Spotted something head-turning, but not in a good way? We’ve got you covered. This blog dives into the hilarious (and often baffling) world of design fails. From fashion faux pas to architectural oddities, get ready to cringe, chuckle, and say “huh?” along the way!
This Commemorative Gift Design Didn’t Go As Planned
It’s the thought that counts, right? That’s probably what this boyfriend was hoping when he got this badge back from the maker. He had it commissioned to celebrate their engagement, but… yikes. It’s not just off; it’s downright wrong. The artist didn’t even manage to get the boyfriend’s hand right.
The supposed hand looks more like a blob with no discernible fingers, and there’s no wrist in sight—it’s just awkwardly hanging there.
The Virgin Mary Welcomes All—Sort Of
We’ve seen many statues of the Virgin Mary, but none quite like this. The sculptor aimed for something unique and certainly achieved it, though not in the way they might have intended. Without context, you might mistake this for a tribute to something entirely different. Still, it has a certain quirky charm.
Interestingly, it resembles older depictions of the Virgin Mary that focused more on fertility and, well, her virginal status.
“Art” Space With a Capital “F”
Someone really dropped the ball with this sign. By placing a giant “F” in front of the word “art,” they ended up with “Fart space.” Definitely not the intended use for the room! Why is the “F” there? Maybe it’s the building designation, but why not put that on a separate sign?
It’s surprising the sign maker didn’t flag this. They must have had a good laugh while making it.
Don’t Do It, Santa!
This design fail had good intentions. The city wanted to spread Christmas cheer by hanging decorations, but they put Santa in the worst spot possible. It looks like Santa’s contemplating some life choices, with the ironic “jump for joy” sign below him. Hopefully, someone called the fire department to talk him down!
When You Cheap Out on Hiring Actors
We often overlook the effort ads put into hiring actors. But when a company doesn’t bother, you get results like this. Instead of hiring male and female actors, they just photoshopped a woman’s hair onto the same guy’s face.
The worst part? This seems to be a casino pamphlet—surely they had some spare cash to hire a woman!
These design disasters remind us all that a bit more thought can save a lot of embarrassment!
Just How Nature Intended
It looks like someone decided to play a cruel joke on these trees. In this town, it seems the tops were chopped off to make room for some panels to provide shade. Honestly, it’s hard to believe any city planner would actually think this was a good idea. But here we are, with this monstrosity standing tall.
Maybe the trees were damaging the foundation of a nearby building or were already dead or diseased. Still, it doesn’t make this setup any less bizarre.
Always Ready to Rock
This shirt design is a contender for the worst we’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something. It features a record player with an absurdly long rod sticking out in the middle. Yes, record players have rods, but why make it protrude like that?
The guy in the second photo clearly didn’t learn from the product picture and went ahead with the purchase. It looks just as ridiculous in person.
The Definition of False Advertising
We’ve seen plenty of products boasting “Made in the USA,” but this one takes the cake. This American flag sign has a bold “Not Made In China” label, but the barcode at the bottom left tells a different story—it says it’s made in China.
To top it off, the flag is missing a red stripe at the bottom. We bet the workers in China had a good laugh making this one.
Who Knew Dogs Were So Scary When They Smiled?
Dentastix are treats meant to help clean your dog’s teeth, but the packaging shows a dog with human-like teeth. It’s unnervingly realistic and definitely not what we’d expect from a dog treat advertisement.
While it might be meant as a joke, it ends up being more creepy than funny. Our dogs’ goofy grins are charming enough without this weird addition.
A Helmet That Resembles a Human Head
This motorcycle helmet designed to look like a human head is definitely creepy. It might be functional, but wearing it on the highway will likely get you pulled over for not wearing a proper helmet.
Plus, if you fall and hit your head, sorting out which parts are real and which are not could be a nightmare for EMTs.
Only Kind of Frozen
We’ve all seen signs claiming “fresh, never frozen,” but how true is it? Probably not very. Freezing meat and fish is essential to prevent illness, especially when transporting them over long distances.
This sign, claiming the fish wasn’t frozen, only to contradict itself in the fine print, is misleading at best and dishonest at worst.
These Are Nice, But Let Us Show You Our Values
This hilarious mix-up comes from Thompson Reuters, one of the most trusted news services. In a botched presentation, their values list in the left bubble doesn’t overlap with the company’s values on the right, despite looking like a Venn diagram.
Reuters usually has solid graphics, so we’re guessing the designer was out that day, and someone else had to step in.
So Hot It’s About to Blow
This graphic designer probably had a rough day. On this weather page, the thermometer looks like something completely inappropriate thanks to the sun’s hand placement.
Someone at USA Today should have caught this before it went out—usually, that’s the job of an art director or editor.
It’s A Tough Market Out There
Phone manufacturers are battling it out in a cutthroat market. Need proof? Just look at this photo. The designer of this sign likely never anticipated how it would look once hung up (pun intended). But it didn’t take long for passersby to notice something was a bit off.
Everything lines up a little too perfectly. The woman’s cheerful expression oddly doesn’t help either, which is surprising since you’d think it would.
These Dog Bone Paperclips Are Working Double Duty
This might not even be a design fail. These dog bone paperclips double as both a dog bone and, well, another kind of bone. It’s hard to believe this wasn’t intentional. If you clip them with the middle portion behind the paper (as most paper clips are meant to work), it still looks like a dog bone.
A quick search shows these have become popular gag gifts thanks to their cheeky resemblance.
One Size Does Not Fit All
This would drive anyone crazy. This person opened a container of chili flakes only to find the holes in the cap were too small for the flakes to pass through. Sure, they could drill bigger holes or unscrew the lid entirely, but it’s baffling that the company didn’t catch this before production. The whole line likely has the same faulty caps.
It’s similar to finding entire bay leaves in a container with small holes meant for sprinkling. Just doesn’t make sense!
Despite Inflation, The Price Of Kids Is Still Falling
We’re not sure where this sign was spotted, but we wish we knew. It reads “eat kids free” when it should say “kids eat free.” The designer placed “kids” awkwardly in the middle, making it look hilarious despite the color offset attempt. At least something is decreasing in price these days!
We wonder if they’re still making a profit with deals like this. Baby back ribs aren’t cheap!
Looks Pretty Appetizing
Believe it or not, this is supposed to be ice cream. Or at least an ice cream mascot. Instead, it looks like something someone who’s never seen ice cream would create after a quick Google search. It’s pretty horrifying, but we kind of love it. Is there a word for that?
There’s also something leaking out of the bottom, suggesting it’s going to melt away soon. Now we kind of feel sorry for it.
They Knew What They Were Doing With “Tit’s Pizza”
Whoever designed this sign knew exactly what they were doing. Using a pizza as an “O” just doesn’t work here, and our brains aren’t fooled. Someone snapped this photo from a car, and the road sign at the bottom only adds to the hilarity.
The person who posted it mentioned blurting out “Tit’s Pizza” to their mom, who wasn’t too pleased. Can’t blame them; the sign practically makes you say it out loud.
A Set Of Trick Stairs
As if stairs aren’t tricky enough, these ones have an elevated step right at the start and end. We’re not sure of the design philosophy here—maybe an anti-flooding measure?
Regardless, we’re certain many people have tripped over these and nearly face-planted. There’s definitely a risk/reward factor to consider.
How Not To Break The News
This card might look bad, but it’s not as terrible as it seems. It says, “Congratulation, you have cancer,” referring to the zodiac sign Cancer, not the disease. The zodiac sign for Cancer is a crab, so it makes sense, but there was definitely a better way to convey this.
Adding a few stars or other zodiac signs could have helped differentiate between the two meanings. As it stands, it’s a bit dark and confusing.
To Infinity And Beyond
Kid’s toys sometimes have questionable designs, but this Buzz Lightyear cup takes the cake. The placement of the straw in Buzz’s pelvic area is just plain awkward. It’s almost like they wanted to make people uncomfortable every time they took a sip.
Buzz’s smug smile and folded arms don’t help either. Nothing about this design works.
Right On The Edge
We feel for this model. She probably had no idea her image would be used on the edge of a building. The only way this looks somewhat normal is from a distance, and even then, it’s a bit wonky.
Then again, maybe there were no other spots on the building for such a large image. But if that’s the case, why use a model at all?
Just in Time for the Fourth of July
Get ready for the latest trend in designer sunglasses! Just kidding—at least we hope so. These USA-shaped sunglasses look more quirky than practical. The concept of a map-shaped frame sounds fun, but in practice, it’s a bit of a flop. Even the model in the product photo is using her left eye without the glasses, as to the west of Michigan is Canada.
Plus, it’s a bummer that Hawaii and Alaska didn’t make the cut. Maybe they could create matching earrings or a necklace to complete the set?
The Perfect Bathroom Layout Doesn’t Exist…
Let’s be honest; most bathrooms either feel cramped or poorly designed. Then there’s this layout. A designer thought it’d be a brilliant idea to place a single toilet between two sinks. Bold move! It’s not necessarily a fail, but it sure looks odd.
If you look at the reflection in the mirror, it seems like this was the only spot for the toilet. They could’ve just eliminated one of the sinks, though.
A Little Space Here, Please
Some ideas sound great in your head but fall flat in real life. The design on this van is one of those ideas. We get the concept—showing someone’s bowling motion—but the execution is just off.
On the plus side, it stands out and catches attention, which is the main goal of any sign or advertisement.
An Open Floor Design
Someone posted this photo online, saying it’s the first thing you see when you walk into this house. Like the other bathroom photo, it’s a bold choice—but not in a good way. Imagine walking in and finding someone right there on the toilet, with no curtain or anything for privacy.
The step leading into the bathroom is another design flaw. It’s a tripping hazard, especially at night.
This Clock Has a Lot Going On
This clock has so many things happening, none of which make sense. It combines both Arabic and Roman numerals—why? There’s no backstory, just a photo of a clock at someone’s work.
Plus, the Roman numeral for 4 is IIII, not IV, which has a fascinating history. Romans might have used IIII instead of IV because IV sounded like Jupiter, and they didn’t want to use his name in vain. Another theory is that subtracting Roman numerals was a Medieval invention.
Never Leave Your Couch Again
Here’s a design teetering between genius and fail: a combination toilet and couch. Add a TV and a cooler, and you’d never need to leave your seat! Granted, it’s probably not ideal for shared living spaces, which is likely why it’s not a big seller.
Still, you have to admire the designer’s boldness in turning a common joke into a real product, even if it’s not commercially viable.
Like Taking a Shower in the Sink
This shower fixture is likely a homeowner’s afterthought rather than the builder’s original design. It’s just a faucet, which isn’t ideal for enjoying a shower. Standing under this for an hour to get clean doesn’t sound fun.
It probably works, but it’s not efficient. And a hot shower with this faucet? The water would be warmer than from a regular showerhead, but it’s not quite the same experience.
When You Really Need an Outlet
This one deserves an award. It looks like the wall blocking the outlet was added later. Whoever did this saw the outlet and decided to build the wall right over it anyway, even notching the trim to fit.
A blank wall cover from a hardware store would look less out of place and be a simple fix.
Get Good or Get to Replacing Windows
Finding a spot for a basketball goal can be tough, especially on a house. There’s always the risk of damaging the home. But the person who installed this goal didn’t think it through. There’s no backboard, just glass windows.
If this is used regularly, those windows are bound to get broken. Maybe that’s motivation to improve your aim!
A Toilet with a Decent View
This one is a bit subjective. This bathroom features a rooftop toilet with a view of the surrounding buildings. While it’s definitely unconventional, the view might be a nice perk. You’d think the homeowner would prioritize this with their architect. Toilets on rooftops aren’t exactly a standard feature!
Plus, there’s a little balcony right outside the bathroom, perfect for stepping out after a shower to dry off in the sun.
To Enter or Not to Enter?
This sign at Burger King is a bit of a head-scratcher. Depending on how you read it, it could mean different things. If you read it left to right and top to bottom, it says, “no exit, entry only.” Simple enough. But if you read it top to bottom first, it says, “no entry, exit only.” No wonder people might get confused.
It’s both an enter and exit sign at once. The designer likely had limited space, but clarity would have been nice.
Name Brand Cuucis
We get it—these are knockoffs. But even knockoffs should try a bit harder. These shoes are supposed to resemble Gucci, but they’re labeled Cuuci. Not only is this not a real brand, but it also sounds like “kooky” or something else entirely, depending on how you pronounce it.
A better attempt at mimicking the real brand would have at least nailed the name.
Without a Doubt, Fully Charged
This photo is puzzling. The charge percentage says 100%, but the bar looks like it’s only at 75 or 60%. Maybe the bar is for something else, but bad design leaves you guessing. You’d expect a phone manufacturer to get this right.
Or maybe the charge percentage goes up to 200% for some reason, which would be a bizarre but logical explanation.
Collab or Knockoff?
Surprisingly, this shirt is a legitimate collaboration between North Face and Gucci. Unlike other questionable items, this one isn’t a knockoff. But the design is so simple—just their names stacked and some color changes—that people might need to Google to confirm it’s a collaboration.
True collaborations should blend styles and result in unique, interesting designs. This one feels a bit lackluster.
Pikachu Has Seen Better Days
Someone posted a photo online of their Pikachu doll, calling it poorly designed. It does look a bit rough and doesn’t quite capture the character we all love. While it’s not the worst design, it does have a creepy vibe, like many dolls do.
This one is extra unsettling because it’s a stuffed version of a fictional monster. Keep it safe from whatever chewed its face, and it should be fine.
