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The Opposite Of Design Fails: 50 Times Designers Nailed It And Got Praised On This Group
Home & DesignDEC 18, 2023

The Opposite Of Design Fails: 50 Times Designers Nailed It And Got Praised On This Group

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What do we consider good design? Packaging that's pleasing to the eye? A product that makes our lives easier? A structure that blends in seamlessly with nature? A design that's sustainable but practical all at once? Maybe it's something that fits the criteria for all of the above.
Here is a collection of examples that implement all of the above in design. The subreddit r/GoodDesign is for those who appreciate pleasing visuals and mindful execution. Check out these design innovations that prove not everything has to suck. Product and packaging design can be practical, original and beautiful at the same time.
Bored Panda also reached out to the mods of the subreddit. So scroll away to find the best of r/GoodDesign and read on for our interview with one of the moderators of the community.

#1 This Should Be The Standard

This Should Be The Standard
573points

The community we're covering this time has a pretty straightforward name – r/GoodDesign. It's where people find and showcase great design. It's not particularly large in numbers. Although created in 2012, in more than 11 years it has amassed a modest 30k members.

And although that might not seem like a lot in these times of viral content, it's still in the top 5% of all Reddit communities. Bored Panda reached out to the moderator KingDrude of the subreddit. He was kind enough to tell us more about how the community is doing and what it's like moderating it.

#2 Clever!

Clever!
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539points

#3 Love The Design For The Spine Of These Books

Love The Design For The Spine Of These Books
509points

The story of how KingDrude became the moderator is pretty straightforward. "They needed moderators and I applied," the Redditor simply says. "I had been following the sub for a while and I quite enjoy moderating."

Small numbers don't always mean less work. The mod tells us that the workload depends on the activity of the community members. "I have been [a] mod on other subreddits with the same amount of people and that was much more work because it was more active," KingDrude tells Bored Panda. "This sub isn't extremely active, so not a lot to do."

#4 Crosswalk Projected On A Dirty Winter Road

Crosswalk Projected On A Dirty Winter Road
482points

#5 Incorporating A Wheelchair Ramp Into Stairway Design

Incorporating A Wheelchair Ramp Into Stairway Design
461points

#6 Never Crane My Neck Again!

Never Crane My Neck Again!
461points

r/GoodDesign is not the only community that KingDrude moderates. He is the head moderator of r/AntiA-holeDesign. Or, more accurately, was. "It's no longer active because me and my team decided to join the protest against the API changes back in June," the Redditor admits.

#7 These Shoes Are Pretty Neat!

These Shoes Are Pretty Neat!
423points

#8 This Is A 1954 Camper With A Boat As Its Top

This Is A 1954 Camper With A Boat As Its Top
399points

#9 Decathlon Now Sews The Labels Onto Small Scraps Of Fabric Instead Of The Actual Clothing Item, So It's Easier To Cut Them And They Don't Leave Any Itchy Residue Behind

Decathlon Now Sews The Labels Onto Small Scraps Of Fabric Instead Of The Actual Clothing Item, So It's Easier To Cut Them And They Don't Leave Any Itchy Residue Behind
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392points

Since he's been moderator of two design communities, it's pretty obvious KingDrude enjoys interesting design solutions. "I am a fan of satisfying and innovative design," the Redditor says. "Although the main reason I moderate is because I love moderating. I do quite enjoy the content of the subs though," he adds.

#10 (X-Post) "The Middle Snap On My Baby's Onesie Is A Different Color To Help Align The Buttons."

(X-Post) "The Middle Snap On My Baby's Onesie Is A Different Color To Help Align The Buttons."
373points

#11 The Tear Offs On This Poster For Domestic Abuse Have The Phone Number Disguised As A Bar Code

The Tear Offs On This Poster For Domestic Abuse Have The Phone Number Disguised As A Bar Code
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369points

#12 This Pasta Packaging

This Pasta Packaging
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359points

What makes a design good? This time, let's talk about the graphic design world. Whether it's a website, a book cover or a poster, there are seven main principles that designers should adhere to. The first one is emphasis. It's the first piece of information the designer wants the audience to see. It should stand out – either be the largest, in an eye-catching font or a contrasting color.

#13 The Tiger Face On My Bag Of Nuts Spells Out Tiger Nuts

The Tiger Face On My Bag Of Nuts Spells Out Tiger Nuts
355points

#14 This Chair In The Food Court Of A Mall Has A Notch Cut Out For Your Bags

This Chair In The Food Court Of A Mall Has A Notch Cut Out For Your Bags
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352points

#15 You Only Can See This At Night

You Only Can See This At Night
350points

The second principle is to balance and align the elements of the piece so that the visual weight is distributed equally. Think about designing a piece as a room. You wouldn't want to cram all your furniture in one corner, would you? The same applies here. That doesn't mean good design can't be asymmetrical, but it still has to have a balance.

#16 Love That!

Love That!
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346points

#17 These Public Benches Are Reversible, So You Can Choose To Look At People, Or Boats

These Public Benches Are Reversible, So You Can Choose To Look At People, Or Boats
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345points

#18 My Puzzle Came With A Stand For The Box

My Puzzle Came With A Stand For The Box
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339points

The third principle has to do with contrast. It's how well a designer arranges opposing elements to entice the viewer visually. Designers do this either with color, texture, shape and size. Graphic designer Meg Reid refers to this as what people mean when they say that a design "pops!" Examples can be a bright background with dark colors or small objects positioned next to a large one.

#19 This Toilet Paper With A Mini Roll Of Toilet Paper Inside Instead Of An Hollow Cardboard Roll!

This Toilet Paper With A Mini Roll Of Toilet Paper Inside Instead Of An Hollow Cardboard Roll!
334points

#20 Really Appreciated The Removable Sticker Brand Name For A Reusable Canister

Really Appreciated The Removable Sticker Brand Name For A Reusable Canister
312points
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