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Design seems like such a simple, elementary thing when you think about it, but hordes of people keep getting the basics wrong, often with hilarious and side-splitting results. Buildings are hard to design, as are other objects, but we usually take the lettering and layout of sentences and phrases for granted, as though everyone will be able to understand us no matter how.we.words.our.place.

Well, the truth is, designing text so it’s readable isn’t as easy as you’d expect. There’s a system to it. There are processes that must be followed. Typography rules that ought never be broken. Except that those rules are broken all the time by some oblivious people. Bored Panda collected some of the best examples of incredibly bad text design that is wonderfully enjoyable to make fun of. From lame ads to funny posters, nodofy is safe from bad design. So upvote the best/worst fails, see if your friends can figure out what’s actually written, and let us know in the comments if you've seen design fails that compare to these ones.

We know how much you enjoy these funny fails concerning design, so you can read Bored Panda’s previous posts about them here, here, here, here, and here.

#1

How Do I Apply?

How Do I Apply?

sevenonesicks Report

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vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The person preparing this sign was surely tripping on something..

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#2

Noted

Noted

jhoang0730 Report

#3

Apparently Scary Jesus Is A Thing

Apparently Scary Jesus Is A Thing

Bausdria Report

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vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you are on a fishing trip. Walks on water behind you and goes BOO!!

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One of the online communities where similar text design fails are shared daily is the subreddit ‘Don’t Dead Open Inside,’ which prides itself on collecting the most egregious examples of signs and media that don’t make any sense if you read them normally. The community, which was established in May 2014, is large, having grown to over 513,000 members.

Bored Panda reached out to the 'Don't Dead Open Inside' subreddit moderators. According to one of them, the community was inspired to form because of the 'Don't Dead Open Inside' frame from the very first episode of the hit TV show The Walking Dead.

According to one moderator, people make mistakes while designing text because "they're either not thinking or they want to be original. Our main mission statement is to show them that they are wrong."

They also had advice for those individuals willing to step up their game design-wise: "People in the west read left to right, then top to bottom. Do not "liven up" your text by making it "quirky". Hard to read means lost attention which translates to lost revenue."

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#5

This Terribly Worded Sign I Saw Today. Sorry, I’ll Pick Up My Dog’s Poop... Wouldn’t Want To Ruin Your Child Eating Experience

This Terribly Worded Sign I Saw Today. Sorry, I’ll Pick Up My Dog’s Poop... Wouldn’t Want To Ruin Your Child Eating Experience

KevenNotKevin Report

#6

Well, Uh... I Guess That's A Good Motto

Well, Uh... I Guess That's A Good Motto

doubletheaction Report

Canva has some handy tips for those of you willing to up your design game when it comes to words. For example, Canva suggests that you limit the number of fonts that you use and use simple ones, rather than complex ones that might not mesh together well.

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#9

Baby Needs Beers & Wines

Baby Needs Beers & Wines

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Spacing, something most of us rarely think about, is also important and can bring about radically different effects simply by eliminating the negative space between letters, words, and sentences.

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#11

This Habitat For Humanity Van

This Habitat For Humanity Van

EasterChimp Report

#12

So My Campus Had A Suicide Awareness And Prevention Day

So My Campus Had A Suicide Awareness And Prevention Day

KBid-1998 Report

Meanwhile, colors are equally important: use them to your advantage to create harmony between different parts of the text. Use contrasting and complementary colors. Lines can be used to guide the reader’s attention and create symmetry; however, badly used lines can turn a sign or a design into a catastrophe. Think you’ve got all that? Good. Let us know how you’d fix the text designs in this list.

#13

No Safety. Smoking First

No Safety. Smoking First

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#14

Who Else Is Donating To End Children?

Who Else Is Donating To End Children?

Gummie Report

#15

Don't Save A Life. Be Afraid To Give Blood

Don't Save A Life. Be Afraid To Give Blood

youllneverfindmeman Report

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Grapeling
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you this is very helpful. I'll tell me friends too :D

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#17

If You Hard, Then You Hard

If You Hard, Then You Hard

Vengedpotty Report

#18

Sorry Guys, You Can’t Let Your Pets Cook Bicycles Here

Sorry Guys, You Can’t Let Your Pets Cook Bicycles Here

PikachuIce Report

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#20

Please Do Not Take It Home. Leave Litter Here

Please Do Not Take It Home. Leave Litter Here

freshcheezels Report

#21

Just Purchased This Low Quality Fried Chicken At The Grocery Store

Just Purchased This Low Quality Fried Chicken At The Grocery Store

mountainsofkong Report

#22

If You Were In A Car, Would You Know What Accident To Do?

If You Were In A Car, Would You Know What Accident To Do?

MrGrampton Report

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Holosexual
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so stressful no I wouldn't know what accident to do, this is too much responsibility

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#23

Smash Immigrants Welcome Racism

Smash Immigrants Welcome Racism

Dbanzai Report

#25

I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

generationfire Report

#26

This New Wall Art In My Office

This New Wall Art In My Office

Bitemarkz Report

#27

Our To Help Trollies You Move

Our To Help Trollies You Move

INTP36 Report

#28

7 Surprising Black Ways To Use Beans

7 Surprising Black Ways To Use Beans

maximum_chungus Report

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everclearshovel21 avatar
Hello it Smee
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get the stupid title, but seriously black bean smoothies sounds gross!!!!!!!

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#29

So I Fart Old Dust

So I Fart Old Dust

variousbirds Report

#30

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

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

192747585939 Report

#31

The Design School I Graduated From Sent This Postcard Out

The Design School I Graduated From Sent This Postcard Out

edrini Report

#33

When Your Gym Tryies Hard To Motivate You But Fails To Make Any Sense

When Your Gym Tryies Hard To Motivate You But Fails To Make Any Sense

james_pawned Report

#35

Vicious Inc... What?!

Vicious Inc... What?!

thedirtyjackal Report

#37

From Afar, This Sign Has A Completely Different Meaning

From Afar, This Sign Has A Completely Different Meaning

tannerclary3 Report

#38

Wet Private Clay Parties

Wet Private Clay Parties

bouncingredgrape Report

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#41

Shosple Colupis

Shosple Colupis

caiia_ Report

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Tai Nguyen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Finally! You have no idea how hard it is to find a shop selling shosple colupis!!

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#44

Popped Up On My Feed

Popped Up On My Feed

CLONE_1 Report

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Tai Nguyen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If being okay is not okay, is being not okay, okay? And if so, isn't that also not okay?

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#45

Found At A Local Bar

Found At A Local Bar

jughandle Report

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Monday
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love beer corn! It's the best snack when you're playing pong hole!

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#47

This Won The Design Competition

This Won The Design Competition

chica420 Report

#48

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

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

joe_copp Report

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Marcellus the Third
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the intention was to slow your actions down it worked very well! 10/10 success.

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#49

This Sign At My International School

This Sign At My International School

InboundBark49 Report

#50

Karaoke Thursday Here Every Sunday

Karaoke Thursday Here Every Sunday

Ardinno Report

#52

I Think The Real Question Is: Why On A Toilet Seat?

I Think The Real Question Is: Why On A Toilet Seat?

JaseAndrews Report

#53

Book Don’t By Judge It’s A Cover At My High School

Book Don’t By Judge It’s A Cover At My High School

GotSpawnKilled Report

#55

I Live In Tootrno

I Live In Tootrno

NairodI Report

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Kioh81
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

" We don't take naps Toronto!" Hahaha Is this a roast on Toronto? Or is this Toronto is against naps in general?? I'm so confused

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#56

Wales Prince Of Hotel

Wales Prince Of Hotel

Knifty_ Report

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Ryo Bakura
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, it does look like a castle, so it could be the Prince of Hotels in that sense. And it could be in Wales, as well.

#59

70,000 Can’t Be Teeth, Wrong

70,000 Can’t Be Teeth, Wrong

PivotalFugur Report

#60

You Had Meat "Hello"

You Had Meat "Hello"

Baudin82 Report

#63

Hear That Noise? We Are Growing. We Can Fix It Again. Apply Inside

Hear That Noise? We Are Growing. We Can Fix It Again. Apply Inside

armchairnixon Report

#65

I Give Up

I Give Up

TheCunningLinguist89 Report

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Kioh81
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the big lines are supposedly blanks for you to fill in maybe?

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#66

Do Not Take And Put Blue Chairs Them Onto Gym Floor! Away When Done

Do Not Take And Put Blue Chairs Them Onto Gym Floor! Away When Done

sumptinmagic Report

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Andrew Wildman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“So I don’t take a chair but I gotta put a chair away? That’s deep, man...”

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#69

I Am Dond

I Am Dond

bestgrandson Report

#71

*inhales* Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything

*inhales* Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything

Vampyrix25 Report

#72

If U Stay, Go, Stay Do It 4ever Today

If U Stay, Go, Stay Do It 4ever Today

childishsulvino Report

#73

Real Trucks Not Carry Loads, Handbags

Real Trucks Not Carry Loads, Handbags

HitlersOneInchDick Report

#74

Don't Worry You'll About It Be Ok

Don't Worry You'll About It Be Ok

pepperonilegs Report

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#76

Power Bur To The Ger

Power Bur To The Ger

rflil Report

#78

This Sign I Saw While Visiting Vancouver

This Sign I Saw While Visiting Vancouver

aegisventus Report

#81

Either Way This Makes No Sense

Either Way This Makes No Sense

LennonForPresident Report

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Mark
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the urban cottage started in the bottom of a well before progressing to the top of the stairs ;)

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#82

I Drink Game And Of I Loans Interest Is Coming Know Things

I Drink Game And Of I Loans Interest Is Coming Know Things

Gold_Paperclip Report

#84

Hard Do Hat Not Area Enter

Hard Do Hat Not Area Enter

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#85

Babies What Drink Are Milk You

Babies What Drink Are Milk You

CharlieEdjmin Report

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A B C
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even when you read it as it is intended - what the frigg are they trying to tell me? Or ask me, for that matter?

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#86

Teachers Who Love Teach Children Teaching To Love Learning

Teachers Who Love Teach Children Teaching To Love Learning

quinky_bee Report

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Parmeisan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In case anybody else is tired from going through 95 of these: "Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning."

#89

Ate At A Local Restaurant

Ate At A Local Restaurant

Nopeasuoli Report

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Char Char
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'Welcome. May all who came as guests leave as friends'. I ordered some of these wall stickers from Wish and the words come on a sheet in no particular order. You kind of have to sort it out.

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#90

Why Did I Name My Show "The Joel With Mchale Joel Show Mchale"?

Why Did I Name My Show "The Joel With Mchale Joel Show Mchale"?

NinjaCowReddit Report

#91

Who Thought This Was Acceptable

Who Thought This Was Acceptable

juanprada Report

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Marcellus the Third
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a wasted opportunity, they had "TMI" in there which would certainly apply.

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#94

Men Because Women

Men Because Women

verianne Report

#95

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

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

BossMabel5 Report

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Anna Wentz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aw but he's just a kiddo not a trained designer like some of these fails

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#96

Please Sick Please Donate Kids Donate

Please Sick Please Donate Kids Donate

fuuuuuckendoobs Report

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Monday
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ah I've been looking for a place to donate my kids for years...when can I drop them off?

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#97

Stop Refreshing

Stop Refreshing

Astro2k Report

#101

Always Bright Look On Side The Of Life

Always Bright Look On Side The Of Life

peppermint_jake Report

#102

This Sign I Saw In Someone’s Yard

This Sign I Saw In Someone’s Yard

CallingFrom127001 Report

#103

It's Supposed To Be A Quote From The Hamilton Musical. I Can See Life And Liberty But That's All I've Made Sense Of

It's Supposed To Be A Quote From The Hamilton Musical. I Can See Life And Liberty But That's All I've Made Sense Of

2meanbrothers Report

#104

Always Forgotten - Missed Never

Always Forgotten - Missed Never

cdsackett Report

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Ana-Maria Z
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, if you follow the logic on this one, actually is correct. UP -> DOWN -> RIGHT -> UP...If you straighten the band you will see the words written correctly.

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#105

Saw This In A Store Today

Saw This In A Store Today

carpelas13 Report

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#106

Jesus Are Is Coming You Back Ready?

Jesus Are Is Coming You Back Ready?

porkstick Report

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Mark
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The way they scrawled that on the back of their truck they obviously weren't ready :)

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#107

Tread Though Our What Softly Leaves Words Can Because

Tread Though Our What Softly Leaves Words Can Because

JordanEBailey2 Report

#108

Catc H So Mes Tard Ust

Catc H So Mes Tard Ust

ImpishAlice Report

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JJM
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got Stardust out of that...............that's nice.

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