24 Bad Designs That Were Doomed Ideas From The Start

We’re not exactly sure how some of the world’s more ill-conceived designs end up actually crossing the bridge between conceptualization and ultimate manifestation, but they sure do. The worst though is when a design has been so poorly put together that it ends up making your life genuinely more difficult. Like, some of these designs feel like they would go out of their way just to make your day a bit more tiresome. Definitely no good at all.

1. “So, apparently this is a bench.”

A playground featuring a modern climbing frame with metal bars. In the background, there is a set of swings, a bench, a fenced area, and trees. The sky appears to be at dusk, and the ground has both grassy and paved sections.
u/nico_repetto/via reddit.com

2. “Seriously, who goes and walks down the stairs like this.”

A triangular warning sign with a red border and yellow background showing a stick figure falling downstairs. The sign is hung with a single fastener at the top. It is mounted indoors, with a glass window and bookshelves visible in the background.
u/different_wind8260/via reddit.com

3. “Not sure what this is even meant to say.”

A modern wall sign features overlapping letters forming the words "SHERWOOD COME AS YOU ARE" with additional scattered phrases including "SAFETY," "GRATITUDE," "BETTER TOGETHER," "YOU MATTER," and "THRIVE." The letters are in a mix of light and darker colors.
u/amazing-fig-2624/via reddit.com

4. “Very curious as to what’s behind this door.”

A narrow stairwell with a metal handrail on the right side and a white door at the mid-level landing. The walls and floor are made of unfinished concrete, and an overhead light illuminates the area. The stairway leads both up and down from the landing.
u/just_me_anonymously/via reddit.com

5. “The asterisk is used on every item.”

A chalkboard menu rests on a wooden stand against a brick wall. The menu lists: Brew + Barm £5, Coffee + Pastry £4, Ice Cream Tub £3, and Iced Latte £4. A footnote states: (*Bacon or Sausage). The text is written in different colors of chalk.
u/randomer_2222/via reddit.com

6. “Talk about an odd design for a light fixture.”

A modern, geometric chandelier with black metal framing and cylindrical white bulbs hangs from a ceiling in a kitchen. The background features white cabinetry and a glimpse of a microwave oven.
u/dmacmcgee/via reddit.com

7. “This gate.”

A narrow paved path winds through a lush, green wooded area. A blue gate blocks the path, allowing pedestrian access while preventing vehicle entry. Adjacent to the gate is a wooden bench, partially overgrown by surrounding foliage.
u/medi_dat/via reddit.com

8. “A seriously counter-effective barrier.”

A urinal is covered with a piece of cardboard that has six large circular holes cut out. The cardboard has "Do not use please" handwritten on it. There is a strip of tape securing the cardboard, and a blue bucket is placed on the floor in front of the urinal.
u/murkyplastic-6706/via reddit.com

9. “So, one of these doors has a recycling chute behind it.”

Two gray doors labeled "Trash Chute" with white signs are side by side in a beige hallway. Both doors have silver handles and are located on a wooden floor.
u/representativekeebs/via reddit.com

10. “When the microwave auto completes, and then buries your ability to choose your own time.”

Close-up of a microwave oven control panel displaying 12:14. The panel includes functions such as Auto Cook, Defrost Time/Weight, Auto Reheat, Popcorn, Beverage, Baked Potato, Pizza, Frozen Veggies, Pasta, Melt Soften, and numeric keypad along with Start and Stop buttons.
u/nervardia/via reddit.com

11. “This just looks mean.”

A long, narrow section of pavement with numerous concrete parking bumpers arranged in a diagonal pattern, making it unusable for parking. The area is bordered by curbs, with some greenery and trees on the sides, and vehicles parked in the background.
u/fuegolicious/via reddit.com

12. “The acronym doesn’t fit the text.”

A poster on a brick wall outlines rules for the dining room. It features an acronym "ROAR": R- Clean up after ourselves, O- Use our time wisely, A- Use manners, R- Listen to adult. The poster has a cartoon image of a smiling lion in a blue shirt.
u/money_jackal/via reddit.com

13. “This carpet in a hotel I stayed at.”

A close-up of a floor transition between two different carpet patterns. The top section features a wavy, abstract design in brown and yellow, while the bottom section shows a geometric pattern with interlocking shapes in red and white. Edges appear frayed and uneven.
u/no-curve-8968/via reddit.com

14. “Hmm.”

Two mayonnaise bottles side by side. The bottle on the left has a label stating "Refrigerate after opening and store in refrigerator door. Do not freeze." The bottle on the right shows "Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise" with "No Refrigeration Needed" above it.
u/pizza-burrito/via reddit.com

15. “Just a nice hold in the wall that divides the townhouse bathroom and hallway.”

A room with high ceilings has a unique architectural feature—a large, pentagon-shaped window opening that allows natural light from an adjacent space. There’s a partially visible open wooden door and a corner of a wall in the foreground.
u/enerrgizer_/via reddit.com

16. “This chess board is simply not it.”

A modern metal chess set displayed on a checkered board with sleek, cylindrical pieces in varying heights. The board is placed on a wooden surface, next to a book. The background features a wooden floor and a part of a patterned rug.
u/krispycollosus/via reddit.com

17. “This seat in a swiss bus.”

A blue fabric seat on public transportation is shown, with a pattern of small white squares. Part of a grey wall and floor is visible beside the seat. The edge of the image shows a grey object, possibly a bag or piece of clothing.
u/professionalidiot/via reddit.com

18. “Saw a promising house for rent today.”

A cozy bedroom with parquet flooring features a corner shower unit with multiple settings, a pink bedspread on a wooden bed, a tiger-patterned rug, and a window with sheer white curtains. A wall-mounted air conditioning unit is situated beneath the window.
u/vyktorkun/via reddit.com

19. “Solid tattoo with an earth upside down.”

Close-up of a hand holding a sticker with the words "THERE IS NO PLANET B" surrounding silhouettes of mountains and trees. The hand has a blue painted thumb nail, and the outdoor background features people and some leaves on the ground.
u/politepony/via reddit.com

20. “I was looking for the microwave when it dawned on me.”

A modern kitchen with white cabinets, a tiled backsplash, and a wooden countertop. An oven and dishwasher are built into the cabinets. A microwave is circled in red and placed high above the counter. There is a sink with a faucet and soap dispenser below it.
u/sammy_clips/via reddit.com

21. “Someone explain this railing to me.”

The image shows a view through a large rectangular opening in a building, overlooking a street scene. A red bus and a car are visible below, with a large tree and several buildings in the background. The sky has a subdued, early evening hue.
u/probablyanocelot/via reddit.com

22. “This light on my ceiling.”

A black, minimalist ceiling light fixture with four exposed bulbs arranged in a geometric pattern. Each bulb is attached to a straight metal rod extending from a central base, creating an abstract, contemporary design.
u/legitimatedot2484/via reddit.com

23. “Simply love sugar cake.”

A packaged food item labeled "NO ADDED SUGAR APPLE CAKE" by the brand Diablo. The packaging is white with red accents, featuring an image of apple cake slices and whole red and green apples.
u/jackie_2222/via reddit.com

24. “Never do your best. Just quit.”

A store mannequin is wearing a sleeveless blue shirt with white text that reads "NEVER QUIT" in bold letters and "DO YOUR BEST" in a smaller font beneath it. The background shows various store aisles and clothing displays.
u/vituvii/via reddit.com

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