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The trope “Don’t Dead Open Inside” came to the internet’s spotlight more than ten years ago when it was first used in a promo poster for The Walking Dead. The line, which initially made zero sense to anyone reading it line by line, perfectly captured ensued hilarity. It stirred a whole trend of memes featuring posters, boards and signs that played on the brink of making sense (if read counterintuitively) and making no sense (if read intuitively).

There’s a whole Reddit community dedicated to such oddly amusing linguistic mishaps known as r/deadopeninside. So get ready to roll your eyes, turn your head, read it twice and thrice, calling a friend and looking for answers on Google, because we have selected some of the most head-spinning examples below.

And if there’s anything we're gonna learn from this post, it's how not to overcomplicate your message. At any cost. Psst! Our previous post with hard-to-read signs can be found right here.

#1

Cloudy Meat With A Chance Of Balls

Cloudy Meat With A Chance Of Balls

PuzzlePerp Report

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Although signs and posters collected in this list follow the internet’s trend of obsessing over the “Don’t Dead Open Inside” trope, in reality, such designs speak little to people and fail to deliver their message. By not communicating their message clearly, brands, products and companies are losing their potential clients. So in order to see what an expert had to say on such hard-to-read designs, Bored Panda reached out to Portugal-based graphic designer Laura Vanagaite, who specializes in branding and illustration design.

Laura said that when it comes to advertising, whatever format it may be, it has to be clear 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.”

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#4

Please Do Not Take It Home. Leave Litter Here

Please Do Not Take It Home. Leave Litter Here

freshcheezels Report

#5

They Must Have Added The Arrows After Realizing How Steamy It Was Originally

They Must Have Added The Arrows After Realizing How Steamy It Was Originally

joe_copp Report

The graphic designer explained that sometimes a style that is too modern can be understood wrongly and the whole project will lose its value. “Type of font, letter size, spacing between the letters and positioning the text” all play a crucial role in a good sign design.

Moreover, “colors play a huge part as well. 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 crucial “to keep it simple but sophisticated since balance is the key,” Laura explained.

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#8

So I Fart Old Dust

So I Fart Old Dust

variousbirds Report

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LuckyL
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I started with soold... And then I remembered that it's spelled with one o and went on to find the real meaning

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#9

They Are, In Fact, A Particular Sub-Species Of Rock

They Are, In Fact, A Particular Sub-Species Of Rock

192747585939 Report

When it comes to readability, Laura said that making sure it works and conveys the intended message has to be done prior to handing the sign to the production. “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.”

If you’re working on a project alone, Laura suggests “printing the work on an A3 paper (I know, it is not the same size) so you can get a good look at the text and determine if it’s readable, also if the colors are well-combined.” But tight deadlines, client’s requests, and too many opinions put huge pressure on graphic designers and in these cases it’s best to “take a 5-minute break and then return to the project and see if it still looks good,” concluded Laura.

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#10

Who Else Is Donating To End Children?

Who Else Is Donating To End Children?

JoshuaP01 Report

#11

Free Artificial Colours, From Flavours & Preservatives

Free Artificial Colours, From Flavours & Preservatives

J_por Report

#13

Don't Forget High School Buy A Yearbook

Don't Forget High School Buy A Yearbook

-rguzgasr- Report

#15

*inhales* Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything

*inhales* Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything

Vampyrix25 Report

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Ritchat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who else just read this like Violent Pornography from System of a down?

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#16

Honk If You My Is Think Truck

Honk If You My Is Think Truck

drearycheery Report

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N G
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's incomplete enough to not make sense even if the word spacing was correct. Oh, no, wait. The word Sexy is just visible. Truck driver couldn't even commit to that

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#21

The Way I Let My Boyfriend Know His Dinner Is Ready For Him In The Microwave When He Gets Home From Work

The Way I Let My Boyfriend Know His Dinner Is Ready For Him In The Microwave When He Gets Home From Work

suburbantoast Report

#22

My Local Takeaway Is An Eye Test

My Local Takeaway Is An Eye Test

maninahat Report

#25

My Wife Said, “People Will Get It.”

My Wife Said, “People Will Get It.”

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#26

No No Gain Pain

No No Gain Pain

michellearmlong Report

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Mazer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I absolutely hate this saying no matter how poorly it’s written

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#28

I Would Like A Free Donation. Also, Here's My Lemonade...

I Would Like A Free Donation. Also, Here's My Lemonade...

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Evelína Zlá
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Come ooon... it´s a kid and he gives lemonade for free. Not nice to make fun of him.

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#31

Hearing Aids?

Hearing Aids?

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#33

Hoffman Estates, Il. I Can’t Even Figure Out What It’s Supposed To Say

Hoffman Estates, Il. I Can’t Even Figure Out What It’s Supposed To Say

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#34

This Sign At My International School

This Sign At My International School

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V33333P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hopefully from another school where they're taught better

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#35

In My School Dining Hall

In My School Dining Hall

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#36

Wash Your Brush Hands Your Teeth

Wash Your Brush Hands Your Teeth

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#39

Say 5g No To Vaccines

Say 5g No To Vaccines

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#40

Who's The Goat??!

Who's The Goat??!

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Note: this post originally had 85 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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