ADVERTISEMENT

Do you ever shop online or wander around crowded isles and instantly feel overwhelmed by the plethora of items to choose from? Well, the amount of stuff we’re bombarded with daily is through the roof. With millions of products available to buy at the click of a button, folks are constantly uncovering heaps of original ideas. From cool concepts that solve modern problems to things you didn’t even realize you wanted, there's plenty of temptations.

But once you scroll past the innovative and the necessary, things tend to take a bizarre turn. And there's one online destination dedicated to poking fun at the side of consumerism where the level of weirdness is way above normal. So let us introduce you to the 'Strangest Products' online community on Reddit. Thousands of members have set out to share pictures of the most unusual gadgets, oddest product designs, and bizarre inventions that almost certainly challenge the boundaries of imagination.

Our product-loving team here at Bored Panda has gone through their feed and gathered some of the strangest items you can buy, but really shouldn’t. So continue scrolling to check out the images below, hit upvote on the most baffling ones, and let us know which of these products you loved and hated most in the comments!

#1

Yoda Bookend

Yoda Bookend

SuperPixel Report

Add photo comments
POST
mygroupsacct2012 avatar
OGA
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why in the world is this on a list of things we probably wouldn't want?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Then Do The Boogie Woogie And You Turn Around And Thats What Its All About! (Read The Whole Thing!)

Then Do The Boogie Woogie And You Turn Around And Thats What Its All About! (Read The Whole Thing!)

KitCat430 Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, love it. Although shouldn't the title read "do the hokey pokey" not "do the boogie woogie"?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Nowadays, we’re used to well-thought-out products. We expect quality and value because, after all, companies and designers invested their time, money, and ideas into bringing these items to the shelves and, consequently, into our homes. The whole definition of product design is to solve our problems and satisfy specific needs that arise in a given market, but things happen and some strategies miss the mark entirely. And when people say that all things have a function and a purpose, they've probably never come across a vertical chess board or an enormous punchable Enter Key that certainly bends the limits of imagination.

"Welcome to Strangest Products," as the moderators write in the community description. Ever since its creation in 2017, the group has been steadily growing and sharing the weirdest findings they discover with everyone online. Scrolling through their feed and seeing objects that are light years away from their goal can be baffling. However, it’s also undeniably entertaining to see these creations and poke fun at their ridiculous designs. Heck, some may even make you stop and shout, "Take my money!" And you probably won’t be the only one.

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

Phone Case With Actual Working Emulator With 36 Games. I Have It, It Works Great!

Phone Case With Actual Working Emulator With 36 Games. I Have It, It Works Great!

psoeting Report

#5

Forget Real State, You Can’t Afford It Anyway. Millennials Monopoly

Forget Real State, You Can’t Afford It Anyway. Millennials Monopoly

Jennyrelleni Report

#6

I Dont Know Where Else To Post This Gem

I Dont Know Where Else To Post This Gem

gestrn Report

After all, good design isn’t easy, and creating something that has a purpose and is pleasant to interact with requires years of learning and experience in the field. To learn more about blunders in the product design world, we reached out to Mike Doell, an industrial designer and president of the Toronto-based studio Ross + Doell Inc. When asked about the poor design solutions we stumble upon these days, he told us that 'bad' is a relative term and often leads to never-ending conversations.

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Internal House Bird Feeder With Two Way Mirror

Internal House Bird Feeder With Two Way Mirror

MadroxKran Report

Add photo comments
POST
rattyqueen7 avatar
Enigma wrapped in a paradox
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not particularly practical design but I guess if you're a bird lover, have the money and space 🤷🏼‍♀️

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Doell pointed out several explanations for why products sometimes don’t turn out as expected. "A few reasons are low budgets, inexperience, super tight deadlines, and risk intolerance. This often leads to copying a successful product without fully understanding it or the thought process involved," he explained to Bored Panda. Moreover, when designers leave out or alter features and details, it can "adversely affect the product if you don't fully understand what you are copying."

ADVERTISEMENT

But making ideas into reality is a lot harder than you’d think, something that often leads to bizarre gadgets being released into the wild. The industrial designer explained that they look strange to us because they were simply created at the wrong place and wrong time. "May not be appropriate for the target market," Doell added.

#11

Limited Edition

Limited Edition

dankvader08 Report

#12

The Ultimate Plumber T-Shirt

The Ultimate Plumber T-Shirt

Jennyrelleni Report

Add photo comments
POST
ka-furke avatar
Teampandas GF
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It says "business/handiwork is more attractive than you think" and it's (made as if (?)) part of an add to attract people to apply for these jobs.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

One key characteristic of odd products is feature creep. "Those responsible for new product development often pile on unnecessary features and visual details thinking they will add value," he said. This is also known as scope creep and refers to excessive features that usually make the product too complicated to use.

As David Bishop, a designer and researcher, explained in his LinkedIn post, to understand what feature creep means, you just have to visualize a universal remote control. "Can you understand what all those buttons do? Have you ever actually pressed any of those tiny ones hiding down at the bottom? I didn’t think so."

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Motorized Pool Float

Motorized Pool Float

KermitMadMan Report

Add photo comments
POST
isaac-malmsheimer avatar
Isaac7lego🇺🇸
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want this, unecessary for a pool but could be really fun on a slow river or lake

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

For a moment, just imagine how delightful it is to use things that are simple and intuitive. Good design requires creators to think about and understand others. While it doesn't come naturally for most, it certainly makes things better. Unfortunately, overcomplicated products are being forced on consumers these days, and the reason behind it is a simple one: competition.

"A product appears on the market. It gains a following and a dedicated user base. Those users want their beloved product to get even better, so they have ideas and requests for how it might be updated in version 2.0. At the same time, a competitor appears and perhaps even offers some of the very features users have been requesting," Bishop wrote, adding that the market often compares the two by their features. While most of us might believe that the most fully loaded product is immediately the superior one, that’s rarely the case.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#17

This Bluetooth Shower Speaker Is Powered By A Micro Hydroelectric Generator

This Bluetooth Shower Speaker Is Powered By A Micro Hydroelectric Generator

danontwowheels Report

#18

Truly Terrifying Product

Truly Terrifying Product

Nitrosaber Report

Interestingly, adding more features to the product can make designers believe they’re thinking about the user's needs and what they might need in any future situation. But "designing something that can be used in every imaginable situation usually means that it doesn’t work as well in more common situations."

Bishop pointed out that the best way to fight scope creep is to rethink simplicity. "In fact, simplicity is itself a feature—and one of the most powerful tools for making users more efficient, effective, and satisfied with a product. Don’t think of removing a function from a product as taking something away; think of it as adding simplicity."

#19

This Is The Most Important Purchase Of Your Lives

This Is The Most Important Purchase Of Your Lives

HyperExtreme Report

#20

A Punchable Enter Key

A Punchable Enter Key

stuetel Report

#21

Big Articulated Fingers...

Big Articulated Fingers...

unknown Report

Add photo comments
POST
frogglin avatar
Little Wonder
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes okay but I do want these. If I can learn to type with them it would really brighten up my work day.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

If you want to avoid creating more problems with your designs while also creating new products, Doell told us that it’s important to always think about the user. "Not just the end user, but also the person that assembles, repairs, sells, etc." Moreover, if you feel like almost everything worthwhile has already been invented, don’t feel discouraged. There are plenty of ways to find a new niche where you can show off your brilliant ideas and talent.

ADVERTISEMENT

Plus, your inventions don’t have to be completely new. The industrial designer pointed out that creators can just take a specific item and put in the effort to make it better. "You do not have to be first," he added. "[But] take the time to understand the task, it is never as simple as you think it is."

#26

Mini Cinder Blocks So You Can Build Your Own Tiny House

Mini Cinder Blocks So You Can Build Your Own Tiny House

taylorjo53 Report

Add photo comments
POST
1998-mende-laura avatar
Laura Mende (Human)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I know these. Never had it but I know people who played with it when children. There ate even sets: build a house, church, water mill... Bricks, cement mix, even the shingles for the roof, all inclusive. But expensive sets.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

This Is Pretty Cool

This Is Pretty Cool

mads12385 Report

Add photo comments
POST
villanoclass avatar
Great Pyrenees
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seems right to me. It's not like Kirby breathes IN. no, that wouldn't make sense would it

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

The Bean Bag Onesie. Aka: Junk In The Trunk Onesie

The Bean Bag Onesie. Aka: Junk In The Trunk Onesie

culloden97402 Report

Add photo comments
POST
sawdust99 avatar
Sawdust
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Please come in and take a seat." "No thanks...I've already got one." *sunglasses fall into place*

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Love This AirPods Case

Love This AirPods Case

theshopolics Report

Add photo comments
POST
melanieking avatar
Daffodil
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's actually adorable. I'm starting to think this list is "Mostly good things that some old person with no love left for the world doesn't like, sprinkled on with some actual stupidity"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 98 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.