30 Hilariously Confusing Examples of Bad Design That Had Us Scratching Our Head

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 30 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.

Author image for John Summers John Summers
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