentence in that kind of cell...

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barregains avatar
Bernie Lynch
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Movie: Denmark. A down-on-his-luck Welshman travels across Europe with one crazy goal: to get himself arrested and sent to a Danish prison where the beds are warm and the water is hot.

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

I would commit a crime just to get to spend my life here

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

Over here, if this were a rental unit, it would cost you $1,000/month.

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

You mean I can have this and not work? Sign me up. I'll have to try and sneak in wifi and a laptop and maybe a pillow and comforter, then it'll be perfect.

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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)

Stock_Quality_5523 Report

#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

MichaelCG8 Report

#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
Community Member
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
Community Member
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

pertnear Report

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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
Community Member
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.