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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.

#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

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

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Michael Vickery
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never seen traffic lights that had a full circle shield, even though I live in a warm weather state.

troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same, why does this design exist? These are surely mass-produced.

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laura lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oooooh, THAT'S why the bottoms are always open... never even gave it a thought till now lol.

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Jo Johannsen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It shouldn't be that hard to fix. It won't be cheap, but hey, that's what tourists are for.

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Stephen Steve Stephenson III
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I understand why well designed signal lights have only the top portion of the cover

jamie1707 avatar
jamie1707
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They use led lights these days. Before snow wasn't a problem because the old type bulbs melted any snow.

scottmoore_2 avatar
Scott Moore
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Run into the same problem in Denver. Turns out the new LED lights are not as hot as the old incandescent lights, so the snow doesn't melt.

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Debbie Burns
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having the benefit of living here, of course snow should be a factor in all designs, like the sharp downslope roofs we have, but day or night when the colors change it's clear if they're red, yellow or green through the snow and if you can't see the colors you shouldn't be driving anyway. It's a mis thought design sure but not as moronic as this post makes it seem to be

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TonyTee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see people in here are talking about how the quality of the lights have changed and how they're basically crap now, hence why something like this in the picture had happened. Let that be a lesson folks! If it ain't broke don't fix it

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Dusty Studebaker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Previously used incandescent lights and would melt from the heat generated by the bulbs, but now switched to LED, which produce little to no heat. A case of fixing it until it broke.

jameswilliams_6 avatar
James Williams
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This wouldn't have been a problem before lights went to led, the old incandescents melted snow.

aphex1982 avatar
Jaye Rodger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So THAT'S why the bases are missing. I thought it was just so they could be seen from road level as you're nearly underneath them. I learnt something today.

scorpio_2 avatar
Scorpio
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because they switched from incandescent to LED lights. The old ones were warm enough to melt the snow.

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JayWantsACat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the stoplights in my city, that doesn;t even get snow, are bottomless. it's so the pigeons can't roost in them so this seems like a major oversight for a city where snow is expected.

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Matthew Greene
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can say with confidence that this is in Stateline, Clifornia, and is in front of Heavenly Resort.

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Nat Rich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even in the south of England, where we rarely get snow the bottom half is cut out

pantea avatar
Pantea
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many years ago I was driving (in a different city, not where I live) around sunset. When I approached a crossing, the sunlight was hitting the traffic light in such an incovenient angle that I truly could not distinguish the colours. I mean, it happens sometimes that it's a bit hard to see, but here, it was absolutely impossible to find out which light was on! It looked like all three were turned on. I slowed down and was glaring at the lights, trying frantically to see (even getting closer didn't help), as the car behind me honked (typical German!) and I finally dared to pass the light. As I reached it, the colours were visible again (green!) and I didn't need to worry anymore. I've never seen such a thing since.

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Julie Anna Schultz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Im pretty sure this is because they switched to high efficiency LEDS which do not emit heat.

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Tim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never seen traffic lights with this kind of design. I've always seen them with just shades.

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Sylvie Berger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For real??? And that city approved the purchase of these? Both the designer and the municipal officer should be sacked! Can't believe it! Wow!

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James Alexander
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the lights were to contain incandescent light bulbs, then the red and green would probably have melted the snow.

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Paul Lambert
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a lot design even in areas without now. Birds roost in lights with that design.

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Zero Divide
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happened around the world as they switched to LED lights because they produce less heat, while the older model bulbs would have been hot enough to prevent this

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Athena Michelle Dean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could be using LED lights too. Or the combination of the 2. LED's don't get warm enough to melt snow either.

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yellowphantom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On Rt 95 in northern New England, the snow plows throw dirty snow up and it covers the exit and other directional signs so if you are not very familiar with the area, you have no idea where to get off. Missed Logan Airport once because the signs were totally coated.

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Sebastian Melmoth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thought maybe they placed the faceplate upside down but it looks like perfect cylinders…definitely a bad design

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v
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If this only happens occasionally it's not a bad design. If it happens every time it snows, regardless of how much it snows, it's a bad design.

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Mer-i Mar-i
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first glance I thought it was about the "no u turn sign " . In Holland there would be a red Stripe trough the arrow.

kkermes avatar
Kim Kermes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in bad enough conditions that lights with only a top hood were plastered over. Exciting... Also bad enough to be unsafe to fully stop without getting stuck. 3 times in Reno, NV and 3 times in St. Paul, MN. Fun times.

mysticannon avatar
Mysti
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Camera is fine so they can ticket for not being able to see the light

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Mazer
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LED lights don’t create enough heat to melt the snow like the old bulbs did. * PS ex-Pineland resident. West shore is the best shore!!

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Sunny Day
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in Cheyenne. Was also going to mention the new LED lights. Not a good lies around here.

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Trond Øien
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No U-turn option if you get it wrong either. And there's a camera. This is definitely a trap.

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Stew
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well! Ready to break the traffic rules and have fun along that dangerous road? With an addition of vodka of course!

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#3

Blehhh

Blehhh

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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?

Just So We're All Clear, This Man Has Cracked Open A Child And Is Now Wearing Its Insides On His Head, Correct?

MemelordGod_ Report

#5

At Least They Can't See Your Face

At Least They Can't See Your Face

ElShozaYT Report

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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.

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“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.

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#10

I Think I’ve Found It, The Worst Expiration Date Ever

I Think I’ve Found It, The Worst Expiration Date Ever

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#11

Chalk With A Popsicle Color, Shape, And Even Wood Handle. What Could Go Wrong Giving These To Kids?

Chalk With A Popsicle Color, Shape, And Even Wood Handle. What Could Go Wrong Giving These To Kids?

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#12

Know The Facts I Have Beautiful Teeth Too

Know The Facts I Have Beautiful Teeth Too

mosti_shosho Report

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

The Worst Staircase I Have Ever Seen

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#14

Tactile Paving For The Visually Impaired Interrupted By Giant Bench

Tactile Paving For The Visually Impaired Interrupted By Giant Bench

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#15

The Stairs In An Airbnb I Stayed In Where Every Step Is A Different Height, Width And Depth

The Stairs In An Airbnb I Stayed In Where Every Step Is A Different Height, Width And Depth

jingojangobingoblerp Report

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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

This Is So Bad I Forgot How Giraffes Really Look

crf865 Report

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

This Marvel In Ohio

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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

The Toilet Paper Dispenser At My University - Every Roll Spins When You Spin One

InappropriateTuesday Report

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Madison Feehan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does your university have an engineering department? I'd like to speak to them.

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#23

Can We All Admire This Majestic Beast

Can We All Admire This Majestic Beast

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#24

A DIY Shower I Saw While House Hunting

A DIY Shower I Saw While House Hunting

KarensVictim Report

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.

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#26

Go Ahead I Dare You. Bike Lane Ends In Oncoming Traffic

Go Ahead I Dare You. Bike Lane Ends In Oncoming Traffic

TheKitdriv Report

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Kesam
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not a real bus. It's a bicycle trap that starts rolling whenever a cyclist rounds the corner. 😅

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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.

#30

Don't Give Candy To Babies Please

Don't Give Candy To Babies Please

camstarrankin Report

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Madison Feehan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wash your hands like you're covered in hot sauce and need to go put your contact lenses in.

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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.

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#32

The Handle Of This Pan Is Heavier Than The Actual Pan

The Handle Of This Pan Is Heavier Than The Actual Pan

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#33

Guys I Found An App Which Rents Ice Ships

Guys I Found An App Which Rents Ice Ships

Lonely-Series9604 Report

#34

The Letters, Mason! What Do They Mean?

The Letters, Mason! What Do They Mean?

konformista1 Report

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Jon Steensen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#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

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

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#36

The Buttons On This TV

The Buttons On This TV

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BakedKahuna
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could you please turn the volume right? It's a little bit too left right now.

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#37

The Maze They Gave Us After Donating Blood Has No Escape

The Maze They Gave Us After Donating Blood Has No Escape

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#38

Image To Advertise A Photo Booth

Image To Advertise A Photo Booth

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Donkey boi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So THAT'S how you make a thumbnail for your YouTube videos!

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#40

Ah Yes My Fav Avenger The Hulk With Double Layer Teeth

Ah Yes My Fav Avenger The Hulk With Double Layer Teeth

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#41

This Winter, You Can Set Your Feet On Fire

This Winter, You Can Set Your Feet On Fire

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May
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When it causes an electrical fire, nobody can say they weren't warned..

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#43

This Emergency Escape Hammer Is Placed Behind A Plastic Cover Sealed With Screws. No There Is No Emergency Screwdriver Anywhere

This Emergency Escape Hammer Is Placed Behind A Plastic Cover Sealed With Screws. No There Is No Emergency Screwdriver Anywhere

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#44

Bus Stop Shelter

Bus Stop Shelter

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#45

Hidden What?!

Hidden What?!

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#46

Please The Beans

Please The Beans

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#47

This Spacious Toilet Cubical

This Spacious Toilet Cubical

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#49

This Is A Poster By A Design School

This Is A Poster By A Design School

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#50

My Tesla's Door Handles When It's Icy Outside

My Tesla's Door Handles When It's Icy Outside

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Note: this post originally had 121 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.