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When designing a product, designers aim to make it functional and, if possible, visually appealing as well. But, let’s be real, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes it feels like they just run with the first idea that pops into their head—whether it works or not!
Today, we’ve rounded up some truly awful designs from the internet to show you that just because something can be made, doesn’t mean it should be. These design fails are so bad, they even seem dangerous. Keep scrolling and prepare to cringe, Pandas!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A Pop-Up In My Car Telling Me The Dangers Of Taking My Eyes Off The Road, Causes Me To Take My Eyes Off The Road
It literally came on whilst I was driving!
Christopher Crockett 1 year ago
Whoever dreamed up the touch screen interface needs to be flogged repeatedly. Whoever thought these things should entirely replace all buttons and dials should be shot.
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#2
When Your Security Gate Is A Ladder
#3
If You Ever Thought Kids Getting Hurt One At A Time Isn't Efficient Enough, Here's An Idea
In today’s competitive market, having a great product design can be quite beneficial for brands. With so many options available in the market, a well-designed product can help set a brand apart from the competition.
Imagine a washing cleaner for utensils that not only comes with better cleaning power but also features an ergonomic design that makes it easy to grip and maneuver. Or this product might incorporate eco-friendly ingredients, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.
In a crowded market, such thoughtful design can make all the difference, turning a simple cleaning product into a must-have kitchen essential.
#4
A Rental Car That Depends On You Having Cell Data To Be Able To Run
#5
The Glass Globe Of This Light Focused The Sunlight Enough To Burn The Sun's Path Into The Grass
#6
Car At The Bottom Is Flooded. Car At The Top Has Been Totalled
Due to flooding, water got into the mechanism and short circuited it. It raised the platform and this was the result.
It might seem obvious, but the first thing a good product needs is solid functionality. It should do what it’s meant to do. For instance, consider a blender. Its primary function is to mix and puree ingredients so that you can make smoothies, soups, or sauces. A high-quality blender should effortlessly blend things into a smooth consistency, without leaving chunks behind.
If the blender has a great design and comes in a variety of colors but fails to perform this basic task, then it’s not fulfilling its purpose. Regardless of how sleek or stylish it looks, people might hesitate to purchase it if it doesn't deliver on its promises.
#7
Nothing Like The Smell Of Coffee And A Good Eye Stab In The Morning
#8
And I Thought Tide Pods Looked Like Candy
#9
My Feet Hurt Just Looking At This
Functionality is more than just getting the job done—it’s about doing it efficiently and easily. If a product is hard to use or overly complicated, people are more likely to walk away frustrated, which can lead to bad reviews.
#10
A Banana Slide That Trains Your Determination. If You Get Lost, Your Crotch Will Die
#11
This Packaging Seems Dangerous
#12
Our Municipality Finally Made Bike Lanes For Us
Then, there’s the importance of durability. A well-designed product that lasts long not only pleases customers but is also better for the environment. Think of antiques or vintage cars; they’re still around because they were built to last. This kind of timeless design can make a product stand out.
#13
Bicycle Lane In Paris. The Two White Bumps Are Nearly Invisible Because Of The Paint Camouflaging Them
Max Robitzsch 1 year ago
And they didn't prevent the asshat parking in the bike path 10m down the track, so failure all the way.
#14
This Hair Dryer Melts Its Own Casing
#15
My Cat Just Trapped Me In The Bathroom By Opening A Drawer
#16
The Outlet Is Less Than A Foot Away From The Shower And Is Inside The Curtain. Is This Safe?
A product also needs to look good and create an emotional connection with users. A beautiful design can evoke feelings of pride, excitement, or satisfaction, and that’s where brand loyalty starts. People love products that make them feel good.
#17
This Sign In A Hotel Elevator Is A Little Hard To Read
#18
Removing One Blade Will Definitely Make The Fan Work
#19
The Entrance To Our Apartment In Berlin
#20
Stoplights In Lake Tahoe Filled With Snow Due To Not Having The Bottom Cut Out To Prevent Snow Accumulation
#21
This Kid-Friendly Hand Sanitizer Package. Looks Like One Of Those Apple Sauce Things, No?
Yellow dot 1 year ago
Oh, the fact that its a medical professional holding it tells me somethin' bad already happened with this one.
However, with all the focus on appearance and usability, safety cannot be overlooked. Some products, despite looking good and functioning well, are dangerous because of design flaws.
Whether it’s faulty home appliances, toys, or even medical devices, defective products can lead to serious risks. These issues often arise from poor design, bad manufacturing, or lack of proper instructions and warnings.
#22
A Very Useful Ramp
Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost 1 year ago
It's for unloading trucks in the back of buildings. Right off the truck, up the ramp, into the building,, done
artisticINSURRECTION 1 year ago
To be fair, this looks like it used to be a pool and the ramp was likely to help people in wheelchairs get into the water. Now? it's the doorway to broken teeth and noses.
Shirley Heyn 1 year ago
Not sure, probably just the right height for a handicapped van door to use? I'm more concerned about a door without a doorknob?
Ray LeBlanc 1 year ago
Yes Grampa, we finished your new ramp, now close your eyes when we open the door....
Steven Meyer 1 year ago
When your apartment says it has wheelchair accessible ramps that aren't accessible
#23
Why Are Hotels Like This?
#24
I'm No Architect, But I Think The Design Needs More Bolts
It’s crucial for designers to prioritize safety during the development process, ensuring that products are not only attractive and functional but also free from inherent dangers. This holistic approach to product design not only builds consumer trust but also encourages brand loyalty.
#25
Just A Matter Of Time
#26
A Late Night Bathroom Emergency May Become A Real Trip To The Emergency Room
Koalafied to komment 1 year ago
Besides, why block the beautiful window with the bed? The whole stairs are stupid
#27
The Electrical Outlet From Hell
In the end, great product design is about striking the perfect balance between functionality, aesthetics, usability, and safety. Which of these designs left you scratching your head? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
#28
This Back Road Near My House
Sky Render 1 year ago
Looks like something that would generate randomly in an asset flip game.
#29
A Plastic Vent Cover For An Industrial-Strength Heater
#30
New Windshield Completely Blocks Out Red Lights
Greenmantle 1 year ago
Can someone explain to me why they hang traffic lights from cables in this way? Where I live the lights are on fixed poles only
#31
The Road Planners Must Really Hate Cyclists
Max Robitzsch 1 year ago
Why handing the design / build jobs to the cheapest bidder is bad. If your designers don't ride bikes and/or don't visit the site (because that costs money! especially when most of the work is outsourced overseas!)...
#32
The Most Unsafe And Dangerous Design Feature I've Seen In A Hotel
#33
I Hope The Electrician Knows The Sprinkler Schedule
#34
This Is Just A Plastic Toy, And Not Candy
#35
Handicap-Accessible, On The Way Down Maybe...?
#36
One Is A Toilet Cleaner, The Other Is For Washing Dishes. Choose Wisely
#37
They Tried To Accommodate Blind People But Failed To See The Problem With This Design
Max Robitzsch 1 year ago
"Look, code says it HAS to have handrails, AND it has to have directional tactiles. I was just doing what the code says. Anyway, I'm off."
#38
This Bench. Where I Live It's Very Hot, And It's Impossible To Sit In This Park
#39
I Can Hear This Image
#40
What Can Go Wrong If We Put The Power Button Next To The Most Used Key? Great Idea, HP Envy
Keller Worthen 1 year ago
My school Chromebooks are made by HP and have a very similar button placement. If you double-tap the power button, the Chromebook turns off. Guess what happened during my ACT test...
#41
I Can’t Be The Only One Who Thinks That This Looks Like Protein Powder
#42
Because Who Cares About Fire Safety, Right?
#43
Almost Pulled A Michael Scott While Delivering Groceries Today
#44
This Soldering Iron Has A Screw On The Handle Directly Connected To The Heat Source. It Was A Burning Surprise To Say The Least
#45
A Bench At A Metro Station
#46
Stainless Steel Bench At The Beach. The Temperature Today Is 31°C
#47
Cherry On Top Of The Road
Justin Tyme 1 year ago
OMG. I know a place where there is a huge electrical transformer in the middle of a street.
#48
This Dangerous Bike Lane I Came Across While Biking
#49
This Power Plug Is Connected Exactly On The Opposite Side Of The Shower
#50
Looks Really Safe
#51
This Hair Bleach
#52
Hope You Don't Crash
#53
Room Fragrance Bottles Look Like Wine. Saved By The Sticker
Max Robitzsch 1 year ago
To be fair, this is more an "off" design choice than a major fail? Unless those stickers had to be applied retroactively...
#54
Dangerous Wheelchair Ramp. Even If You Can Climb This Ramp With Your Wheelchair, There Are No Guardrails To Protect You From Falling And Hurting Yourself
#55
The Display Doesn’t Indicate Which Tire Is Which. And According To The Manual, The Numbers Are Displayed Randomly Each Time You Drive
#56
My Toaster Melts Its Own Plastic When Toasting
#57
That's Just Dangerous
#58
This Is How You Poison Children
#59
This Electric Heater Can Melt Its Plastic Casing When At Full Power
#60
Adaptation Of A Historic Building Gone Wrong
#61
My Burner Is Too Close To The Wall And The Landlord Just Paints Over The Melted Paint
FreeTheUnicorn 1 year ago
It's a fire hazard, if there's no tenants union where you live, report fire code violation to the fire department.
#62
2023 Custom-Built Ford Box Truck With A Seriously Bad Design Flaw. I Can’t Shut The Driver's Door When I’m Fueling. It’s 7 Degrees With A Sub-Zero Wind Chill Today
#63
My Airbnb Assured Me That They Have A "Very Safe" Baby Gate
#64
Soap Gummies, Yum
#65
This Coffee Grinder Fills Its Base, Motor, And Circuit Boards Up With Grounds. Over 1 Lb Of Grounds Came Out Of The Base, Seemed Like A Fire Hazard So I Chucked It In The Trash
#66
Paint On My New Cheap Barbecue Melts When Charcoal Is Burning
#67
This Slide-Looking Thing Is On The Playground. It's Raised In The Middle And Clearly Not A Slide
#68
2nd Birthday Badge. Potentially A Choking Hazard
#69
Injury Attorney’s Dream Staircase
Tyranamar Suess 1 year ago
Where is this? I could see it in some type of museum or art exhibit.
#70
Do You Take The Left One, Or Do You Take The Risk Of Being Shoved Into The Right One By The Door? And Yes, That Is The Main Bathroom Door
#71
A Plastic Windowsill Above A Radiator
#72
Saw This House For Rent On Marketplace. Pretty Sure The Death Pit Isn’t Up To Code
#73
This Hand Dryer At Work Is Kind Of Dangerous (Left - Stall Door, Right - Entrance)
#74
Just Saw This Bench Made Of An Old Playground Slide
MsPlants 1 year ago
damn they got us when we were young with these things and now that we are older and not playing on playgrounds but sitting on benches while our kids and grandkids are playing they make the damn benches out of those metal slides so we STILL burn ourselves on the damn things when we go to the playground! we can never get away from the metal slides.
#75
The Best Thing On The Playground
#76
Designers Need To Stop Thinking This Way. One Can Go Up And Down The Stairs Mindlessly, Try Doing The Same Walking On This And It Will Take You To Hell
#77
"Let's Put The Brake Lights Where Nobody Expects Them To Be" - Buick, Probably
#78
Great Positioning, Can't Open The Door Or Risk Crushing A Baby
#79
A Modern Floating Staircase With Wooden Steps Is Looking Like Trip To The Hospital
Max Robitzsch 1 year ago
It's got a handrail, and seems regular at least. It's sh*t design (especially with the short second step every time) but it's not even close to as bad as some of the bad stair designs I have seen on BP.
#80
My 5-Year-Old Grabbed This Dangerous Cleaning Stuff As Soon As I Got Back From The Shops Because Of The Child-Friendly Packaging. It Even Says Keep Out Of Reach Of Children
TotallyNOTAFox 1 year ago (edited)
That's more on the parent not watching their child or either keeping cleaning chemicals far away enough. The lid is also hard to open for such small children, even I struggle with them sometimes
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Ace 1 year ago (edited)
In nearly all cases it's a result of a worn-out or otherwise faulty fan failing to run at the correct speed rather than an inherent design fault per se. Having said that any modern safety-compliant product should have a heat-activated cut-out anyway.
Load More Replies...
Binky Melnik 1 year ago
You just don’t understand what BP is. It’s a content aggregator.
Load More Replies...
OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
I voted for functionality, in theory that should include safety as it isn't really functional if it wounds or kills you when you try to use it.
Ace 1 year ago (edited)
In nearly all cases it's a result of a worn-out or otherwise faulty fan failing to run at the correct speed rather than an inherent design fault per se. Having said that any modern safety-compliant product should have a heat-activated cut-out anyway.
Load More Replies... Binky Melnik 1 year ago
You just don’t understand what BP is. It’s a content aggregator.
Load More Replies... OpheliaPoe 1 year ago
I voted for functionality, in theory that should include safety as it isn't really functional if it wounds or kills you when you try to use it.
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