When someone goes full designer mode the world can end up with some very confusing products, signs, and displays of architecture. Letting creativity loose is all good and fun, but there might be limits to it all. The difference between a design that struck gold for being so unexpected, and then ended up being a complete disaster is a fragile balance indeed. These designs certainly missed their mark.
1. The temp sensor looks just like a reset button.
![Close-up of a white wall-mounted device with a labeled panel "Laser Particle Sensor." It features two vent-like openings and indicator icons above, including a sun symbol and a circular arrow.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses1.png)
Whoever was in the room drafting up this design plan might just have wanted other folks to have unnecessarily bad days as well.
2. This is supposed to mean reduced visibility.
![A yellow diamond-shaped sign depicts a human figure being blown by strong wind with snowflakes around. The sign is set against a background of tall evergreen trees and a clear blue sky.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses2.png)
They really let their creative inspiration run amok with the whole reduced visibility bit.
3. Wheelchair ramp or a mini mountain?
![A complex network of zigzagging ramps with metal railings leads down to a lower street level between two buildings. The architecture is a mix of wooden and brick facades, with a small street and distant rooftops visible.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses3-1024x807.png)
There’s no excuse for making this a literal maze. Come on now.
4. The garbage truck designers only allow the hood to open halfway.
![A blue truck with its hood open is parked inside a garage. The engine is visible, and tools are scattered on the floor. The garage has a white wall and metal door in the background.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses7.png)
As if the job wasn’t already going to be filled with its share of difficulties. Then they go and design a hood that can only be opened halfway.
5. A stunning book cover design from the local Dollar Store.
![A marble-patterned notebook with the word "YES!" in gold letters is displayed upright in a shelf. Behind it, packaging shows dimensions and specifications in multiple languages.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses8.png)
It’s never a good idea to go full designer mode. Nobody seems to win.
6. It’s as if they’re tempting the kids to eat the toy.
![A package of Yummy Meerz Puffy Pudding is shown, featuring a blue and green squishy toy on top. The packaging design includes colorful text and cute graphics. It mentions that the toy is scented and contains two colors.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses11.png)
7. Get the ocean breeze and the bathroom breeze.
![A room features a blue and white patterned sofa with a butterfly cushion. Above, a shelf displays model sailboats and a teddy bear. A small, open door leads to a bathroom with a sink and mirrored cabinet. Walls are white and light blue.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses13-1024x682.png)
It seems like it’d be tough to relax in this room.
8. All the world’s chiropractors couldn’t fix this foot.
![Sign for "Lushington Chiropractic" offering podiatry services. It reads, "Professional & Friendly Podiatrist / Chiropodist" with an image of hands massaging feet and text, "Whatever the problem. Bring your feet here.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses20.png)
One has to wonder just where it all went wrong for this poor fellow.
9. They put the house number in the middle of a number grid.
![A door panel is covered with numbers arranged in a grid, from 205 to 319, with 261 highlighted at the center. The door is framed by a brick wall on the right and a light source above. Some plants are partially visible at the bottom.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses22.png)
Confuse the fire department with this one simple trick.
10. It’s actually a plastic toy and not candy.
![A package of "Stretchee Noodles! Candy Twist," featuring colorful, tubular candy pieces. The packaging highlights features like "Twist & Stretch" and includes a warning about a potential strangulation hazard.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses24.png)
It’s a terrible design, deceptive, and dangerous. Perfect.
11. Some wonderful leg-breaking stairs.
![A staircase with narrow, irregularly-shaped steps, each covered in black carpet and featuring overlapping triangular designs in gray. The view is from the top, showing a wooden banister on the left and white walls. Two black shoes are visible at the bottom edge.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses4.png)
You can’t afford to not have your wits about you when traversing these stairs.
12. The knee-height microwave is no fun to use at all.
![A person stands next to a built-in stainless steel Bosch microwave in a white cabinet. They wear a white t-shirt with abstract pastel shapes and dark jeans. The room has wooden floors and a window in the background.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses5.png)
One can imagine how exasperating this would become to use over time.
13. The hotel room opted for a window into the bathroom.
![Modern hotel room with a geometric mirror reflecting a bathroom. The wall features vertical wooden slats, and there's a hanging lamp above a small bedside table. The bed is partially visible with white linens.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses6.png)
Even worse, is that the word around town is that this is a thing now.
14. Yes, plumbing is so uncool.
![A dark sign with a honeycomb pattern, displaying the text "Plumbing Is Cool" in bold white letters. The letter "P" is styled as a pipe. The background is blurred with hints of greenery.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses9-1024x774.png)
If that’s the message that they were going for, then yes, they nailed it.
15. A life-threatening stair gap indeed.
![A person standing barefoot at the top of a narrow wooden staircase with a rustic finish. The stairs descend in a winding pattern against white walls and a window allows natural light to illuminate the space.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses10.png)
It’s a horrifying wonder that this was even allowed in the first place.
16. Their porch drains directly onto their neighbors.
![View from a high building showing a narrow alley with parked cars, balconies, and red arrows pointing to windows. A patio with a table and chairs is visible on one balcony.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses12.png)
Hopefully they get along, because otherwise they have a terribly easy way to make their neighbor’s lives miserable.
17. Shoes that look like you just took a step into something cursed.
![Gray athletic sneakers displayed on a wall, featuring a knit upper with a large "N" logo. The sole is white with a brown, patterned outsole for traction. The upper image shows the side view, and the lower image shows the sole with a honeycomb design.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses14.png)
I guess it could be a great disguise if you actually did accidentally step on something nasty.
18. It turns out that there’s no way to get out of the maze in the first place.
![A hand holds a circular maze puzzle. The center of the maze is marked with "START" and a spider symbol. The maze path winds outward. The outer edge shows "FINISH" with a partial view of a character drawing underneath.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses21.png)
19. This bathroom has all the glass walls.
![An attic room with hardwood floors, featuring a spiral wooden staircase, a large window, and a small bathroom with glass doors. The ceiling has exposed beams and slanted angles, creating a cozy atmosphere.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses23-1024x698.png)
Hopefully privacy was never a concern of yours.
20. An elevator at the department of architecture.
![A narrow stairwell with brick and stone steps leading upward. Adjacent is a small elevator with its door open, positioned slightly lower than the first step. The walls are plain and the overall lighting is dim.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses25.png)
They’re really doing a great job at spreading the message that their architecture is next-level.
21. You simply may not have warm.
![Two white rectangular sinks with single faucets sit side by side on a dark wooden countertop. Each faucet has a red and blue indicator for hot and cold water. The background features beige tiled walls and a partial view of a mirror.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses15-1024x758.png)
Warm water was always overrated anyways.
22. Guess it’s time to pay for the upstairs neighbor’s heating too.
![A cozy living room with a white sofa, a wooden coffee table, and a patterned rug. A round mirror hangs above the sofa. A small desk and computer are in the corner. The room has a modern light fixture and a neutral color palette.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses16.png)
23. Guess there’s no chance for resting the arm on this trip.
![A hand reaches up to press a red "STOP" button on a vehicle wall, with dim lighting suggesting nighttime. The person wears a dark patterned sleeve and a black wristband. Lines of light streak outside the window, indicating movement.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses17.png)
24. The stopper that collects all the mold possible.
![A hand is holding a white travel mug lid with a black interior. The lid is open, revealing the drinking spout. The background is a blurred dark surface, possibly a desk or table.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses18.png)
25. The can coozie was attempting to say Michigan.
![A hand holding an orange can cooler. It has a blue outline of the Great Lakes and the text "HIGAN: THE GREAT LAKES STATE." The packaging displays the brand "CAN-TASTIC" with an American flag emblem.](https://www.thescroller.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/designfailswithoutexcuses19.png)