25 Baffling Design Choices Found in the Wild

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Jan 22, 2024 3:00 PM EST

I'm no designer, but I do have common sense. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make something look good that we lose sight of its actual functionality. As the saying goes, we were so busy wondering if we can that we didn't stop and ask if we should. But I'm all for a wonky design choice. An inscrutable line of text makes me lean in and wonder, what does that say? All press is good press, I suppose.

But beyond providing some fun and silly fodder, bad design gives you a new appreciation for good design, because it often goes unnoticed otherwise. I think all graphic designers deserve a raise because it's not easy work. And if you fail, you will get tried at the Hauge (AKA Reddit) and everyone will laugh at you.