Dieter Rams, the godfather of industrial design, defined ‘good design’ as making the product useful, understandable, innovative, aesthetic, unobtrusive, honest, and long-lasting. But that’s not even close to being all! It also has to be thorough to the last detail, environmentally friendly, and involve as little design as possible. Over time, these ten principles have become the blueprint for design, inspiring many creators worldwide. 

However, not all stick to such guidelines, producing many various design failures, which this successful subreddit takes pride in collecting. We, at Bored Panda, have published quite a few articles reviewing them, and today we are treating you to a list of some of the best, or perhaps worst ones, that make people scratch their heads from confusion. To find them, all you have to do is scroll down.

While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with lead industrial designer Elodie Delassus, who told us what good design means to her.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Proofreading This Book Couldn't Have Been That Hard

Children's book showing five bananas with a confusing design error.

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Robert Beveridge
Robert Beveridge
Community Member
9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to be a proofreader and I didn't see what the problem was until the third time I encountered this. So I disagree with the caption...

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    #2

    Unfortunate Dog Placement

    Cartoon design with a girl, boy, and dog featuring facepalm-worthy proportions.

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    #3

    Just Why

    Person drinking from a water fountain integrated into a superhero mural, creating a facepalm-worthy design moment.

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    #4

    To Motivate

    Confusing sign design with phrase "Just do nothing, it is impossible," placed outdoors.

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    #5

    This Kid Mannequin

    Bizarre mannequin design on display, featuring a bald head and pink dress with plants on arms.

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    #6

    The Clock Hands Don’t Glow

    Glowing clock face with misaligned numbers, an example of facepalm-worthy design.

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    #7

    This Captain Of The Submarine In My English Book

    A cartoon submersible with passengers mislabels sea life, featuring facepalm-worthy design.

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    #8

    Spoiler

    Renaissance artwork with odd design detail circled, showing a group of historical figures and animals.

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    #9

    Man struggles with pointless fence on sidewalk; truly facepalm-worthy design.

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    #10

    This Amazing Pregnancy Test

    Surprised couple with a pregnancy test, highlighting a truly facepalm-worthy design moment.

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    #11

    A Scene From An Indian TV Show

    Hospital scene with medical staff unintentionally using a bathroom scrubber, highlighting facepalm-worthy design.

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    LLP-roundincircles
    LLP-roundincircles
    Community Member
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe they are dermatologists?

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    #12

    These Pull Tabs That Never Come Off

    Bottle with a poorly designed lid, showcasing a facepalm-worthy design flaw.

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    #13

    Smh

    Facepalm-worthy design showing JFK memorial on a large screen with alignment issues.

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    #14

    I Didn’t Qualify For This Paid Survey After Selecting “No”

    Survey with facepalm-worthy design asks about accidents resulting in death, with options "Yes" and "No".

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    #15

    Tunashamed

    Rear view of a car with a humorous decal reading "TUNASHAMED," sparking facepalm-worthy design discussion.

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    #16

    When Your Security Gate Is A Ladder

    Facepalm-worthy gate design with a secure lock but open bars, presenting a security flaw.

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    #17

    The Pockets On Women's Trousers

    Jeans with a small pocket holding an oversized phone, showcasing a facepalm-worthy design.

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    #18

    Sign At A Local Beach

    Baby playing on the sand next to an anti-littering sign urging not to leave trash on the beach.

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    #19

    Pretty Sure He's Using It Wrong

    Man on Econo Camper Mat, reading outdoors, showcasing facepalm-worthy design.

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    #20

    Oh Boy, There's Platypus Period In My Tea!

    Colorful facepalm-worthy design of a bird-shaped tea infuser in a glass of hot water.

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    #21

    It's A Trap!

    Public restroom doors painted with a beach mural creating a facepalm-worthy design optical illusion.

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    #22

    My Four-Legged Duck

    Plush toy with a duck's head and four legs held in hand, showcasing a truly facepalm-worthy design.

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    #23

    This Bus

    Bus ad with a facepalm design error showing "QUIT SCHOOL” message due to misplacement, advertising anti-smoking campaign.

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    #24

    Nothing Like The Smell Of Coffee And A Good Eye-Stab In The Morning

    Man drinking from a poorly designed animal mug, illustrating a truly facepalm-worthy product.

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    #25

    When Life Gives You Lemons

    Lemons labeled as "perfect for orange juice" in a grocery display, highlighting a humorous design error.

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    #26

    I Bought A Billboard To Promote My Business And They Screwed Up The Formatting

    Close-up face on a billboard, showcasing a truly facepalm-worthy design with glasses and stubble visible.

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    xterminal avatar
    Robert Beveridge
    Robert Beveridge
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But it's an amazing ad for The Great Gatsby.

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    #27

    Our Municiplaity Made Bike Lanes For Us Finally!

    Facepalm-worthy design of a bike path abruptly ending with a curb in an urban setting.

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    #28

    Step 4: Just Go Sit In Some Other Chair

    Illustrated chair assembly instructions with components and step-by-step guide; truly facepalm-worthy design complexity.

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    #29

    Crystal Furniture Set That Looks Like Raw Meat

    Unique pink stone furniture set outside, featuring a matching table and stools with a bonsai centerpiece.


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