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Design seems like such a simple, elementary thing when you think about it, but hordes of people keep getting the basics wrong, often with hilarious and side-splitting results. Buildings are hard to design, as are other objects, but we usually take the lettering and layout of sentences and phrases for granted, as though everyone will be able to understand us no matter how.we.words.our.place.

Well, the truth is, designing text so it’s readable isn’t as easy as you’d expect. There’s a system to it. There are processes that must be followed. Typography rules that ought never be broken. Except that those rules are broken all the time by some oblivious people. Bored Panda collected some of the best examples of incredibly bad text design that is wonderfully enjoyable to make fun of. From lame ads to funny posters, nodofy is safe from bad design. So upvote the best/worst fails, see if your friends can figure out what’s actually written, and let us know in the comments if you've seen design fails that compare to these ones.

We know how much you enjoy these funny fails concerning design, so you can read Bored Panda’s previous posts about them here, here, here, here, and here.

#1

How Do I Apply?

How Do I Apply?

sevenonesicks Report

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Vic
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The person preparing this sign was surely tripping on something..

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    #2

    Noted

    Noted

    jhoang0730 Report

    #3

    Apparently Scary Jesus Is A Thing

    Apparently Scary Jesus Is A Thing

    Bausdria Report

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    Vic
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When you are on a fishing trip. Walks on water behind you and goes BOO!!

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    One of the online communities where similar text design fails are shared daily is the subreddit ‘Don’t Dead Open Inside,’ which prides itself on collecting the most egregious examples of signs and media that don’t make any sense if you read them normally. The community, which was established in May 2014, is large, having grown to over 513,000 members.

    Bored Panda reached out to the 'Don't Dead Open Inside' subreddit moderators. According to one of them, the community was inspired to form because of the 'Don't Dead Open Inside' frame from the very first episode of the hit TV show The Walking Dead.

    According to one moderator, people make mistakes while designing text because "they're either not thinking or they want to be original. Our main mission statement is to show them that they are wrong."

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    They also had advice for those individuals willing to step up their game design-wise: "People in the west read left to right, then top to bottom. Do not "liven up" your text by making it "quirky". Hard to read means lost attention which translates to lost revenue."

    #5

    This Terribly Worded Sign I Saw Today. Sorry, I’ll Pick Up My Dog’s Poop... Wouldn’t Want To Ruin Your Child Eating Experience

    This Terribly Worded Sign I Saw Today. Sorry, I’ll Pick Up My Dog’s Poop... Wouldn’t Want To Ruin Your Child Eating Experience

    KevenNotKevin Report

    #6

    Well, Uh... I Guess That's A Good Motto

    Well, Uh... I Guess That's A Good Motto

    doubletheaction Report

    Canva has some handy tips for those of you willing to up your design game when it comes to words. For example, Canva suggests that you limit the number of fonts that you use and use simple ones, rather than complex ones that might not mesh together well.

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    #9

    Baby Needs Beers & Wines

    Baby Needs Beers & Wines

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    Spacing, something most of us rarely think about, is also important and can bring about radically different effects simply by eliminating the negative space between letters, words, and sentences.

    #11

    This Habitat For Humanity Van

    This Habitat For Humanity Van

    EasterChimp Report

    #12

    So My Campus Had A Suicide Awareness And Prevention Day

    So My Campus Had A Suicide Awareness And Prevention Day

    KBid-1998 Report

    Meanwhile, colors are equally important: use them to your advantage to create harmony between different parts of the text. Use contrasting and complementary colors. Lines can be used to guide the reader’s attention and create symmetry; however, badly used lines can turn a sign or a design into a catastrophe. Think you’ve got all that? Good. Let us know how you’d fix the text designs in this list.

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    #13

    No Safety. Smoking First

    No Safety. Smoking First

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    #14

    Who Else Is Donating To End Children?

    Who Else Is Donating To End Children?

    Gummie Report

    #15

    Don't Save A Life. Be Afraid To Give Blood

    Don't Save A Life. Be Afraid To Give Blood

    youllneverfindmeman Report

    #17

    If You Hard, Then You Hard

    If You Hard, Then You Hard

    Vengedpotty Report

    #18

    Sorry Guys, You Can’t Let Your Pets Cook Bicycles Here

    Sorry Guys, You Can’t Let Your Pets Cook Bicycles Here

    PikachuIce Report

    #20

    Please Do Not Take It Home. Leave Litter Here

    Please Do Not Take It Home. Leave Litter Here

    freshcheezels Report

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    #21

    Just Purchased This Low Quality Fried Chicken At The Grocery Store

    Just Purchased This Low Quality Fried Chicken At The Grocery Store

    mountainsofkong Report

    #22

    If You Were In A Car, Would You Know What Accident To Do?

    If You Were In A Car, Would You Know What Accident To Do?

    MrGrampton Report

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    Holosexual
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is so stressful no I wouldn't know what accident to do, this is too much responsibility

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    #23

    Smash Immigrants Welcome Racism

    Smash Immigrants Welcome Racism

    Dbanzai Report

    #25

    I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

    I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

    generationfire Report

    #26

    This New Wall Art In My Office

    This New Wall Art In My Office

    Bitemarkz Report

    #27

    Our To Help Trollies You Move

    Our To Help Trollies You Move

    INTP36 Report

    #28

    7 Surprising Black Ways To Use Beans

    7 Surprising Black Ways To Use Beans

    maximum_chungus Report

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    Hello it Smee
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get the stupid title, but seriously black bean smoothies sounds gross!!!!!!!

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    #29

    So I Fart Old Dust

    So I Fart Old Dust

    variousbirds Report

    #30

    They Are, In Fact, A Particular Sub-Species Of Rock

    They Are, In Fact, A Particular Sub-Species Of Rock

    192747585939 Report

    #31

    The Design School I Graduated From Sent This Postcard Out

    The Design School I Graduated From Sent This Postcard Out

    edrini Report

    #33

    When Your Gym Tryies Hard To Motivate You But Fails To Make Any Sense

    When Your Gym Tryies Hard To Motivate You But Fails To Make Any Sense

    james_pawned Report

    #35

    Vicious Inc... What?!

    Vicious Inc... What?!

    thedirtyjackal Report

    #37

    From Afar, This Sign Has A Completely Different Meaning

    From Afar, This Sign Has A Completely Different Meaning

    tannerclary3 Report

    #38

    Wet Private Clay Parties

    Wet Private Clay Parties

    bouncingredgrape Report

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    #41

    Shosple Colupis

    Shosple Colupis

    caiia_ Report

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    Tai Nguyen
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Finally! You have no idea how hard it is to find a shop selling shosple colupis!!

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    #44

    Popped Up On My Feed

    Popped Up On My Feed

    CLONE_1 Report

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    Tai Nguyen
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If being okay is not okay, is being not okay, okay? And if so, isn't that also not okay?

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    #45

    Found At A Local Bar

    Found At A Local Bar

    jughandle Report

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    Monday
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love beer corn! It's the best snack when you're playing pong hole!

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    #47

    This Won The Design Competition

    This Won The Design Competition

    chica420 Report

    #48

    They Must Have Added The Arrows After Realising How Steamy It Was Originally

    They Must Have Added The Arrows After Realising How Steamy It Was Originally

    joe_copp Report

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    Marcellus the Third
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If the intention was to slow your actions down it worked very well! 10/10 success.

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    #49

    This Sign At My International School

    This Sign At My International School

    InboundBark49 Report

    #50

    Karaoke Thursday Here Every Sunday

    Karaoke Thursday Here Every Sunday

    Ardinno Report

    #52

    I Think The Real Question Is: Why On A Toilet Seat?

    I Think The Real Question Is: Why On A Toilet Seat?

    JaseAndrews Report

    #53

    Book Don’t By Judge It’s A Cover At My High School

    Book Don’t By Judge It’s A Cover At My High School

    GotSpawnKilled Report

    #55

    I Live In Tootrno

    I Live In Tootrno

    NairodI Report

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    Kioh81
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    " We don't take naps Toronto!" Hahaha Is this a roast on Toronto? Or is this Toronto is against naps in general?? I'm so confused

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    #56

    Wales Prince Of Hotel

    Wales Prince Of Hotel

    Knifty_ Report

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    Ryo Bakura
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To be fair, it does look like a castle, so it could be the Prince of Hotels in that sense. And it could be in Wales, as well.

    #59

    70,000 Can’t Be Teeth, Wrong

    70,000 Can’t Be Teeth, Wrong

    PivotalFugur Report

    #60

    You Had Meat "Hello"

    You Had Meat "Hello"

    Baudin82 Report

    #63

    Hear That Noise? We Are Growing. We Can Fix It Again. Apply Inside

    Hear That Noise? We Are Growing. We Can Fix It Again. Apply Inside

    armchairnixon Report

    #64

    Sorry, We Don't Over $20 Bills Accept

    Sorry, We Don't Over $20 Bills Accept

    TheDragon-Hunter Report

    #65

    I Give Up

    I Give Up

    TheCunningLinguist89 Report

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    Kioh81
    Community Member
    Premium
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think the big lines are supposedly blanks for you to fill in maybe?

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    #66

    Do Not Take And Put Blue Chairs Them Onto Gym Floor! Away When Done

    Do Not Take And Put Blue Chairs Them Onto Gym Floor! Away When Done

    sumptinmagic Report

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    Andrew Wildman
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    “So I don’t take a chair but I gotta put a chair away? That’s deep, man...”

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    #69

    I Am Dond

    I Am Dond

    bestgrandson Report

    #71

    *inhales* Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything

    *inhales* Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything

    Vampyrix25 Report

    #74

    Don't Worry You'll About It Be Ok

    Don't Worry You'll About It Be Ok

    pepperonilegs Report

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    #76

    Power Bur To The Ger

    Power Bur To The Ger

    rflil Report

    #78

    This Sign I Saw While Visiting Vancouver

    This Sign I Saw While Visiting Vancouver

    aegisventus Report

    #81

    Either Way This Makes No Sense

    Either Way This Makes No Sense

    LennonForPresident Report

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    Mark
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe the urban cottage started in the bottom of a well before progressing to the top of the stairs ;)

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    #82

    I Drink Game And Of I Loans Interest Is Coming Know Things

    I Drink Game And Of I Loans Interest Is Coming Know Things

    Gold_Paperclip Report

    #84

    Hard Do Hat Not Area Enter

    Hard Do Hat Not Area Enter

    Report

    #85

    Babies What Drink Are Milk You

    Babies What Drink Are Milk You

    CharlieEdjmin Report

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    A B C
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even when you read it as it is intended - what the frigg are they trying to tell me? Or ask me, for that matter?

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    #86

    Teachers Who Love Teach Children Teaching To Love Learning

    Teachers Who Love Teach Children Teaching To Love Learning

    quinky_bee Report

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    Parmeisan
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In case anybody else is tired from going through 95 of these: "Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning."

    #89

    Ate At A Local Restaurant

    Ate At A Local Restaurant

    Nopeasuoli Report

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    Char Char
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    'Welcome. May all who came as guests leave as friends'. I ordered some of these wall stickers from Wish and the words come on a sheet in no particular order. You kind of have to sort it out.

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    #90

    Why Did I Name My Show "The Joel With Mchale Joel Show Mchale"?

    Why Did I Name My Show "The Joel With Mchale Joel Show Mchale"?

    NinjaCowReddit Report

    #91

    Who Thought This Was Acceptable

    Who Thought This Was Acceptable

    juanprada Report

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    Marcellus the Third
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a wasted opportunity, they had "TMI" in there which would certainly apply.

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    #94

    Men Because Women

    Men Because Women

    verianne Report

    #95

    I Would Like A Free Donation. Also, Here's My Lemonade

    I Would Like A Free Donation. Also, Here's My Lemonade

    BossMabel5 Report

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    #96

    Please Sick Please Donate Kids Donate

    Please Sick Please Donate Kids Donate

    fuuuuuckendoobs Report

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    Monday
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ah I've been looking for a place to donate my kids for years...when can I drop them off?

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    #101

    Always Bright Look On Side The Of Life

    Always Bright Look On Side The Of Life

    peppermint_jake Report

    #102

    This Sign I Saw In Someone’s Yard

    This Sign I Saw In Someone’s Yard

    CallingFrom127001 Report

    #103

    It's Supposed To Be A Quote From The Hamilton Musical. I Can See Life And Liberty But That's All I've Made Sense Of

    It's Supposed To Be A Quote From The Hamilton Musical. I Can See Life And Liberty But That's All I've Made Sense Of

    2meanbrothers Report

    #104

    Always Forgotten - Missed Never

    Always Forgotten - Missed Never

    cdsackett Report

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    Ana-Maria Z
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, if you follow the logic on this one, actually is correct. UP -> DOWN -> RIGHT -> UP...If you straighten the band you will see the words written correctly.

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    #105

    Saw This In A Store Today

    Saw This In A Store Today

    carpelas13 Report

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    #106

    Jesus Are Is Coming You Back Ready?

    Jesus Are Is Coming You Back Ready?

    porkstick Report

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    Mark
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The way they scrawled that on the back of their truck they obviously weren't ready :)

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    #107

    Tread Though Our What Softly Leaves Words Can Because

    Tread Though Our What Softly Leaves Words Can Because

    JordanEBailey2 Report

    #108

    Catc H So Mes Tard Ust

    Catc H So Mes Tard Ust

    ImpishAlice Report