30 Times Designers Said “That’ll Do” and Walked Away

Let's take a moment to honor the bold, the baffling, and the brain-melting decisions made by designers who clearly just… gave up. Or maybe they were trailblazers of chaos. Either way, these 30 photos prove one thing: just because you can design something, doesn't mean you should.

From bathroom signs that seem like riddles written during a fever dream, to chairs that defy the very concept of comfort, to light switches placed with the logic of a toddler playing Tetris - this is the Hall of Fame for bad design. The Louvre of what-not-to-do. A masterclass in unintentional comedy. These are the kinds of things that make you pause and whisper to yourself, "Who approved this?"

So grab your blueprints and a bottle of wine, and come marvel at 30 examples of design so confusing, so ill-conceived, you might just start appreciating the simple beauty of a normal doorknob.

01
"This bed was designed to wreck my shins at night"

via u/OrlandoWashington69
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02
"Can’t read anything in this inflight magazine"

via u/D0WNUT
03
Why would you write "Dry mouth relief" on a hand sanitizer bottle?!

via u/PendragonVc
04
Accident waiting to happen.

via u/poeepo
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05
Which direction opens it? The arrows go the same direction...

via u/KaiJenson
06
Hideaway bathroom behind stairwell

via u/MrTacocaT12345
07
"Huge basin, tap in one corner, not enough room to wash hands without splashing water everywhere"

via u/Willis1966
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08
The orbit of erath moon

via u/ElRorto
09
Could you get me that Union from the Tadpole?

via u/N1NJACQUES
10
The Mattress is so good they stay won't lay on it

via u/innocent_killing
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11
"It's supposed to read BLOCK. All I see is BOCLK."

via u/BiggerNate91
12
Nice going fridge!

via u/SnowyTheChicken
13
Of Course it's not Ketchup! It's gardening nutrient mix

via u/DaFreakingFox
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14
I hate this so much

via u/ChrysisIgnita
15
The world's worst urinal

via u/5parky
16
The left a micro SD sized hole right below the micro SD slot.

via u/gigdy u/gigdy avatar gigdy u/gigdy May 22, 2012 20,016 Post karma 34,622 Comment karma r/CrappyDesign achievements Top 5% Poster Picasso Top 5% Poster, Picasso View your achievements What is karma? Follow Start Chat
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17
Studio apartment with a kitchen and bathroom, in the same room

via u/kaiserlecter
18
Catch 22: On-off switch is inside the batteries compartment. Also opening or closing it dislodges the batteries because of magnets in the lid.

via u/ClemRRay
19
Let's enjoy a day at the Bchea

via u/GiveMe1Dollar
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20
Stop ever learning give up!

via u/No_Humor5432
21
Counting is hard

via u/nep_heli_bata
22
The wall paintings in the toilet

via u/SoSorryRex
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23
That's... just wrong

via u/bongobills
24
Doctor’s office gave me an address and told me they were in “the blue building.”

via u/Mattyi
25
Go ahead

via u/fernsage
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26
What a nice mug. Too bad the ears will hit your eyes when trying to drink from it.

via u/varsderk
27
"The hotel I'm staying at features a glass-ceilinged men's toilet right below the main entrance"

via u/Terrific_Soporific
28
Ĥäppĩñęśś ĩś

via u/cmsmolenaars
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29
This is just bad design

via u/irrelevant_lostie_
30
Oh look, another one

via u/ChaosTherapy