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Call the aesthetics police and send a telegram to the epic fails department—we’ve got some awful design decisions to report, and we think there needs to be an official inquiry. This multi-million-member strong subreddit is devoted to showing the most awful sides of design, whether we’re talking about interiors, exteriors, or plain old products. We’ve collected some of the most egregious designs to grace the internet in recent days, so make sure your inner critic is all fired up and ready to go, cuz things are about to get real.
Bored Panda got in touch with Ariane Sherine, the new editor at These Three Rooms, the unique sister site to the Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms magazine, for a chat about good and bad design, and how to make your designs stand out. You’ll find our full interview with Ariane, who lent us her eye for aesthetics, below, so be sure to check it out while you’re upvoting the best of the worst design pics, Pandas.
When you’re done enjoying this utter (un)aesthetic madness in this list, you should check out Bored Panda’s recent articles about epic design fails here, here, and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Stoplights In Lake Tahoe Filled With Snow Due To A Crappy Design Of Not Having The Bottom Cut Out To Prevent Snow Accumulation. It’s A World-Class Ski Area, Snow Should Be A Key Factor In All Design Decisions
RELATED:
#2
Wheelchair Friendly Stairway
#3
Blehhh
Ariane, an editor working at These Three Rooms, was kind enough to share her thoughts about design, aesthetics, and quality with Bored Panda. Ariane believes that the designs that have the biggest impact stand out in terms of aesthetics, form, and their physical durability.
“When it comes to aesthetics, 'bad design' is a very individual thing that comes down to personal taste,” she said that our personal taste plays an important role in how we judge designs. However, we shouldn’t judge designs based on just how we feel about them. We need to take other things into account as well.
#4
Just So We're All Clear, This Man Has Cracked Open A Child And Is Now Wearing Its Insides On His Head, Correct?
#5
At Least They Can't See Your Face
Madison Feehan 3 years ago
Nice to know that they can get acquainted with your other cheeks though.
#6
Orange Is The New Milk
Design expert Ariane gave Bored Panda an example of how our personal tastes, likes, and dislikes can affect our judgment.
“For example, I don't particularly like busy 'maximalist' designs with too many clashing prints and patterns, and I'm not keen on very dark colors, but those might be heaven for somebody else,” she said.
“It's perhaps more helpful to talk about 'bad design' as design that doesn't function as it should—for instance, a kitchen that doesn't have what's called 'good flow', where you have to walk impractical distances between complementary appliances and where the dimensions of the 'kitchen work triangle' (the distance between fridge, sink, and hob) aren't practical,” Ariane said that poor design is more related to poor functioning rather than just poor aesthetics.
#7
Never Noticed
#8
Yee-Haw A Violin!
#9
I Wonder If She's Pregnant
“A kitchen where there isn't enough storage, where potentially dangerous appliances aren't located safely, and where cornflakes and milk are placed at opposite ends of the room is what I'd call 'bad design,'” she told us that bad design is broader and that we should look at the overall space where certain items are located, not just the individual items in isolation.
#10
I Think I’ve Found It, The Worst Expiration Date Ever
#11
Chalk With A Popsicle Color, Shape, And Even Wood Handle. What Could Go Wrong Giving These To Kids?
#12
Know The Facts I Have Beautiful Teeth Too
Fenchurch 3 years ago (edited)
It's not even accurate demon baby!!! The components start developing at 7 weeks, but aren't "eyes" until 27 weeks.
XSpooky_Mint 3 years ago
Of course it's not accurate, it was made by some holier-than-thou conservative lol
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Jerry The Joker 3 years ago
Once again the pro lifers lie to shove their opinions down our throat.
Katie Lutesinger 3 years ago
The message I'm getting here is that babies are terrifying soul-eating demons.
CammyCat 3 years ago
I hate those bumper stickers that say: “smile! Ur mom decided to keep u” I want to reply that my mother also wasn’t raped or abused and wanted to be pregnant with me. Not every woman can say that. And it’s amazing that the women that support banning abortions r ones that haven’t been put in those situations
Christian Garibay 3 years ago
Don't believe in evolution. Believe a 14 day old embryo has "eyes".
grafxgal60073 3 years ago
I just fact-checked and this billboard is not only nightmarish (see baby with a full set of chompers) but it's incorrect. A fetus develops rudimentary eyes at between 3 and 10 weeks. I'll probably be crucified for this, but the female physician/senator testifying before a panel on abortion rights said, "if a fetus cannot survive outside the womb, it is not yet a viable human."
kirara2516 3 years ago
Agreed. Premature babies are a thing, but even with expensive supportive care, they don't all survive.
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Robin Roper 3 years ago
Babies do not have eyes at 14 days gestation. The main parts of the eye that enable sight – the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and retina – start developing at about 7 weeks. By about 10 weeks, a fetus baby has eyelids, though they remain closed.
Burnt Toast 3 years ago
And the creator of this sign still has no brain no matter what age they are…
fat and happy 3 years ago
If that was what was going to come out of me I think I'd go for a voluntary abortion that thing doesn't belong on my planet. Could you imagine breastfeeding?
Naomy Zanatta 3 years ago
Spiders too, yet it's plenty of people who kill them because they are scared of them. So i can't bare to be uncomfortable for 2 minutes with my hands putting a spider out but i have to be uncomfortable with my whole body for 9 months?
Court Jester 3 years ago
Maybe the grinning baby with teeth is meant to scare people into using birth control. 🤔
Nubis Knight 3 years ago
Aaaand it's wrong, eyes START to develop 4 weeks after conception. Why lie about this? -.-
kirara2516 3 years ago
Because the type of people who support this are far less likely to fact check.
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MAKtheknife 3 years ago
I really dislike these signs. I always want to ad "....and I grew up to be a serial killer"
Kesam 3 years ago
The ad's message is against abortion. The joke is the kid's face, which has obviously been photoshopped (teeth) and looks like it will eat your brain. 👹
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jevais 3 years ago
So these ignorant individuals are against abortions, yet how many of them are ready/willing to help the mother and child? Are they going to give a house/appartement, pay the hospital bills, set up funds to pay for health insurance, pay college/university, cloth them, feed them, help the mother get a job, take care of the baby/child while mummy is working or finishing her schooling, will these self-righteousness idiots take on the heavy load of MOTHERS IN DISTRESS? IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO JUGE THAN HELP, N'EST CE PAS ! How would these self-righteous idiots take it if others would meddle with intimate life and decide for them?
Alexandra Konigsburg 3 years ago
The claim they make is totally false, so why would they get any other biological facts get in the way?
Sonia Shanzer 3 years ago
Did they get teeth 14 days after conception too? Eek gads. No wonder theres an infant formula shortage babies are bein born with big chompers no one wants to breastfeed anymore. Yikes.
bugsway Frisk 3 years ago (edited)
I want to know why they use the Chucky doll? That poster makes me want to run to my nearest clinic..
Ely Tanaka 3 years ago
That's not even true. Biology, this big big mistery. If only there was a place where you could learn it...
Kelly Taylor 3 years ago
So you had eyes 14 days from conception but you can't see clearly for a month or two after you're born? Sounds like you're a fetus and not a human yet.
W0lfiest W0lfAlive 3 years ago
This isn't even true. It's 17 days, and even then they're not eyes yet.
DragonKitty 3 years ago
"I HAD EYES" someone hit David Lynch up this'll be his newest blockbuster XD
Daniel LaDue 3 years ago
I'm trying to figure out if that was photoshopped, or what the hell is going on with that demon baby.
Betsy Novack 3 years ago
What amazes me most is that once a life starts costing real time, money and support after they make their debut on Opening Day,, none of their cheerleaders vanish into the air. . And I just have to wonder how the occasional acts of violence by blowing up those pesky clinics or make it impossible to let any woman choose. Birth must take place whether incest, rape is involved in some of these ridiculous laws. What the hell do we even waste time or money on these men by charging them with rape. They may get locked up and released early. They pay no support for a kid. They do not do crap but go knock up the next one. Boys will be boys. And they are as bad as those who demand women have no say in any of this. Not so long ago we shipped our unwed, teenage moms off while the father of this future child that may return with her or just added to the all the other "mistakes". Now we make them reality stars. They can even get pregnant as mother daughter team. Grow up America. Females have sex.
Ki Li 3 years ago
Idk if I agree with you or not. Some sentences sound great but then I wonder if you're attempting sarcasm with others.
Load More Replies...On the flip side, what we consider to be good—or even great—design is all about putting in the energy, effort, and attention where it matters. Good design takes time, especially when it comes to our homes.
“‘Good design' is where a lot of thought and effort has been put into structuring and renovating a house so it's perfect for the people living in it. It takes account of their aesthetic preferences but also focuses on the concepts I mentioned before, paying close attention to detail,” Ariane told us.
#13
The Worst Staircase I Have Ever Seen
#14
Tactile Paving For The Visually Impaired Interrupted By Giant Bench
#15
The Stairs In An Airbnb I Stayed In Where Every Step Is A Different Height, Width And Depth
The editor from These Three Rooms shared what good design looks like for her. “For me, good design is where artificial lighting is used strategically, and where the amount of natural light is maximized; where a room feels airy and spacious instead of closed in.”
#16
This Is So Bad I Forgot How Giraffes Really Look
#17
This "Taco" Someone Posted From Their Work Cafeteria
The design expert continued about what well-crafted spaces entail. These are designs “where the amount of walking and effort is minimized, as everything you need is to hand; where there are enough plug sockets and lights to meet the homeowner's needs; and where tables, seating, countertops, basins, etc are perfect for their height. These are classic principles that I doubt will change over time.”
#19
This Marvel In Ohio
#20
When I Almost Bought Shirts But Was Afraid Of How They Would Smell
#21
Simple Question, Why?
According to Ariane, if you’re decorating the interior of your home, you might want to use a limited palette. “Aesthetically, I would personally only choose two or three complementary colors and whichever metallic finish you like for a color scheme, because to me that kind of coordination is stylish and beautiful, but it really comes down to individual preferences.”
#22
The Toilet Paper Dispenser At My University - Every Roll Spins When You Spin One
Madison Feehan 3 years ago
Does your university have an engineering department? I'd like to speak to them.
#23
Can We All Admire This Majestic Beast
#24
A DIY Shower I Saw While House Hunting
Meanwhile, Tim Antoniuk, an Associate Professor of Design Studies at the University of Alberta, believes there are objectively good and bad products, but our preferences create a bit of a gray area between the two.
"The gray area comes in when people start to talk about taste and about degrees of aesthetic. I may love the design of Bauhaus furniture, for example, while somebody may feel that it is too cold and void of personality. Not unlike great art, I believe that much of what came from this era is ‘great design,’ in part because it represents an era and a philosophy. When we start to mix in discussions of taste and preference, that is where the gray areas of good and bad design get blurred,” he told Bored Panda during an earlier interview.
#25
The Sign Telling Us Where Our Room Is
#26
Go Ahead I Dare You. Bike Lane Ends In Oncoming Traffic
#27
Blursed
Tim from the University of Alberta thinks that people can intuitively tell if a design is good or not. We feel it, we sense it.
"Quite often, this relates to ergonomics and the usability or functionality of the products and services and systems. Having said that, I think far too many people expect poor design that doesn’t really work well," he said, adding that for him, great design is intuitive, empathetic to the user, and emotional.
#28
Those Columns Look Awful
#29
This Garbage Bin Actually Leads To Another Bathroom Stall
#30
Don't Give Candy To Babies Please
Madison Feehan 3 years ago
Wash your hands like you're covered in hot sauce and need to go put your contact lenses in.
What has been the worst design that you have ever seen with your own two eyes, Pandas? Which of the terrible designs from this list are going to give you nightmares for many nights to come? Share your thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the article.
#32
The Handle Of This Pan Is Heavier Than The Actual Pan
#33
Guys I Found An App Which Rents Ice Ships
#34
The Letters, Mason! What Do They Mean?
Jon Steensen 3 years ago
Oh, I thought I knew what was the worst spelling book ever (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P_Is_for_Pterodactyl), but the one above even beats that.
#35
Gnomes Are Symbol Of My City. It Used To Be A City Game For Tourists To Find Them All But There Are So Many Of Them It No Longer Makes Sense. City Opened Brand New Skate Park In The City. To Celebrate It They Put A Gnome There. Metal Gnome With Pointy Bits On Top Of A Ramp Right Next To A Rail
Firstname Lastname 3 years ago
Wroclaw, Poland. Dang it, not playing hide and seek with the gnomes now...
#36
The Buttons On This TV
BakedKahuna 3 years ago
Could you please turn the volume right? It's a little bit too left right now.
#37
The Maze They Gave Us After Donating Blood Has No Escape
#38
Image To Advertise A Photo Booth
#39
Cherry On Top Of The Road
#40
Ah Yes My Fav Avenger The Hulk With Double Layer Teeth
#41
This Winter, You Can Set Your Feet On Fire
#42
This Ad For A Fire Pit
#43
This Emergency Escape Hammer Is Placed Behind A Plastic Cover Sealed With Screws. No There Is No Emergency Screwdriver Anywhere
#44
Bus Stop Shelter
#45
Hidden What?!
#46
Please The Beans
#47
This Spacious Toilet Cubical
#48
Men's Toilet In A Cafe In Shanghai
#49
This Is A Poster By A Design School
#50
My Tesla's Door Handles When It's Icy Outside
#51
Where Should I Go?
#52
I Can't Tell If The Face Or The Text And Warning Are The Real Crappy Design
#53
The Angle Of This Image From A Shampoo Ad Makes Them Look Like Conjoined Twins
#54
Think Inside The Box First
#55
The Worst Bathroom I Have Ever Seen (In A Hotel)
#56
This Dystopian Shrek And Donkey
#57
Just Got To My Condo, I’m In Unit E
#58
Hotel Room Has A Massive Pillar Blocking The Other Side Of The Bed, Also Makes For A Very Cozy Depression Corner
#59
Even Their Own Model Is Not Comfortable With The Design
#60
Who Is This Sign Meant For?
#61
Don't Think That's A Dog
#62
Crappy Slide
#63
This Creepy Mannequin Doll
#64
I Was Getting A Tour Of A Potential Home To Buy But As Soon As I Saw This I Left
#65
Let’s Pizz
#66
How Tall Would One Have To Be To Set The Temperature To Bake At 350?
#67
Found This While On An Airport Returning Home
#69
Always Forgotten Remembered Never
#70
View From The Last Row Of My Local Theater
#71
My Fridge
#72
Mailboxes Not In Order
#73
Could Be Good Camouflage For The Zombie Apocalypse. Add A Cardigan And Wedges And This Versatile Dress Transforms To Perfect Evening Wear!
#74
I’m Not Sure What Would Make Me Think It Contains Avocados
Seule Forever 3 years ago
"So how do we get millenials to buy our mustard?" "Put an avocado on it, millenials loves that sh-" XD
#75
I’ve Tripped In The Kitchen But Never On My Way To The Kitchen
Madison Feehan 3 years ago
This looks like one of those little show kitchens that they have at the hardware stores.
#76
This Shopping Bag Looks Like Greasy Fast Food Takeout
#77
Please Don’t Use Gradients When You’re Making A Graph
#78
The Circles Don’t Match The Lines On My To Do Lists
#79
Looking For A Place To Live In London. Found One For £650 Per Month, No Bills Included. This 'Studio Flat' Has A Shower In The Living Room, If You Look Real Close, You'll See The Sink Beside It Too (Chefs Kiss)
Jake stenhouse 3 years ago
With the added bonus that you get to warm your toes in the fireplace while you’re eating dinner
#80
The Gaelic Athletic Association, In Ireland, Show Voting Results Like This
#81
Menu With Red Letters Under Red Lights
#82
How Should I Open The Door On The Left
#83
Finger Crushing Door Handle In A Place We’re Renting
#84
The New Footpath And Gate At My Work
Sue Sanders 3 years ago
The designer was on speed and the construction guy didn't know any better.
#85
What A Terrible Design For A Roundabout
#87
A Touch Lamp That You Can Only Touch In One Spot. You Know, Like A Regular Switch
#88
Instead Of Making These Thermometers Turn Off They Just Stay On And Display The Word "Off" Making Them Run Their Batteries Faster Than Other Models We Used To Have At My Job
#89
Exhaust Fan Switch In Corner Of Ceiling, Behind A Stacked Washer&dryer That You Need A Long Stick To Turn On In My New House
Sar-kei Scyence 3 years ago
They’re designed to be on continuously, you rarely need to switch them off if at all.
#90
Serpent Dolphin Is Serphin
#91
The Seller Doesn’t Have Any Notion Of Scaling
#92
Our Neighborhood Has Every Mailbox Blocking The Sidewalks
#93
Some Poor Attempt Of A Quirky Clock
#94
The More I Look At This House, The Worse It Gets
Trond Øien 3 years ago (edited)
The architect equivalent of using to many fonts in one graphic design.
#95
Sliding Door Smashes Outlet When You Open It
#96
The Fabric Choice For These Cloth Diapers Makes It Look Like They Have Already Been Used
#97
It Was Closed
Saint Thomas 3 years ago
It's in a bus (or tramway/metro/train). It can technically be closed, but the message asks not to do it. "Please don't close this window" would have been a beter way to phrase it, for sure.
#98
Mini Golf Shrek
#99
A Normal Family
#100
These Mug Handles. Very Uncomfortable To Hold
#101
I Found This While Shopping, In Some Ways I Love It In Other Ways This Is Really Cursed
#102
The Hr Departments Attempt To Discourage Human Contact At My Work
#103
Barrier Blocks Pedestrians When It’s Open For Cars
#104
I Can't Figure Out Which Way To Go
#105
Imma Go To The Biar Blio Tegen Catina
#106
How Are You Even Supposed To Read This?
#107
At First Look I Thought They're Getting Hanged
#108
Is Wayfair Trying To Sell Me A Sink Or A Urinal? Or Both?
Donkey boi 3 years ago (edited)
"Why not save time by washing your hands at the same time as your c**k"
#109
LED Rear View Mirror Advertisement On Tik Tok
#110
A Song Plays Asking You To Press Triangle… There Isn’t A Triangle To Press
#111
Cafe Logo: Halfcup Brunch
#112
This Bathroom Stall At A Hockey Arena
#113
I See Your Scarlett Johansson And Raise My Favourite Avenger
#114
Toilet At My Office
#117
These Kit Kats Redesigned For Halloween Won't Break Right
Got Myself 4 Pandas 3 years ago
I just bite them without breaking off the fingers. My husband hates it and looks at me like I'm crazy, so obviously I can't now break it to eat each bit - it's my duty to continue eating them like how a psychopath would - I have no other option
#118
Found This On Douyin, Thought It Might Fit Here
#120
Door Handles That Freeze Way To Easy On Tesla Model 3/Y
#121
Bought A Trailer Lock And Been Using It For A Year Or Two And Just Realized It Is Useless
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T h e r e s a 3 years ago
These are great, but all the (current) top comments stole the show 🤣🤣 nearly pissed myself
dream of delusion 3 years ago
how? how do people make these and not realize how crappy they are?
Bryan Dehler 3 years ago
You'd be surprised. I travel often for work and see horrible designs almost every where I go, especially in public bathrooms.
Load More Replies...
Steve 3 years ago
For the bizzarro housing designs, I never understood how one can build stairs that make zero sense and the builders are like "Yep, job done!" Like, are the builders being paid by the designer to build it exactly to the letter, no questions asked?
Keisha 3 years ago
I think the "builders" are being paid in beer and weed and they consumed both before doing their work.
Load More Replies...
Abby Parker 3 years ago
A tobacco company decided to rebrand one of their products just before the pandemic. Originally, they were going to call it Red Flow and as a woman, I cracked up 🤣 I think someone must have cottoned on because when it was released, it was named Flow Red instead 😂
Dustin West 3 years ago
Can't figure out how to post a picture so I will just describe it.. While shopping I came across a parachute that attaches to your waist to put drag while running. The picture on the front of box shows someone using it on a rooftop giving the impression that it could save your life if you were to fall while running on rooftops. Then you turn it over and read the Warning: This is to be used Only as shown/illustrated/described.
Emmett O'Brian 3 years ago
A local health insurance agency (Independent Health) has as their slogan "we'll give you the red shirt treatment". Which is meaningless on it's own, they show their staff wearing red shirts, but that still doesn't mean anything. If you're at all familiar with Star Trek, you know that a red shirt is the hapless security officer that is the first one to die. Please don't give me the red shirt treatment.
Hidden City Pictures 3 years ago
At my local Burger King, both bathrooms are larger than the break room and office combined. And they are single occupancy! I have no clue why.
T h e r e s a 3 years ago
These are great, but all the (current) top comments stole the show 🤣🤣 nearly pissed myself
dream of delusion 3 years ago
how? how do people make these and not realize how crappy they are?
Bryan Dehler 3 years ago
You'd be surprised. I travel often for work and see horrible designs almost every where I go, especially in public bathrooms.
Load More Replies... Steve 3 years ago
For the bizzarro housing designs, I never understood how one can build stairs that make zero sense and the builders are like "Yep, job done!" Like, are the builders being paid by the designer to build it exactly to the letter, no questions asked?
Keisha 3 years ago
I think the "builders" are being paid in beer and weed and they consumed both before doing their work.
Load More Replies... Abby Parker 3 years ago
A tobacco company decided to rebrand one of their products just before the pandemic. Originally, they were going to call it Red Flow and as a woman, I cracked up 🤣 I think someone must have cottoned on because when it was released, it was named Flow Red instead 😂
Dustin West 3 years ago
Can't figure out how to post a picture so I will just describe it.. While shopping I came across a parachute that attaches to your waist to put drag while running. The picture on the front of box shows someone using it on a rooftop giving the impression that it could save your life if you were to fall while running on rooftops. Then you turn it over and read the Warning: This is to be used Only as shown/illustrated/described.
Emmett O'Brian 3 years ago
A local health insurance agency (Independent Health) has as their slogan "we'll give you the red shirt treatment". Which is meaningless on it's own, they show their staff wearing red shirts, but that still doesn't mean anything. If you're at all familiar with Star Trek, you know that a red shirt is the hapless security officer that is the first one to die. Please don't give me the red shirt treatment.
Hidden City Pictures 3 years ago
At my local Burger King, both bathrooms are larger than the break room and office combined. And they are single occupancy! I have no clue why.
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