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For reasons known only to them, some designers make products look dirty. And that's usually not what you want.

Whether we're talking about jeans covered in brown stains or a floor brush that looks to be constantly covered in dust, these things can really play tricks on you.

But at least you can pass it on—people who have witnessed such exhibits in the wild are sharing their photos on the Internet, trying to see if they'll fool others as well.

Bored Panda collected a list of such images just for your enjoyment, so sit back, relax, and prepare to repeat "Why would someone create this?" with a judgemental chuckle for the next few minutes.

#1

This Rose Themed Bed Spread

This Rose Themed Bed Spread

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

It looks like there is a dead body wrapped in a sheet at the end of the bed also...

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Most of these images come from one subreddit, a place dedicated entirely to trashy design. In an earlier Bored Panda interview, the moderators of the online community said that most of its 2.4 million members probably go there for entertainment.

"However, it is common to have a meaningful discussion here on why or why not something is crappy design," they pointed out that some of the members actively participate in in-depth chats.

#2

Plant Dyed Underwear On Etsy

Plant Dyed Underwear On Etsy

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According to researcher and author Don Norman, there are principles of good design that help people to evaluate whether a product is a boon or a bust. For instance, Norman believes all good designs are innovative and push the boundaries of what an object means to us. But it doesn't mean that an inflatable pool with a yellow mat at the bottom, making it look like it is filled with urine, is to be celebrated.

Well-designed objects also have to be useful, beautiful to look at, easy to understand, and uncluttered in how they look.

#4

5 Star Hotel Has These "Clean" Looking Coffee Cups

5 Star Hotel Has These "Clean" Looking Coffee Cups

DestroyerOfDucks Report

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The Interaction Design Foundation explains that bad designs are overloaded with information and force the user to do more work than is necessary. Akshayta Rao writes that we all intuitively notice badly designed items but find it difficult to explain why good designs are, well, good. According to her, a well-known example of bad design would be USB cables. She’s right because we’ve all tried plugging them in the wrong way more than once. Some of us maybe even hundreds of times.

#5

This Small Pool Has A Yellow Plastic Mat At The Bottom, Making It Look Like It Is Filled With Urine

This Small Pool Has A Yellow Plastic Mat At The Bottom, Making It Look Like It Is Filled With Urine

Darth_Creeper Report

#6

Upon Walking In This Bathroom At The Supermarket I Was Initially Disgusted At Filth And Lack Of Cleanliness Until A Closer Look Revealed It Was Designed This Way

Upon Walking In This Bathroom At The Supermarket I Was Initially Disgusted At Filth And Lack Of Cleanliness Until A Closer Look Revealed It Was Designed This Way

jeffy983 Report

For one of our bad design lists, Bored Panda spoke about the principles of good design, the line between quality and bad design, as well as human beings' intuition to automatically feel what's designed well with Tim Antoniuk, an Associate Professor of Design Studies at the University of Alberta.

"The speed of change that we encounter today in our lives in the digital environment that we live in, I believe that some great design is not necessarily timeless. One example is seen in Interface Design, Ux Design, and in-service design. As new layers get added into our lives, things naturally have an evolutionary cycle. This is different from furniture which naturally can be more ubiquitous and designed to fit the human body. There is a great deal of fuzziness in this discussion but I do believe that the essence of this idea is true," Antoniuk explained.

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#8

It Looks Like The Hotel Cart Ran Someone Over And Is Tracking Their Blood Through The Halls

It Looks Like The Hotel Cart Ran Someone Over And Is Tracking Their Blood Through The Halls

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Rissie
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*squeaky* *squeak* "Of course sir, those will be cleaned by our expert staff, when you return this afternoon everything will be fine again", said Mary the housemaid as she rolled on by with her cart. She seemed like such a nice lady. After his return from shopping, Jack inquired at the front desk if the cleaning was finished. Only to find out the whole floor is inaccessible because of the police investigation going on. The elderly maid was found dead and had been for at least a week...

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#9

My Office's Cleaners Use A Yellow Product To Sanitize The Toilets. Makes It Look Like Someone Forgot To Flush

My Office's Cleaners Use A Yellow Product To Sanitize The Toilets. Makes It Look Like Someone Forgot To Flush

carlysworkaccount Report

#10

These "Designer Jeans" Look Like They're Covered In Poop Stains

These "Designer Jeans" Look Like They're Covered In Poop Stains

TheHi6hli6htReel Report

In Antoniuk's opinion, there is such a thing as good and bad product, furniture, and interior design. But degrees of preference create a gray area where a clear line between quality and a lack thereof should exist. "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."

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#13

Looks Like Someone Smeared Poop On This Table

Looks Like Someone Smeared Poop On This Table

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Antoniuk also believes that people can intuitively "feel" and sense good design. "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 told Bored Panda.

#14

This Rug That Looks Like It’s Covered In Ants/Fleas

This Rug That Looks Like It’s Covered In Ants/Fleas

electricwitchery Report

#15

This Is Apparently A Clean Wash Basin

This Is Apparently A Clean Wash Basin

Won_dream Report

#16

Look What I Found In A Bathroom

Look What I Found In A Bathroom

fluffytoast12 Report

What's more, he believes that good and bad design are skills that can be learned, especially when we start diving deep into the realm of aesthetics. "For me, great design is what Dieter [Rams] talks about—it is also intuitive, it is deeply sympathetic and empathetic to the user at all levels, and at some level, it is emotional. It is a catalyst for giving us feelings."

#18

This Building I Found In Osaka With Marble Patterned Windows, Looks Like Someone Smeared Liquid Faeces On Them

This Building I Found In Osaka With Marble Patterned Windows, Looks Like Someone Smeared Liquid Faeces On Them

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#19

I Tried To Clean This Only To Figure Out Its The Design

I Tried To Clean This Only To Figure Out Its The Design

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Suzanne Labarre of Co.Design has a similar take in that she also believes that Rams’ principles could be updated. While Labarre has the IT and tech industry in mind, the principles for good design are pretty much universal, no matter if you’re designing an app, setting up a building’s interior, or creating a brand new product.

In Labarre’s opinion, good design has to be transparent, easy to understand, and done in a way that empowers its users, instead of overwhelming them. Furthermore, Labarre puts a lot of emphasis on each designer’s responsibility for what they create: they have to be aware of the possible consequences their creations might have, both on the consumers and on society.

#20

Clean Table Looks Like It’s Covered In Crumbs

Clean Table Looks Like It’s Covered In Crumbs

PineapplemonsterVII Report

#21

This Keyboard Cover Is Supposed To Look Like Marble But It Just Looks Dirty

This Keyboard Cover Is Supposed To Look Like Marble But It Just Looks Dirty

slelham Report

#22

This Weird Straw That Looks Like It's Been Collecting Dirt For Three Months

This Weird Straw That Looks Like It's Been Collecting Dirt For Three Months

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

I think this is the biodegradable one. Not beautiful, but good.

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#23

How To Know When It's Time To Wash Them?

How To Know When It's Time To Wash Them?

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For Labarre, design is inherently political. Product design (whether physical or digital) has the ability to change how power is distributed in society. This feeds back into the point about how we should all be aware of how our designs can change the world.

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#24

This Is A Sink At A High-Quality, Fancy French Restaurant In San Fransisco. No, That Is Not Dirt, But The *intentional* Material Of The Inside Of The Sink. Also, Those Are Not Stains (Unless The Material Soaks Up Stains, Either Way, Bad Sink Design)

This Is A Sink At A High-Quality, Fancy French Restaurant In San Fransisco. No, That Is Not Dirt, But The *intentional* Material Of The Inside Of The Sink. Also, Those Are Not Stains (Unless The Material Soaks Up Stains, Either Way, Bad Sink Design)

bite-the-bullet Report

#26

Silicone Kitchen Tools With A Marble Design That Makes Them Look Always Dirty

Silicone Kitchen Tools With A Marble Design That Makes Them Look Always Dirty

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

Yet another example that marble should remain marble and should not pretend to be marble on non marble materials. I guess.

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#27

This Sink Is Completely Clean

This Sink Is Completely Clean

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

AAAAAH it looks like there is sand eveywheree that would drive me insane by just looking at it

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#28

This Intentional Design On This Hoodie

This Intentional Design On This Hoodie

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#29

Poop Smear Jeans!

Poop Smear Jeans!

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

we just gonna ignore those shoes on the right that look like someone's wearing grey socks with sandles?

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#30

The Style Is Supposed To Be In "Marble", But Instead They Just Look Dirty

The Style Is Supposed To Be In "Marble", But Instead They Just Look Dirty

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Note: this post originally had 53 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.