Who Approved This?! 40 Designs That Are So Bad They Deserve the Shaming

John Summers • Contributor

Apr 17, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

Design might look easy, but it's anything but. Creating something that's both visually appealing and fully functional is a balancing act that takes real skill. A logo, for example, needs to be eye-catching and unique, but also instantly readable—otherwise, you end up with disasters like naming your eye doctor clinic "myeyedr" and leaving everyone squinting at the sign.

And then there are the design ideas that go beyond confusing and straight into dangerous territory. Who thought it was a good idea to have the traffic lights alternate red and green to "celebrate Christmas"? Spoiler: it's not festive if it causes accidents.

But sometimes, bad design is just hilariously impractical. Like carpeting a sauna (because why wouldn't you want your floors to hold moisture forever?) or placing cooking instructions right on the perforated edge of the packaging, so they get torn off the second you open it.

These 40 examples of bad designs are a masterclass in what not to do. Whether they're funny, frustrating, or downright baffling, they'll make you appreciate the good designs out there just a little bit more.

01
TSSSssss

via Joyenergizer
02
I'm getting mixed signals here

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03
Surely no child would try to eat them

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04
Frankly, I'd rather soil my pants

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05
Starting... now!

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06
This bike lane ends in oncoming traffic!

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07
"Tried tiling the shower, had a nervous breakdown... enjoy!"

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08
Seems safe

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09
Turn the volume right, will ya?

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10
Why is the bowl in the milk?!

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11
It's polite to say hello and shake hands

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12
I think this sheep needs a vet

via Joyenergizer
13
Is this cannibalism or much much worse?

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14
something something Hulk Smashmouth

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15
This is a very human design

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16
She has a very... symmetric face

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17
It's a riddle

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18
Is it though?

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19
Nope!

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20
I... I don't...

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21
Are they cooking a second fire?!

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22
Ah yes, Burning feet

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23
I think it's a front

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24
I hate this so much

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25
You ain't going nowhere!

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26
I feel overwhelmed

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27
Was this house designed by AI?!

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28
A bus "Shelter"

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29
"Are you Tony Stanks?"

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30
When you put the stairs on random

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31
Always wanted an app that rents ice ships!

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32
Yup, that's Milk alright!

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33
Pretty... pretty pregnant

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34
It's a wlf

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35
Let's put a bench in the middle of the visually impaired lane

via Joyenergizer
36
Hidden what?

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37
If you spin one, they all spin

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38
I case of emergency go find a screwdriver

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39
That's why you need the bottom cut out

via Joyenergizer
40
Let's confuse small children

via Joyenergizer