Cringeworthy Design Mistakes That Turned These 50 Signs Into A Hilarious Mess (New Pics)
The world of signs is hilariously entertaining, isn't it? You know what we mean — phrases that raise more questions than answers, muddled sentences that make you rack your brains, and designs that leave you wondering, "what in the world happened here?" Let's be honest, far from everyone's an expert in writing, and getting a message across is way harder than you'd think.
But taking up the endeavor to decipher signs that make zero sense can lead to utter hilarity. So let us introduce you to an online community called 'Don't Dead Open Inside' that's dedicated to poking fun at these linguistic mishaps. With over 657k members, it's a place for "signs/media that read as nonsense if read normally: from left to right."
Sounds confusing? Well, just take a look down below at the newest batch of examples we at Bored Panda have gathered from the community. Chances are, you'll be laughing in no time! Be sure to upvote your favorite posts and let us know what you think in the comments. After you're done scrolling through this list, check out even more hard-to-read signs in our earlier pieces here, here, and here.
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Abort Jesus
Love this one because it says EXACTLY the opposite of what he wants it to say.
I love it because it is a message I support, 100%. Abort Jesus! PP is the answer!
Load More Replies...How does a Man think it’s his right to govern a Woman’s uterus??! MEN, how about taking responsibility for your sperm? Stop carelessly giving it away. Once you have irretrievably deposited it in Someone Else’s Body, it is not yours anymore. Don’t give it away, and this “problem” will be solved. Perhaps women should have the right to make decisions about men’s reproductive organs, like banning Viagra. A limp noodle is “God’s Will” too.
Same with cancer and tumors. If you believe that I have to carry any fetus because of YOUR beliefs in "God's will," then you better be prepared to carry that tumor that God gave you, with the same "heartbeat" as a fetus, btw. It's His blessing to you!
Load More Replies...Somebody simply needs to start a religion where one of the fundamentals is not having children of your own. If you want kids you must adopt existing children; and must abort any pregnancy. Then it would be a protected right.
The Satanic Temple includes something very like that in their tenets. Just one of the many reasons why I joined.
Load More Replies...Let's take his message as he meant it. "Abort Planned Parenthood" Apparently it's ok to abort people in groups, just not individually. The other irony is that Planned Parenthood prevents more abortions than any other organizations - by giving out effective contraceptive information. You can't have an abortion if you're not pregnant.
I had an unplanned pregnancy at 19 and I pretty much had my mind made up that I was going to have an abortion. But my mom suggested that I visit Planned Parenthood first, just to talk to someone about my options. So I did. The counselor went over all of my options with me, and assured me that, if I decided to keep the baby, they (PPH) would be there for me every step of the way. I did. And they were. My daughter turned 37 on 8/1 and I'll be eternally grateful to Planned Parenthood for providing me with the information and the tools that I needed to make an informed decision, and then providing me with pre and postnatal support.
Load More Replies...Man I have to drive by an abortion clinic everyday on the way to work, it takes every ounce of self control to not flip off the protesters outside as I wiz by lol
The only thing that keeps me from doing that is knowing that they get off on feeling "persecuted." Because if they aren't allowed to scream hateful messages, how else will we know what good Christians they are?
Load More Replies...I bet if altar boys could become pregnant the church would not be so anti abortion.
Priests often get girls pregnant and pay for their abortions. Hypocrisy at it's worst.
Load More Replies...Hoho Pepe
I find it hurtful that you laugh at my pe pe. I do not laugh at your fat @ss do I?
Don't talk to Santa that way Nathaniel, he didn't mean anything by it
Load More Replies...That's a Santa Claus from Latin America right there " HoHoHo Pepe , ¿Qué pasa?
South Mouth
Hmmm. "South Mouth" is a great name for a woman's nether regions! I love this!
Ever since it was created in 2014, the 'Don't Dead Open Inside' subreddit, or DDOI, has invited people from far and wide to share and laugh at the numerous cases of painfully hilarious design fails that make signs, posters, and messages almost unreadable. But even though there’s no shortage of entertainment in the group, the moderators ask its members to follow a strict set of guidelines for submissions.
The first (and most important!) rule is that every image has to comply with the DDOI format, meaning the phrases must be read correctly from top to bottom, and incorrectly as if read "normally", from left to right. "Though it does not matter how easily you can read them, it is highly encouraged to only post images with little separation or spacing between the columns of words," the mods added.
There's No Planet B
W Fart Free Water
How do you think they get the bubbles in fizzy pop?
Load More Replies...Farting water sometimes happens if you have food poisoning. So I guess they're trying to give it away?
I had to stare at that for an ungodly amount of time before I figured out what they were going for here
Well, since water on Earth is the same since the beginning (no "new" water, it's perpetually recycled), I think any drop of it has already been absorbed and rejected by some living organism at least once. There's no such thing as "p**s free" water and I'm afraid there cannot be "fart free" water either.
Thank you. Now I’m never drinking water again.
Load More Replies...Someone had a creative moment that made sense to them. Always test your work.
Don't Believe. Quit Now!
what I've been saying to my crazy-a*s, religious fanatic in-laws for years.
Redditors who look after the page make sure it’s filled to the brim with quality content, so reposts and memes are not welcomed in this community. The moderators also ask people to make sure the content is original. "Don't force it!" they write. "Don't post anything that is forced or easily staged/faked." And lastly, they encourage people to add even more hilarity to their pictures by following the DDOI format in the caption: "We may remove posts that don't follow this format and have an exceptionally bad title."
Christi-Jesus Is Mexican Anity Coming P**n
"Jesus" is pronounced "hay-soos". It's a common Latino name.
Load More Replies...Family Dollar, Dollar Tree... Wait
Just like your mother failed in having you... You dad should of pulled out.
Load More Replies...Cash rules everything around me C.R.E.A.M., get the money Dollar dollar bill, y'all
Never Comeback Give Up Robert
It was strange campaing from Ferrari. I remember other similar misreads.
He’s Robert Kubica. An F1/ Rally driver whose arm was severed in an accident. After surgeries and rehab, he made a comeback to racing - he was never quite the racer he was before, but still better than a lot of others on merit
Load More Replies...To understand the meaning behind this online community, let’s take a closer look at the origin of its name, shall we? Know Your Meme describes 'Don't Dead Open Inside' as a trope "which involves incorrect interpretation of various writings and labels which include two or more lines of text and have no clear way to tell the order in which the words should be read." Or, in other words, it’s badly constructed designs and misaligned phrases that can lead to seriously hilarious word-arrangement fails.
Say No To 100% Hygiene
Fact: During childhood immune system needs exposure to germs to work well later.
Over use of hand sanitizer is actually harming us instead of helping. When you take away your normal skin flora, it’s that much easier for a pathogen to make it’s way in.
Load More Replies...It is bread. Very slowly cooked in a not too hot oven. Dipped in tea or coffee and awesome.
Load More Replies...Well it obviously says Say No To Elaichi. F**king hate that stuff.
For The Life Of Me, I Can't Figure Out What This Says?
I can almost see the word "hotel" after staring at it for 5 minutes, but that's it lol
I see "teacher" and "hotel" but I don't know what the top few letters are trying to do.
Load More Replies...Correct! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Pinghe_School
Load More Replies...That's exactly what I read, so..... ¯\_( ͡◡ ͜ʖ ͡◡)_/¯
Load More Replies...Ping Heterche Hotel... ? *Googles* It's "Pinghe Teacher Hotel" in Shanghai, China.
It Doesn’t Look Good Either Way
I assume it's supposed to read 'Free kids under drugs ' as in free kids under the influence of drugs?
Load More Replies...Agreed. Was this sign maybe posted on something pharmacy-adjacent? Nursing station at a school?
Load More Replies...Always check the small print. 11 is still a bargain for 4 kids under drugs.
Are they offering 4 kids under drugs? Or, those rocks are free for 4 kids under drugs?
According to the internet database, it graced our feeds after it was used in a promotional poster for The Walking Dead TV series on July 2nd, 2010. Even today, it’s still one of the most known examples of the meme, almost like a textbook guideline of how these images need to look. The notorious poster showcased a photograph of a double door with the words "Don't Open" on the left, and "Dead Inside" on the right. While the intention was to read "Don't open, dead inside", well, that wasn’t the case. Thankfully! Otherwise, the internet culture would be seriously deprived of such well-liked content.
As soon as the poster came into daylight, it started spreading all over the internet like a virus. While memes and jokes started seeping onto Twitter, more similar posts followed. And it didn’t take long for the trope to be honored by its own subreddit, where people are dedicated to collecting examples of the trope in advertising, design, and popular culture.
This Jesus Cowboy
Atelast?! I'm gonna pray to Cowboy Jesus!! Priorities man!
Load More Replies..."Cowboy his wife"?! Is this some kind of a mixture of the Wife Carrying Race and Rodeo?
I can't get the image of 'Jesus Cowboy' out of my mind now. A little cowboy hat on him instead of a crown of thorns. Maybe some spurs around his ankles. I don't understand how this actually hasn't happened in Texas yet.
There are actually cowboy churches all over Texas. Not even kidding.
Load More Replies...Enjoy Mouth Popcorn Your Watering
Makes sense: enjoy the mouth popcorn that you're watering with said mouth.
Why do people think the rules of reading English suddenly change for their stupid sign?
We Are Fried. Hiring Chicken
“Special Chicken. We Are Fried. Hiring Chicken”. Is that a “special chicken” you’re hiring, or is the “hiring chicken” special and fried”?
You'd have to be fried to hire a chicken, that's for sure.
Load More Replies...All interested chickens - see the manager for a job application.
Wait until he comes down from being fried so he can find said application.
Load More Replies...If it’s the very first time you encounter this meme, chances are that you’ll start noticing it taking one form or another everywhere you go. After all, awful sign designs are all around us. It may be amusing to poke fun at them for us general folk, but for the companies that aim to deliver a message and fail in the funniest way, it can be bad for business.
A blog post on Medash Signs, a UK-based company that designs and produces signage for over forty years, shows that poor-quality signs can have serious financial consequences. There’s a general expectation from the public that a message should be clear, logical, and build trust for anyone who reads it. "It’s a simple fact that customers are unlikely to want to do business with you if your signage gives a bad impression," they write.
Push Animal For Heat Heat!
Ok, what is with the Animal Heat? What does it do? Why is there no button? Who has the key?
If not I hope it is soon.mits the only way for it to make sense!
Load More Replies...No matter which way you read this it's still....what? I'd like me some animal heat, please.
You need a special key for that. After all, not everyone can be trusted to use animal heat responsibly.
Load More Replies...It’s definitely the animal you have to push to heat the heat
Load More Replies...In Czech: "Sama Doma" Means Home Alone, "Sado Mama"...you Probably Know
The target audience does not speak english, so while the misread is hilarious, it didnt occur to the people that there's an alternate reading. Also, it's from a time when "Sado" wasn't in the mainstream knowledge or media at all so the wrong reading didn't really confuse the populus.
Say To Sliders Drugs To No Yes
You really need to spell it out to those sliders, they're easily confused.
Moreover, it can affect the brand’s image. "Your signs ultimately reflect on your business and your brand — so what does it say about the company if the signage is badly designed, broken, dirty, or outdated?" Well, it certainly gives out a wrong impression. The reality is that customers will feel puzzled and won’t put much energy into staying long enough to grasp what you’re trying to convey. "Your use of typography, colors, imagery, slogans and other design elements can all work together to give your customers a distinct impression of your business and its character — whether it’s approachable, trustworthy, eco-friendly, responsible, luxurious, and so on," they added.
Nothingnothing Right Inleft In My My Leftright Brainbrain
The first step in solving your problem is admitting you have one.
Me trying to pass a sobriety test after getting pulled over by the cops on the way home from a party
This Sign At A&f
Them dang womens ain't one size fits all no more!! /s
Load More Replies...It is the sign should read more women's fitting rooms this way.
Load More Replies...I’m A Delivery Driver. The Address Is 4822
No it's not! There's clearly 4 apartments, numbered 4, 2, 8 and errrr... 2,! Hang on...
Hopefully someone who never needs an ambulance because I wouldn’t be able to find them!
Load More Replies...Singing along with Zager and Evans:- "In the year 42 82 no one is alive" - well the food deliveries never made it in time.
Well I know who is never getting Doordash delivered correctly.
Throw that delivery in the neighbors porch . Stupidity should be painful
In a previous interview with Bored Panda, Portugal-based graphic designer Laura Vanagaite, who specializes in branding and illustration design, explained that the most important aspect of advertising is clarity to the potential client. "It needs to be catchy, which means the brand needs to introduce their product and actually make the person get interested in it. So normally designers can play with font sizes, but still keep it simple and readable."
The graphic designer pointed out that color also plays a crucial part. "Red, as we know, catches our attention immediately but yellow, green, or black and white combinations are equally eye-catching." Whatever the design, it’s important "to keep it simple but sophisticated since balance is the key."
Shackled By Jesus, Lust Sets Free
The safeword is 'amen'. Don't forget to use it or he will rough you up real bad ;-)
Load More Replies...this one doesn't belong here. the separate sentences are spaced apart, the text is in different colors, & the sentences are on high contrast backgrounds, making it very clear it isn't meant to be read straight across. although the message is cringy, the design is perfectly fine.
I mean omnipresence and all that. Also all those people who really want Jesus inside them.
Load More Replies...I Feel Like This Doubles As A Sobriety Test, Lol
I was just thinking that after puffing a little THC myself I could read it fine.
Load More Replies..."keep this pregnancy and product away from breast-feeding children. This product may pose."
One of many THC infused drinks available here in California. Here you can find pretty much anything you want with THC in it.
Load More Replies...Stop My Body, Man Ate My Choice, Freedom
Sums up modern america pretty well, they eat a lot
Load More Replies...I think it's missing a letter, which makes the word "mandate". Still not sure I can make a coherent statement out of what's left though
Load More Replies...For covid, they say my body my chioce. They gotta fk off with the abortion laws.
Waste Energy Today Tomorrow
Procrastinate today, feel hopeful *for tomorrow repeat. 🤣 Me too
Load More Replies...Laura explained that when it comes to readability, you need to make sure your work represents the intended message before handing the sign to the production team. "The designer is the one that handles the project but if there is a chance, always represents the rest of the team. It can be tricky when different opinions come, but try to ask if it is easy to understand. Teamwork is a very important thing," she concluded.
No No No More More More Shame Fear Dread
You Must Moving. Keep
Actually I'm out of room... maybe managing Tesla and Bohr will do...
Load More Replies...I'm A Bad, But S**t
Is it designed to be a sash? With half on the front, the other half round the back?
I believe this means it is not good but wipe but it would be fun to try it.
Not 25c Free
If this is confusing to adults imagine how it must be to a kid walking up and trying to read it.
Hi Do Not Mix Please The Beans
Please The Shoes, Take Off
Redneck Ukraine Stand With Yacht Club
How nice of them, with the terrible war going on, to still consider the yacht club.
I guaranty these "yachts" are all 55 gallon drum based homemade pontoons.
Load More Replies...https://youtu.be/uI7Ghu1FpnQ The first thing I thought of lol😅
Do Not Not Cat Put In Food Feeder
Do not *NOT* cat put in food feeder. I'm guessing alcohol is involved somehow.
Doesn’t two negatives make a positive, so I think you have to cat put in food feeder
Load More Replies...The kind of containers I have seen people store their cereal in and keep in their pantries are much smaller than the kind of containers I have seen people transfer the bags of cat (or dog) food in. Usually the cereal is in a clear or opaque somewhat cereal box shaped container and the cat or dog food is in more of a large Rubbermaid tote bin size container. Why are people putting their cereal in the same kind of container as their pet food? Like I said in my other comment: keep the dang pet food in it's original packaging (or in a container obviously much larger than people would keep cereal in)! What's wrong with the original bag the cat food came in? Maybe the sign on the Coco Pops is for someone who doesn't know/keeps forgetting that cats and dogs should not eat chocolate
Is "NOT NOT" a double negative? if so they cancel out and you do put the cat in the food feeder.
No Everything Im Is Possible
Took a while but I think they meant to say everything is possible, nothing is impossible. Or something like that.
Everything is Possible, Nothing is impossible. Except maybe reading this sign correctly.
everything is possible, nothing is impossible, but who thought it was a good idea to blend the words like that?
It is impossible to understand this, hence this may be a self-contradiction. It may not be of course if you could understand it - or maybe it ...
Use Never Ever Ever Beef. We Frozen Always
Eh
An “honours dorm” must be exceptionally annoying for the two kids who keep flip-flopping between a 79% and an 80%. They must spend a fortune of movers!
Ddoi: This Guy Is On This Corner Every Day & Has A Bunch Of Similar Signs
based on the sign, I'd guess sticking his head up there.
Load More Replies..."Join C-EP-H Server. Unite VI States". The rest is an intriguing magic square : "Tenant A**l, a Talent en Noe State".
The And The Fast And Furious
With pictures of cockroaches bookending it too! Says a lot more than you think.
You can't see it but I guarantee there's 20k in rims on this 2004 civic, lol.
If Neither Abortion Are Isn't You Safe
Right? Whatever the message, I have no respect for someone who would deface such beautiful doors!
Load More Replies...Any Boy Can, But It Takes A Make A Child Man To Be A Daddy
Is a child man supposed to be a variant of a man child or the opposite? Genuinely curious as to how this would work
Do Park, Not Here
Could be worse, I had a friend many years ago who lived in a really bad area for parking ; he had a clearly marked space and would regularly get people parking there illegally. He sort of got it sorted by having a dump on the windscreens of the more regular abusers of his parking place ; the worst offenders would have dogshit smeared round all of the door handles on the car, along with any extra being stuffed down into the air vents...... took a couple of weeks but pretty much everyone got the message ....
Wash My Beer. Dry Store 10
"Did you see the sign on the CVS down the street? It's all kinds of messed up!" Walgreens: "Here, wash my beer."
You Sausage A Never Place?
Can confirm I myself have never sausaged a place.
Load More Replies...I can't tell if you're being serious, but I'll spell it out: it's a meat store, and says "you never sausage a place" which is a play on "you never saw such a place".
Load More Replies...The Only Bad Is The One Workout You Didn't Do
actually, it could be read to mean the same as if it was read in the proper order.
Sta Go En Gre
Think Trash Pink Cancer
I Am Dad
When Dad jokes become so advanced they only have to say one part of the punchline.
yes, it's so advanced that they need to be in Da-Da base. ok, i'll show myself out.
Load More Replies...This reminded me of that "My mom is dad!" Video so i scream laughed suddenly and scared my cat.
Aw. I can't be mad at this. I lost my dad recently, so now whenever I'm working in the yard and I see a cardinal, I like to think it's him checking in on me.
Is adding a picture of the most famous of the "Angry Birds" some kind of subtle message?
Rwi Bones
Mryer Xms(Lion)a
I'm still trying to figure out what the picture one is supposed to be of...
Coonmdewn
good for you. because i read it as - c**n mew down.🥴
Load More Replies...When the building is condemned due to excess 'coons (🦝) 😳 Coondewmned?
Teachers Who Love Teach Children Teaching To Love Learning
I think it's supposed to say "Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning."
Load More Replies...Live People Ignore The Strange... I Give Up
Is it 'Live' as in "let them live" or as in "the band performed live"? I feel that might make a difference(!).
Never Champion Give Up Ferrari
Christmas Harms
Happy Justin Birthday
The Important Are Not Most Things In Life Things
Be Pet Gay Dogs
They If Were You're Crazy A Bird About I'm Each A Bird Other
Found In My World History Class
Hard And Believe, Work In Your Dreams
Lipre Svolu Tickon
Free Artificial Colours, From Flavours & Preservatives
Ptes Utr Or Pmos Opm?
That took me to long to read. For anyone else struggling to figure what it actually says. It says putters or pompoms
Nothing like a little sexism to get that baby all labeled and boxed into your expectations.
technically that's like pigpen code or something i don't remember what it's called
"Bad wrap"??? How do you mean that? Maybe a "bad rap"?
Load More Replies...Normal Isn’t Jesus, Coming Back… Is
I can’t decide if it’s supposed to be. “Normal isn’t Jesus. Coming back…is”, or “Normal coming. Isn’t back. Jesus…is”.
Think it's supposed to be "Normal isn't coming back.....Jesus is"
Load More Replies...Or: Normal come and take it. Isn't Jesus driving too me. Coming back... is my scares.
I love all these people who are so happy about this. If you believe it, it literally mans Armageddon and I think a lot of people think they're going to heaven who aren't.
50me Mials Lldo Ionat Ned
Why do this!? If you have an important message, make it easy to convey.
Found This Mess On Amazon
Even The Longest Of Eventually Will Days Eventually Come
Free You Food Pick
M Body, Y Rights, M Choice, Y Life?
It is from a song? pronounced: Mmm body... Y' rights... Mmm choice... Y' life...
Mandate Vax Pass Freedom Pointless
We The Are The Future Future
Gameover
Let's just read it the way it's supposed to be read and be happy for Grant, kay?
Cancer vs Grant saga: the epic beginning. Coming to a gamestop near you
Life Is By Pool Better The
Take Hunger Give Shame Hope Judgement
"Feel shame and hope for (the final) judgement" basically my life
Load More Replies...Building One At A America Load Time
Truckers Empty Mandate Shelves
In Baby Car
Go Or Go
I Heard You're A Turning Rumour 13!
My Local Football Club With An Interesting Message
Home The Is Where Dog Is
Yferc Ooxie Uope Rden
Stand With Stop Ukraine Putin
Do Of Costs
Take Trump The Did Shot
Sounds like some drumpf would say in a speech. But only on one of his more coherent days.
Footballers Its The Dropping Vax
Stop My Staring Light At Saber
If the fabric actually glows all the creeps out there would be rushing to buy this
Do Thank Not You Use
It Doesn't Make Sense To Me!
Toilet Martin Paper Parr Aka My Favourite Artist
Don’t Speak Up!
Happiness Cotton On A Stick Candy
Happiness cotton... sounds very drug like. I would try it. 10/10
Today Day Is A To Be Perfect Happy
Ndc Eoa Xof Tre
Shovels Its Ice Melt All Heaters Here Snow Blower
Got to laugh at the irony of BP's error in the heading (which no doubt they'll change rendering this comment inaccurate) but it currently talks about sings, not signs! For this thread... lol
Delicious irony is a great way to start the day. Thank you, headline writer!
Load More Replies...#66 says "eat the only gamer" and now I know my strategy for the zombie apocalypse
some (actually, most) of these aren't that bad at all & are just people reading them wrong on purpose. some are a bit unclear, but after looking for more than a second you know how it's meant to be read, which isn't that much of a fail compared to the past lists with truly indecipherable messages. disappointing, seeing as i love design fails, but there were only a handful of actual fails here.
Most of these are based on the maker of the sign somehow not understanding that people read left to right rather than top to bottom.
Exactly. I found myself yelling "stop stacking words" about 1/2 way through this list.
Load More Replies...Got to laugh at the irony of BP's error in the heading (which no doubt they'll change rendering this comment inaccurate) but it currently talks about sings, not signs! For this thread... lol
Delicious irony is a great way to start the day. Thank you, headline writer!
Load More Replies...#66 says "eat the only gamer" and now I know my strategy for the zombie apocalypse
some (actually, most) of these aren't that bad at all & are just people reading them wrong on purpose. some are a bit unclear, but after looking for more than a second you know how it's meant to be read, which isn't that much of a fail compared to the past lists with truly indecipherable messages. disappointing, seeing as i love design fails, but there were only a handful of actual fails here.
Most of these are based on the maker of the sign somehow not understanding that people read left to right rather than top to bottom.
Exactly. I found myself yelling "stop stacking words" about 1/2 way through this list.
Load More Replies...
