Most of us can intuitively tell whether something is designed well or if the end result falls way short of what it should be like. The more we’re exposed to ads and products—both great and god-awful—the more our sense of taste develops.
Ever since 2011, this popular subreddit has been sharing examples of epic design fails that are beyond hilarious. In fact, they’re so bad, it’s mind-boggling that the people behind them green-lit them! We’ve collected some of the worst offenders to share with you, Pandas, so scroll down and upvote the designs you love to hate the most.
#1 Love Handles
Image credits: dwThread
#2 Being Gay Was A Sin They Said
Image credits: TKZoroSantoryu
#3 This Amazing Pregnancy Test
Image credits: Explodinator580
The subreddit has been poking fun at horrible and hilarious designs all the way since 2011. Over the past 12+ years, the community has grown absolutely massive. At the time of writing, the group had 3.4 million members.
Years pass, seasons change. But what stays constant is people’s appetite for shaming truly awful product and ad designs. (What changes, however, is how the internet reacts to names like the subreddit’s that use gentle curse words. These days, you can’t even mention them in full without some social media megacorps frowning in your general direction!)
#4 How Much Do You Trust Your "Multilingual" Ad Designer?
Image credits: badon_
#5 Surely There Is No Better Way To Write Your Phone Number
Image credits: aiden66
#6 My Arms Are About 7 Feet Long, So This Wasn't An Issue For Me
Image credits: Tekki
The subreddit’s moderators have created a fantastically detailed wiki that explains what does and doesn’t count as a bad design. For instance, amateur artwork or signs don’t belong in the online group because they were made by, well, amateurs. Similarly, broken things also don’t count.
#7 So, It's Fine Then?
Image credits: juanjoli
#8 This Bus
Image credits: reddit
#9 No Thank You, I Think I'll Pass
Image credits: DragonsTurnMeOn
And don’t even think of posting the Roman numeral for 4, IIII, as an example of awful design because it’s a fairly common alternative way to write IV. Meanwhile, unintentional errors like manufacturing defects also don’t count as examples of bad design. Neither do novelty items or obvious satire.
#10 Seems A Bit Counterintuitive
Image credits: cevanc
#11 I Cancelled My Transaction Twice In A Row By Accident. I Finally Found Out Why
Image credits: KearBear
#12 Artistic Kid Dies
Image credits: Rosrit
The mod team encourages its members to be original. So you shouldn’t be sharing any pictures that fall into the list of the top 150 most popular reposts. Software designs, hate symbols, and memes also don’t have any place on the sub. Meanwhile, all members ought to be as civil as possible, avoid sharing any personal information, and ensure that they write awesome descriptive titles for their posts.
#13 Meme Says It All...
Image credits: TheBensonBoy
#14 Love, Morriage, Boby?
Image credits: redsox1524
#15 Our Wedding Is Going To Have Three Delicious Meal Choices
Image credits: Siggy778
A while ago, interior design expert and then-editor at These Three Rooms, Ariane Sherine, had shared her thoughts on taste and aesthetics with Bored Panda.
“When it comes to aesthetics, 'bad design' is a very individual thing that comes down to personal taste,” she said that our personal tastes and (dis)likes affect our judgment of products and interiors.
#16 This Unfortunately Designed Kid's Balloon
Image credits: ViolentThespian
#17 Thanks For Reminding Me
Image credits: Conicius
#18 Attention
Image credits: boobooob
“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,” the design expert said.
#19 Never Split Your Legs When You Slide Down!
Image credits: AdmitOneOnly
#20 If You Were In A Car, Would You Know What Accident To Do?
Image credits: JoJoeyJoJo
#21 This Maze Game
Image credits: peggiep9pm
“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 shared that a poorly-crafted space can be a huge headache for someone in their day-to-day lives.
“‘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,” she told Bored Panda.
#22 If Only There Was An Easier Way To See Who Was Outside Your Front Door..
Image credits: The_Magi_Carpy
#23 A Solar Powered Parking Meter In An Underground Garage
Image credits: Kadnify
#24 This Music Poster Looks Like A Guy And Girl Being Hanged
Image credits: Mayafoe
"The only true way to ascertain whether a design is going to be a commercial success is to make it available for sale, market it widely, and see how many people buy it. But success is different to taste. Personally, I think taste is all about understatement, minimalism, and neutral decor. But again, that's only my personal opinion!" the design expert told us during another interview, earlier.
“This will differ for each person, but for many people, loud and garish colors used liberally in the home would signify a lack of taste. Then again, I can think of designers who have based their entire career around the use of color and loud prints," she said that there aren’t any hard and fast rules.
#25 F**king Hurry!!
Image credits: NahAnyway
#26 I Needed Red. Guess Which One I Grabbed At First
Image credits: bennythomson
#27 If Only I Had Some Scissors...
Image credits: BeardedMan32
When it comes to furniture, you have to consider functionality, not just aesthetics. "Does the furniture function as it should? Is it likely to collapse or break easily? If seating, is it comfortable? I mean, my idea of aesthetic hell would be a bright purple inflatable sofa with lime green spots, but your mileage may vary! The question of comfort and function is a less subjective one,” the design expert shared a few of the considerations you should keep in mind when thinking about interiors.
#28 When Your Dental Banner Features An Execution
Image credits: admiralnorman
#29 Another Example Of Unrealistic Body Expectations For Men
Image credits: deepshitgoeshere
#30 Why Not Use The Selfie?
Image credits: Eddiecreates
Tell us all about which of these pics and fails made you cringe the hardest, Pandas. Meanwhile, for some more amazingly awful designs, check out Bored Panda's previous features right here, here, as well as here.
#31 We're Not Happy 'til You're Not Happy
Image credits: Hantook
#32 This Warning Sign
Image credits: awesomefacepalm
#33 What's My Age Again?
Image credits: jcampbell514
#34 No Way Anyones Getting Past That
Image credits: TeLizardWizard
#35 What A Great Packaging Choice
Image credits: bwaredapenguin
#36 50 Lanes? Lets Merge Those Into 4
Image credits: JackleBee
#37 "How Do We Make It Clear That It's A Male Hand Without Seeing The Nails?"
Image credits: neverindoubt
#38 Sometimes It's Okay To Judge A Book By Its Cover
Image credits: jaapgrolleman
#39 No Use! Only Charge!
Image credits: RiggzBoson
#40 From Afar, This Sign Has A Completely Different Meaning
Image credits: tannerclary3
#41 Measurement Lines On An Opaque Bottle
Image credits: sashley520
#42 In Japan, You Have To Follow These Signs While Driving At 70 Mph
Image credits: tori_bird
#43 If You've Got It, Flaunt It
Image credits: Momochichi
#44 The Scaling Is So Bad...
Image credits: Smiteside
#45 Toss Me A Cold One, Will Ya?
Image credits: freakame
#46 Suicidal Holiday Introvert, Look No Further
Image credits: George_E_Hale
#47 This Monstrosity Will Surely Make Someone Want To Date These Handsome Men
Image credits: lokiinthesky
#48 Better Than Cream Cheese? No!
Image credits: ibegross
#49 This Awful Slide Placement
Image credits: unknown456
#50 Baby Jesus/severed Thumb Christmas Ornament
Image credits: Blenderhead36
#51 The Official Emma Watson 'beauty And The Beast' Doll
Image credits: Yzre
#52 Good Luck Wheelchairees
Image credits: OfficialDampSquid
#53 I Have No Idea What I'm Doing
Image credits: billow2112
#54 Are The All The Translations Really Necessary Heinz?
Image credits: bog_warrior_ie
#55 This Handicap Parking Spot...
Image credits: holddemaio
#56 I Was Looking For Those...
Image credits: Carter4502
#57 All Ye Shall Come To Me For The Healing Of Burgers
Image credits: deadpoolyes
#58 Correct Punctuation Is A Must!
Image credits: hmm-cheese
#59 The Printing On This Ball
Image credits: lvchy
#60 The Grill Being Sold On Amazon Is Only Supposed To Be A Foot Tall, But Can We Talk About The Gondola Silhouette?
Image credits: IceCreamTacosPizza
#61 What About When You Cross Your Legs?
Image credits: UglyDuce
#62 Cool... What?!
Image credits: ledjimmypage
#63 "12 Wa S Y U Can Tell You Ha E Th Right"
Image credits: justinerwin
#64 The Tans Will Fade...
Image credits: Roguecop
#65 We're Sorry...
Image credits: 2ndmostimproved
#66 Not A Car, Not The Police...
Image credits: LuffyTheAstronaut
#67 Le Tits Now
Image credits: Thee_Nick
#68 I Want To To Open A Shop In Goa That Slightly Copies A Popular Chain, What Should I Call It?
Image credits: Munt_Custard
#69 This Jfk Memorial
Image credits: -Tilde
#70 Two Flamingos, One Vagina
Image credits: afaintsmellofcurry
#71 Ass To Ass
Image credits: Starhounder
#72 Sparkling Red "slippers"
Image credits: throwd_away8675309
#73 Which Is It?!
Image credits: Dcooper123
#74 Giant Is Seconds From Being Paralyzed
Image credits: BIRDoS
#75 The Rails Should Prevent People From Hitting Their Head, But Instead They Trip Over Them. So Now, Traffic Cones
Image credits: domin8r
#76 Teaching Kids The Harsh Reality Of Life
Image credits: MyBoener
#77 Seriously?
Image credits: GallowBoob
#78 Poor Url Choice By A Fagas Strap Company
Image credits: omicron7e
#79 Ate At A Local Restaurant
Image credits: Nopeasuoli
#80 The Worst Thing About Lenovo Laptops. A "Close Current Page Without Warning Button" Right Next To The "Volume Up" Button
Image credits: srcw624
#81 This Flower Print Dress
Image credits: 666
#82 Toilets And Mirror Ceiling
Image credits: zorton213
#83 Okay. I Know This Cake Is A Number 1 And It Says “emma," But It Looks Like A Dick With Balls That Says “weed"
Image credits: lama579
#84 Do You Squirt?
Image credits: justinwzig
#85 Happy 20170!
Image credits: bakugandrago18
#86 Why The Hell Do The Weights Make Up The First H But Not The Last One?
Image credits: WoodPeckker
#87 Why Is It Not The A ??
Image credits: psycoffman
#88 How Big Is That Watch?!
Image credits: skepticalDragon
#89 Kitten Socks
Image credits: KevlarYarmulke
#90 One Of The Worst Flow Charts I've Seen In A While
Image credits: Irate_Rater
#91 Ndeeisgihgbnocrehnotoedr
Image credits: RoscoeG
#92 Give Up On Your Dreams
Image credits: Mage42384
#93 Literally Can't Fall For This Scam
Image credits: Tramarius
#94 Texcock Mextails
Image credits: smunchyblue
#95 I'm Pretty Sure The Odds Are In My Favor To Win The Fight
Image credits: VirtualKorean
#96 ...the "O" Has Already Been Guessed
Image credits: crabbyshellfish
#97 The Three Multiple Choice Options My Physics Teacher Gave For This Example Problem
Image credits: justindi
#98 This Slide With No Side Rails...
Image credits: STR4NGE
#99 Do Love What You Do What You Love
Image credits: alicecyan
#100 When Does The O's Play?
Image credits: Swegerts
#101 Marketing Skills At Its Finest
Image credits: ArbitraryEnigma
#102 Fake Zipper On Levi's Boots Makes Holes In Your Boot When You Walk
Image credits: peppaz
#103 Printing Shop In My Home Town
Image credits: boots_and_cats_
#104 F**k Or Treat
Image credits: KanataCitizen
#105 This Watch Is Not Ez Read
Image credits: SoonerVillage
#106 Heart Shape Headphone Splitter Looks Like A Nut Sack
Image credits: sksksk1989
#107 Friend Posted This From A Lift In Vietnam
Image credits: Aaronponniah
#108 Proof Your Layouts, People
Image credits: Estoye
#109 This University Isn't Very Good With Fractions
Image credits: Housson
#110 Hot Dog Anyone?
Image credits: AsianMasterium
#111 What
Image credits: gamebird8000
#112 The Vent In My Hotel Shower Doesn't Seem To Work
Image credits: eddygoombah
#113 The Eight In This Clock
Image credits: macafeu88
#114 I Just Want To Heat My Hot Pocket
Image credits: coconutgoat
#115 But They Are Both Right Hands
Image credits: flea123-rhcp
#116 This Could Have Been Avoided With 1 Focus Group (of Women)
Image credits: JillianDavid13
#117 The Design School I Graduated From Sent This Postcard Out
Image credits: edrini
#118 Ho Ho Ho, Shit Down My Throat
Image credits: PDwasHere
#119 This Fucking Outlet At My University
Image credits: txglasgow
#120 That's Like Asking To Get Your Speaker Kicked In
Image credits: Malfaisance
#121 Stressed Backwards Spells...
Image credits: MarcXJF
#122 This Door At My Dentist's Office
Image credits: Michael_The_Great
#123 These Hotel Room Directions
Image credits: phoenix772
#124 Beer Coaster
Image credits: _Hungry_Llama_
#125 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pgup 9
Image credits: tayomoore
#126 There's A Line Forming Behind Me. I Have No Idea
Image credits: samsuh
#127 Beautiful Driveway. Sucks You Can't Use It
Image credits: AsASymbol
#128 This Woman Looking Out The Plane Is Very Calm Considering She's About To Crash Into The Hudson
Image credits: bmdelaune
#129 The Awful Name Of This File
Image credits: GuD_MeMeS_OnLy
#130 While We're On The Topic Of Awful Pool Design...
Image credits: ericsinsideout
#131 The Stairs Leading To This Bedroom
Image credits: reddit
#132 Doesn't Sound Very Exciting
Image credits: thenewkelly
#133 I Made An Account Just To Post This Unforgivable De$ign Choice
Image credits: The_Bronald
#134 In The Shadow Of Every Yes Is A... Different Shadow?
Image credits: Fineus
#135 This Sign
Image credits: rachgard
#136 Lots Of Hope For Sure
Image credits: s1lentstorm
#137 This Carpeted Bathroom
Image credits: cbigsby
#138 We Need A Poster That Says "Wine"
Image credits: NotBrenAgain
#139 Let's Come Up With An Easy Acronym To Let People Know We Support The Military
Image credits: DonSquirrelio
#140 My Gf Is A Teacher. This Sits On Her Desk And The Lack Of Punctuation Disturbs Me
Image credits: mattym00
#141 This Coat Rack
Image credits: bdevildds