The idea of a bad design is somewhat universal. It looks awful, is utterly useless and hard to use. But if a product is not aesthetically pleasing, can we really dub it a bad design? After all, nothing is perfect (not even an iPhone, dear Steve) so some flaws should be tolerated.

Well, let’s take a look at what are the features of bad design and how can we spot one from meters away. First off, the design should be self-explanatory and intuitive. Also known as a customer-friendly trait, it’s something we all expect from apps, websites and so on. But the same rule applies to gadgets, devices, etc. Too many unnecessary features distract the consumer and render the product virtually unusable.

To be more precise, let's look at some examples. Oslo Opera House Porsgrund coffee cups have made headlines for their distinctive design and serious boiling hazard. The unique design of the handles forces you to grip a small tab protruding from the top of the cup. There’s a small groove excavated halfway, meaning every time you take a sip or hold the cup, you come very close to some-degree burn.

Back in 2010, an Indian cell phone startup called LAVA decided to introduce a revolutionary new product. It was probably one of the few mobile phone inventions that nobody used. The company decided to invent their own special way of typing, and installed the dual typing keyboard into their LAVA B5 which made little sense. Turned out that none of the consumers were willing to relearn such a basic thing as typing, surprise surprise!

Another historical fail in the product design hall of shame is this distinctive vehicle made by the Reliant Motor Company produced in 1973. The concept of driving was so revolutionized that the company removed a set of wheels. The result was The Reliant Robin, which became the first mass-produced three-wheeled car. And boy, it’s ugly.