31 Times Designers Said “That’ll Do” and Walked Away

John Summers • Contributor

Jul 15, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

Let's take a moment to honor the bold, the baffling, and the brain-melting decisions made by designers who clearly just… gave up. Or maybe they were trailblazers of chaos. Either way, these 31 photos prove one thing: just because you can design something, doesn't mean you should.

From bathroom signs that seem like riddles written during a fever dream, to chairs that defy the very concept of comfort, to light switches placed with the logic of a toddler playing Tetris - this is the Hall of Fame for bad design. The Louvre of what-not-to-do. A masterclass in unintentional comedy. These are the kinds of things that make you pause and whisper to yourself, "Who approved this?"

So grab your blueprints and a bottle of wine, and come marvel at 31 examples of design so confusing, so ill-conceived, you might just start appreciating the simple beauty of a normal doorknob.

01
Why would you do this?

via u/B1gdaddy987
02
press green to turn it off. press play to start cooking.

via u/Bokbreath
03
you have to long press to stop the stopwatch. which makes 0 sense

via u/memoirs-of-a-sailor
04
"Rosemary is on my kitchen mat twice. Guess they couldn't think of another herb."

via u/LemmonLizard
05
The oven control is clockwise but the hot plates are counter-clockwise

via u/LowB0b
06
The only text on the women’s restroom is the sign pointing to the men's

via u/PrestigiousFloor593
07
Ridicules

via u/Thick_Exchange3957
08
These numbers are needlessly convoluted

via u/k8o123
09
My brain hurts

via u/Elviswind
10
No thank you. (Diesel)

via u/CodymatorCheung
11
Seriously, why is it so complicated?

via u/analoguewavefront
12
At what point do you just go "Ya know what, it isn't worth the open floor water feature"

via u/UncleGarfunkle
13
Now you can't read it from both sides!

via u/dmcgrew
14
The more I look, The worse it gets

via u/-Trashy_Parakeet-
15
Just terrible design

via u/pixer12
16
This has made my Dyslexia worse

via u/sprogger
17
Didn't even notice there was text at first

via u/wantwon
18
Very Human Design

via u/flatearthmom
19
Seems safe

via u/maybesaydie
20
Seems safe 2

via u/Typ0r8r
21
Someone looked at this and said "Yes. That looks great"

via u/MinaCiclamina
22
Not a single person would read this as "We are the Champions"

via u/tomstrong1999
23
1 for lobby, L for conference

via u/Escalope-Nixiews
24
"The formatting of this warranty card that came with my RC boat"

via u/itsmethebman
25
Nope

via u/malusscortillum
26
"It Took Me a Year to Find the Switch For My Bathroom Fan."

via u/SplodeyMcSchoolio
27
"I can't charge my phone without the switch being on but the switch also turns the lamp on"

via u/Saurlifi
28
Either they are both on or both off

via u/Mitinus
29
What function does this serve?

via u/G_ntl_m_n
30
You only get HALF a light switch

via u/DingusTardo
31
Your path to zero safety commitment begins here?

via u/Novashrugs