A Collection of Great Designs That Solve Problems We All Face Everyday

John Summers • Contributor

Sep 2, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

You know what's always impressive? Watching smart people do their thing. Doesn't matter if they're hacking together the next big app, perfecting the art of folding fitted sheets (which, let's be real, is basically wizardry), or cooking up some life-changing design idea - seeing brains in action is always a treat.

And when it comes to design? Oh man, that's where the magic really happens. Smart designers have this superpower: turning problems into possibilities and turning "meh" into "mind blown." They take the little annoyances of everyday life and solve them in ways that make you wonder how we ever lived without them.

So in this listicle, we're diving into 35 genius ideas from designers who clearly spent a little too much time thinking outside the box (and we're so glad they did). From clever little fixes to big, world-changing ideas, these are the brainy creations that make life easier, cooler, and way more fun.

01
The design on the logo’s toga are the initials for the company (Little Cesar's)

via Pleated jeans
02
The Parthenon barcode on a Greek yogurt.

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03
Railing with Braille on it to describe the view.

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04
Monhole covers in Oklahoma have a dot showing where you are

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05
This wok has marking in the center for oil measurement.

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06
In Japan, They Put A Barcode In The Meat Package That Darkens When The Meat Spoils, Reacting To Ammonia

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07
Simple but clever ad for organ donation.

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08
The logo double as a Spartan helmet and face

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09
A little hook that keeps you protein power scoop from getting buried

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10
The manhole covers at the Nikon camera factory look like lens caps

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11
These tires show when you should replace them as they wear down

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12
The clever business card design for a divorce lawyer

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13
Glove packaging has finger hole cutouts to test sizing

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14
Really great minimalist billboard ad

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15
Billboard for Dracula that uses light in a clever way

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16
Airplane seats with a cleverly placed step so shorter passengers can reach their overhead bags

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17
Measuring cups that show amounts in fractions

$Measuring cups that show amounts in fractions$

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18
Tags on marathon runner clothing that have a little extra strip of fabric so the tags aren't scratchy when you cut them off

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19
Billboard that shows the rising water using the sun

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20
Decaf coffee logo is slightly more tired

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21
Different baskets for which shopping experience you’d prefer

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22
A park bench with an adjustable back so you can sit facing either direction

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23
Wine from Chile (it points to Chile on the 'map')

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24
The cover for 1984

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25
Ad when viewed from above makes people look like fleas

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26
All the hooks you’ll ever need

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27
This beer bucket with a bottle opener built in

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28
These stools at a burger joint that turn into a burger when stacked

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29
This Pepsi ad

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30
Baby clothes that have a different colored button so you always line it up correctly

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31
A park bench on a track so you can slide it into the shade

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32
The bottom button has orange thread so you don’t miss a button

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33
Ramen place with spoons that have a little hook so it doesn’t fall in

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34
These subtle tiles at the postal museum

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35
Spatula with a little built in stand

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