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69 Times Creative And Unique Designs Ended Up Being Impractical, Annoying Or Even Dangerous (New Pics)
Art & DesignMAR 6, 2026

69 Times Creative And Unique Designs Ended Up Being Impractical, Annoying Or Even Dangerous (New Pics)

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Design is a field that runs on creativity. But as with anything, too much of a good thing can quickly become a bad thing—and it turns out, you can absolutely have way too much creativity.
If you need proof, look no further than r/DesignDesign, a subreddit dedicated to what happens when designers try a little too hard and end up with something nobody can actually use. We’ve rounded up some of the funniest and worst offenders below. Scroll down and upvote the ones that left you the most baffled.

#1 Having To Scan A Qr Code In Case Of Emergency

Red emergency evacuation instructions sign with a QR code placed next to a metal handle, showing poor design usability.
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45points

#2 What Is Even The Goal Of The Photographer Here?

Double exposure wedding photo and sketch where designers went too far creating impossible-to-use visual illusions.
35points

#3 This Is Probably The Funniest And Weirdest Washroom Sign

Restroom signs with confusing abstract icons making the bathroom impossible to identify, showing design gone too far.
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32points

#4 This Handrail

Wavy purple handrail along concrete stairs showing a designer fail making the staircase impossible to use safely.
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32points

#5 Handrail With Gaps And Sharp Edges

Modern staircase with minimalist black railings illustrating designers going too far and making things impossible to use.
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29points

#6 This “Dynamic” Clock

Clock with too many numbers extending outward in a confusing design, showcasing designers going too far and impossible to use.
28points

#7 The Entire Hotel Room Lights Up When Someone Turns On The Bathroom Light

Bedroom design with a bright perforated window panel shining directly on the bed disrupting sleep in a poor designer choice.
28points

#8 Cliff Cup

Coffee mug designed to feel like a rock edge, reflecting designers going too far and creating impossible-to-use items.
28points

#9 This Was The “Sink” In A Restaurant

Granite bathroom sink with a design flaw causing water to pool on the flat surface, showcasing impossible to use design.
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27points

#10 Open / Closed Door Sign

Abstract text design with unusual typography, showcasing a creative example of designers going too far in usability.
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27points

#11 Why Does The Logo Look Like It Belongs To A Keratin-Enriched Conditioner Bottle?

Paris 2024 Olympic logo with stylized gold flame and Olympic rings representing a challenging designer choice.
27points

#12 What Is This Oddly Shaped Sink Used For?

Kitchen countertop with a curved sink design making usability difficult, showcasing design gone too far.
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26points

#13 Expect To Respect

Meme showing confusing text designs with characters, illustrating how designers went too far with impossible to use layouts.
25points

#14 Opaque Bottle Has Drinking Goal Marks

Water bottle with time markers and motivational phrases, featuring a typo that makes it impossible to use effectively.
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23points

#15 Sunglasses, Mask, Face Shield

Person wearing an impossible to use rainbow reflective face shield covering the entire face, demonstrating flawed designer concept.
23points

#16 Panthermobile

Futuristic pink car with an unusual door design making it impossible to use comfortably and efficiently.
22points

#17 Rip White Shirts

White coffee mug with a smiling face that becomes coffee stains, showcasing a design that is impossible to use.
21points

#18 This Whisky Glass

Two modern designer glasses with angled bases, one tipped over, showcasing a design that makes them difficult to use.
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21points

#19 Because People Love Sitting On Bike Seats When They Don’t Have To

Row of stools with bicycle seats and footrests under a countertop with power outlets, showing designers went too far in usability.
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21points

#20 This Clock When Its 12

Minimalist wall clock design with complex geometric shapes illustrating designer creativity gone too far.
20points
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