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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.

#1

This Captain Of The Submarine In My English Book

This Captain Of The Submarine In My English Book

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"Good design to me is both people- and planet-centric," said lead industrial designer Elodie Delassus to Bored Panda. "As designers, we understand the user needs, their aspirations, the context, and the use requirements to bring to life a meaningful product that people will love having in their lives."

She adds that it's not only about the people but also the planet, as designers' responsibility is to understand the lifecycle of the product they create. Picking the right material and manufacturing techniques allows them to have a conscious impact on our world. "A good design, to me, is not only making sense in use and aesthetics, it is also a sustainable product in the long run."

On the other hand, a bad one "doesn't take into account the above, is often flawed, and has a short life in actual use. A bad design breaks easily, gets out of trend, and ignores the user's needs or context," says Delassus.


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One of the most common mistakes Delassus notices in bad design is the poor choice of materials, like a product blending two different plastics. A toothbrush with hard plastic and a soft silicone overmold is a great example of this.

"This might look attractive, BUT it makes the plastic or product unrecyclable," she explained. "You can also think about products that mix organic material with plastics. It basically makes the plastic unrecyclable, and the product will end up in landfills or incineration."

Another aspect that creators overlook is the long-term appeal of the product. Designers should produce a product that is easy to maintain and clean (reducing any nooks and crannies), which also adds to its longevity. "One example could be a product using soft-touch paint - very desirable at first but becomes sticky over time, especially in humid and hot environments," said Delassus.

In addition, bad design adds unnecessary and unjustified complexity. "The design of a product is the voiceover that talks about what the product can do, guides how it can be used, etc. Design that doesn't guide its users ends up being confusing," explains the industrial designer.

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#4

This Amazing Pregnancy Test

This Amazing Pregnancy Test

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Moreover, bad design choices ignore the context of use. One example is a fan with a bright LED that can't be turned off when the fan is working. Users may be placing it in their bedroom and be disturbed by the light at night.

The last feature of a poorly designed product that Delassus mentions is exclusivity. "We usually design for the 50th percentile. However, the golden standard in design should be inclusive.

The best designs often start with an extreme user/context and have benefits to the broader community (it is called the curb-cut effect). Good design provides enough space between buttons, good ergonomics, and visibility."

Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer known for his less but better approach to design, outlined the characteristics of good design so creators know what is expected of them. He had immense influence in this field and helped to shape how products in the 20th and early 21st centuries looked and worked. Alarm clocks, toothbrushes, and coffeemakers are just a few of his hallmarks. 

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In the late 1970s, Rams tried to figure out the world around him, asking himself the important question, “Is my design good design?” The answer led him to his ten principles, which we’re going to discuss more below.

First, a designer should always strive for innovation. The world is constantly progressing, and new technologies are offering plenty of opportunities for novel and inventive ideas. Therefore, design has to keep up by taking these creative ideas and turning them into useful solutions to modern problems. 

Innovation in design can take many forms. It can involve new materials or technologies, rethinking traditional ways of designing, or finding fresh solutions to impractical issues. By embracing innovation, creators can come up with products that aren’t only functional but also sustainable and cost-effective.

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#9

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

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

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Id row
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honesty, I'd click yes just to see where it took me, lol.

Mary Peace
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It might take you to a message saying you're not eligible for the survey, because THEY ASSUME you didn't bother to read the question.

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Illifred
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A page from the "Handbook for the Recently Deceased" ? Strong Beetlejuice-vibes!

Violet1854
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes, and I have been raised from the death by an evil necromancer and I am his henchman now

pineapple87
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, technically if they had to resuscitate you, you could say yes

LauraDragonWench
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Yes, but it turned out I was only 'mostly dead'. Thanks, Miracle Max!"

CanadianDimes
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes but thanks to a doctor with Scotch-brite bathroom scrubbers, I’m fine now

Tyranamar Seuss
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never do these "paid surveys" bc I tried a couple of times and have never once gotten paid. Pretty sure they're all scams.

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Valek Fermiga
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Maitland's did, look what happened there, they just want to make sure there's only one " Ghost With The Most Babe.... "

Earl Grey
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many times. It has been a very lucrative side hustle.

Alex Boyd
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if they were trying to get data on how many people lie about their eligibility on those paid survey sites.

David
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should be waived if it has been more than 10 years ago. /j

axle f
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...🤬 I died, and got over it. It happens, thanks .

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Even in the 1970s, Rams was concerned with the environment, waste, and consumer culture. In his 1976 speech, he said, “I imagine our current situation will cause future generations to shudder at the thoughtlessness in the way in which we today fill our homes, our cities, and our landscape with a chaos of assorted junk.”

#10

Tunashamed

Tunashamed

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Auntriarch
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No need to be ashamed of tuna, but if you are, just bat it under the sofa

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With fewer and fewer natural resources, he believes that both buyers and designers should take responsibility for the state our world is in. He calls for an end to wastefulness and continues to advocate sustainable and innovative creations. 

#13

The Pockets On Women's Trousers

The Pockets On Women's Trousers

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Anna Ekberg
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's pretty safe to say that we all know this and we hate it. /sincerely all women on earth

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#15

The Elders At My Brother-In-Law’s Church Got To Design The Church League Softball Shirts. The Thought “Cli” (Christian Life International) Alone Wouldn’t Signify A Church, So They Added The Cross. Magnificent

The Elders At My Brother-In-Law’s Church Got To Design The Church League Softball Shirts. The Thought “Cli” (Christian Life International) Alone Wouldn’t Signify A Church, So They Added The Cross. Magnificent

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It's self-explanatory that the main reason people buy a product is so they can use it. That’s why design shouldn’t detract from its usefulness either. However, an item that is considered useful to one may be entirely useless to others, so the specific criteria that determine this remain difficult to define.

#16

I Think I Know Why

I Think I Know Why

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Jack Burton
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you remember the early nineties when we start having some bipper for text messages but we had to call a special center and just dictate our message to a person whom send it as a text on the bipper. That was so weird ^^

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Something that makes buyers use the item more is if it’s aesthetically pleasing. When we don’t enjoy the look of it, we are less likely to pick it up.

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Without a doubt, it should also be easy to utilize without any details interfering with the user's experience. By saying that design should be unobtrusive, Rams is emphasizing the importance of simplicity and usability. Choosing a classic design that never looks outdated also prevents more products from ending up in landfills.

#19

Pretty Sure He's Using It Wrong

Pretty Sure He's Using It Wrong

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#20

Just Why

Just Why

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Jack Burton
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Full energy blowjob on Superman while wearing some rollers skate on a psychedelic carpet is not something you can see every day

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Finally, the product should be honest with its consumers, meaning that a person shouldn’t feel disappointed when an item doesn’t work as well as they hoped. So the design should be as innovative, powerful, or valuable as it claims to be. According to Rams, products should be reliable, durable and allow people to use them as they were intended to be used.

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#22

Professor, I Can't Get These Audio Files In Our Textbook To Play

Professor, I Can't Get These Audio Files In Our Textbook To Play

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#24

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

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

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Jack Burton
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Platypus is a weird animal, part duck, part beaver, have eggs but a mammal and just bright under black light. Maybe platypus periods got some special effects ^^

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In a nutshell, the best design won’t require extra explaining to its users, who will very much appreciate how simple yet thoughtful creations understand the people they are designed for. Jared Spool, the American writer, researcher, and usability expert, put it best, “Good design, when it’s done well, becomes invisible. It’s only when it’s done poorly that we notice it.”

#26

We Are The Borg. Resistance Is Futile

We Are The Borg. Resistance Is Futile

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#28

So, It's Fine Then?

So, It's Fine Then?

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#30

My Company Wanted To Make Our Fountain Pink For Breast Cancer Awareness. Didn't.... Quite Get It Right

My Company Wanted To Make Our Fountain Pink For Breast Cancer Awareness. Didn't.... Quite Get It Right

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#31

We All Party Down Here

We All Party Down Here

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#39

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

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

CosmeBuzzanito Report

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Hippopotamuses
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are quite a few people I'd like to give one of these to. After sharpening the ears, that is.

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#41

The Clock Hands Don’t Glow

The Clock Hands Don’t Glow

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Anna Ekberg
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Will i be early, will i be late? Que sera sera, whatever will be will be....

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#42

Toilets And Mirror Ceiling

Toilets And Mirror Ceiling

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#43

When Life Gives You Lemons

When Life Gives You Lemons

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#44

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

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

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#45

Our Municiplaity Made Bike Lanes For Us Finally!

Our Municiplaity Made Bike Lanes For Us Finally!

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Anna Ekberg
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't even have a bike now but somehow i would manage to trip over this.

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#46

Proofreading This Book Couldn't Have Been That Hard

Proofreading This Book Couldn't Have Been That Hard

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#47

Step 4: Just Go Sit In Some Other Chair

Step 4: Just Go Sit In Some Other Chair

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#48

Crystal Furniture Set That Looks Like Raw Meat

Crystal Furniture Set That Looks Like Raw Meat

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#49

This Unfortunately Designed Kid's Balloon

This Unfortunately Designed Kid's Balloon

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Jack Burton
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i can totally figure my wife coming back from work and finding me red faced with this inflatable robot c**k in my mouth with my daughter cheering of excitement.

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#50

Diapers For Mutant Baby

Diapers For Mutant Baby

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MrLiesegang
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well it’s an ad from Japan… to soon for Fukushima jokes? … yeah I think so.

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Note: this post originally had 132 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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