It’s not easy being a designer. Even for the best of designers, it’s pretty much inevitable that eventually, they’re going to make a mistake — sometimes a big mistake! That’s what these designers did. These artists’ projects were originally created with the best of intentions, but ultimately, they had all sort of unintended consequences.
We’ve gathered 75 of the most hilarious design fails to share with you today and brighten your spirits. It doesn’t matter how bad your day is going, at least you can take solace in the fact that you’re not the designer who accidentally made a school bus advertisement telling kids to quit school.
1. Ndeeisgihgbnocrehnotoedr
This sign makes perfect sense! Can’t you understand it? What they were actually trying to say was “Neighborhood Design Center”. However, their approach of alternating the letters of the three words didn’t exactly turn out the way they imagined.
2. Trusting the “multilingual” ad designer
We’ve been trying for at least 10 minutes to figure out what kind of business this is, but we still have no idea. Is it a hair salon, a modeling club, or a translator service? Our best guess is that it’s a hair salon and the translation application they used simply didn’t connect properly.
The Fagas Strap company definitely dropped the ball on this one. They needed to decide on a new domain name for their website and this is what they came up with. Once you get rid of the capitalization and spaces between the words Fagas and Straps, it becomes something slightly more offensive.
4. Unfortunate graphic placement
They could have painted the graphic of the woman exercising literally anywhere else on the bus. Instead, they chose to place it exactly where the handles line up with the woman’s, well, check out the photo. You’ll see what we mean.
5. Measurement lines on an opaque bottle
Adding measurement lines to water bottles is always a good idea. That is if the bottles are see-through. When the bottle is a solid opaque color, it sort of defeats the purpose.
6. Being gay was a sin they said
There’s something a little off about this artist’s representation of two of every animal being loaded onto Noah’s Ark. The traditional idea of the religious story is that each animal pair includes one male and one female, but both of the lions in this image are boys.
7. Giant is seconds from being paralyzed
At first glance, you might think that this advertisement is completely normal. However, take a look in the top right corner. It provides insight into what’s really happening here — a giant man is diving into shallow coastal waters.
8. This amazing pregnancy test
When you look like the baby is about to pop out tomorrow, but you still aren’t entirely sure you’re actually pregnant, don’t fret. Predictor can help you verify your late-stage pregnancy. It’s pretty hilarious how surprised this couple appears after viewing the results.
9. Better than cream cheese? No!
Let’s hope for this brand’s sake that the employees at the grocery store don’t accidentally place their fake cream cheese containers on the shelf crooked. If they do, then the label isn’t going to convert the customers very well.
10. Two flamingos, one vagina
There’s nothing quite like placing an image that looks like a vagina right on the crotch of a pair of yoga pants. Maybe that’s just our dirty minds playing tricks on us though. Technically, it’s the necks of two flamingos.
11. If you’ve got it, flaunt it
It took a few seconds to understand what this Redditor was referring to when he claimed this Speedo advertisement was a design fail. It’s another dirty mind at work! The second leg in the photo looks more like a third leg if you catch our drift.
We are the Borg. Resistance is futile! We don’t know who placed this image right on top of the safety light of the bus, but at least the message it conveys is partially true. Once you have a baby, you basically live to serve them.
13. Correct punctuation is a must!
When it comes to pancake toppings, Boy Syrup is the best around. We know it’s the first thing we reach for after cooking up some tasty flapjacks. We just don’t understand those people out there who prefer regular maple syrup at all.
The reflection of the letters on the water completely changed the meaning of this swimsuit advertisement. The “u” in “suit yourself” looks more like an “H”. It makes a big difference.
15. If only I had some scissors…
This design fail is self-explanatory. “To remove scissors from pack: Carefully cut cable ties using scissors, as shown in diagram,” the instructions read. They didn’t consider the fact that someone might be buying scissors because they don’t have scissors.
16. Toilets and mirror ceiling
Maybe it’s just us, but we don’t think putting mirror ceilings in a public bathroom with multiple toilet stalls was a good idea. Users of this bathroom would get a big surprise if they ever happened to look up.
Sometimes a design is so awkward that it makes you just want to shake your head and ask “what was this designer thinking?” This is definitely one of those occasions. The hot dog poking out of the bun was already bad enough. Then they painted the mustard on.
18. This floral print dress
Flowers are a lovely addition to any dress design. However, placement is so important. From the back of this white dress, it totally looks like someone had a little accident on their way to the bathroom.
19. The DESIGN SCHOOL I graduated from sent this postcard out
It’s one thing for some random science university program to accidentally send out a confusing postcard like this, but a design school doing so? It looks like someone probably needs to re-enroll and try again. Either that or change careers.
The signs on their own are fine. However, placing them right next to each other on the same pole sort of sends the wrong message. In these woods, the children are slow and you can hunt them with a shotgun.
21. Proof your layouts, people
The magazine is actually called “Where”, but you would never guess by glancing at the cover. The layout looks a little bit like they are calling the woman in the dress an “Orange County whore”. The designer definitely should have gotten a second pair of eyes on this one before publishing.
It is supposed to be a cake celebrating a girl named Emma’s first birthday. However, the reality is that it looks like a dick with balls that says weed. We imagine the label could also lead someone to believe that it is a cake shaped like a weed pipe.
While we’re on the topic of things shaped like dicks, check out this pool design. Maybe from the ground level, it’s not noticeable, but from up above it certainly is. The hot tub at the head of the pool seals this pool’s fate as a massive design fail.
24. Attention, here we have a crappy sign
This toilet is only for disabled elderly pregnant children. So in other words, it’s for no one. Thanks for shopping with them though!
We imagine it’s a New Year’s sign from 2017, but it’s hard to tell. It looks a lot more like a light-up glasses store celebrating 20170 years of stupidity. At the very least, it’s clear their glasses aren’t really helping them see better or they would never have put the sign up.
26. This unfortunately designed kid’s balloon
You have to choose somewhere to place the balloon inflation valve. However, we would have recommended that they place it on the arm, or maybe behind the head, or literally anywhere else except for the crotch. That’s just our opinion though.
This airline booking system is not confusing at all… It’s pretty clear, it is redirecting you to the mobile site, but if you want to go to the desktop website, click “yes”. Or wait… Maybe click “No, go to desktop website”? Okay, never mind. It’s definitely confusing.
Forget the chicken and beef. We’ll go for option number three — braised and roasted 3-year-old. We’re all about trying new things these days.
29. No way anyones getting past that
This metal security gate is super effective. There is no chance any criminal is ever getting past that flawless design. If you don’t have a key to open the gate, you’re simply out of luck.
30. Toilet paper placement
This hotel bathroom design is not the best. If you have seven-foot-long arms, you’ll be okay. Otherwise, you are going to have to do the squeeze, waddle, and pray routine.
“The tans will fade, but the memories will last forever,” the billboard is supposed to read. However, it looks like the memories didn’t exactly last forever as planned. It was actually the opposite. The tans remained and the memories faded.
32. Asking the landlord to install a lock
The landlord didn’t really think this one through. He was asked to install a lock. However, what he didn’t realize is that deadbolts don’t work very well on sliding doors.
It’s a pretty funky logo, and there is nothing wrong with it, except for one little minor detail — the “a” in jazz looks like an “i”. It changes everything. We’ll let you make the substitution.
34. Thanks for reminding me
Whose bright idea was it to draw one of the most important words of the phrase “You Are Not Alone” in pink lettering on a pink sign? From a distance, all you can see is “You Are Alone”.
This survey question has a great variety of options to choose from. The researchers who created it really put a lot of effort into their survey design. It should provide some very useful data for them.
Even though this maze was probably designed for 4-year-olds, helping Rocco get home is not as easy as you might think. In fact, it’s not even possible. The maze designer screwed up pretty bad here.
When the designer pictured this musical design in his head, he imagined it coming out much differently. The actual result afterward is that it looks like a guy and a girl are being hung. Oops.
38. No thank you, I think I’ll pass
Sorry, we’re not going to be dining at this establishment anytime soon. We don’t have any desire to eat Jessica’s family. Cannibalism just isn’t our thing anymore.
39. Shapes health club misuses shapes
Why do the weights on this sign make up the first “H” in “health” but not the last one. It was a good idea in theory, but now they have a sign with two h’s on the end. We can appreciate the effort though.
40. It’s better because it’s all automated
Everything is better when it’s electronic and automated. It’s so futuristic. However, you have to make sure the door and the gate’s automation are coordinated, otherwise, it sort of defeats the purpose.
This ad was fine up until the moment they decided to place the billboard on the corner of a building. It distorts the image, causing the £25 glasses to look like something you might find at the dollar store or an amusement park vendor’s booth.
42. The easiest way to see who’s outside the door
It makes perfect sense to place a peephole on a door with a big clear window on the front. How else are you going to determine who is outside on your doorstep? Looking through the window is just too simple of a solution.
Can you imagine trying to follow these signs while driving down the highway in Japan going 70 mph? Add traffic on top of this mess and you have a recipe for disaster. Maybe they would make more sense if we understood Japanese, but somehow, we don’t think so.
44. Solar powered parking meter, underground garage
Eco-friendly parking meters? We love it. However, the key to using solar-powered machines is sunlight, something there isn’t going to be a whole lot of in an underground parking garage.
Creating a giant memorial for John F. Kennedy is a fantastic idea. Although, it would probably be better if the combination of the four screens didn’t result in a crosshair right on the former president’s head. Talk about adding insult to injury.
It can’t be cheap to build a rotating billboard. You would have thought that at the very least, the planning stages would have included selecting a location that was free of obstructions, but nope!
47. This university isn’t very good with fractions
If you want people to sign up to attend your university, a place of knowledge and learning, it’s probably a good idea to get the math on your advertisement right. In this case, it might be time to start researching other schools instead…
The sign design was so good that they had to add another smaller sign underneath it clarifying what it says. We’ll give them a C+ for effort though. At least the colors and letters themselves look cool.
49. Sometimes it’s okay to judge a book by its cover
Move along, folks, nothing to see here… just a book on graphic design with terrible graphic design. At least it is a basics book and not an advanced one. It doesn’t change the fact that we won’t be reading it anytime soon though.
50. Just don’t split your legs!
A split slide is kind of a fun idea. It’s sort of like a choose your own adventure slide. Just make sure not to split your legs when going down though, especially if you’re a boy. It could result in a very painful accident.
51. Teaching kids the harsh reality of life
You will come to a lot of dead ends in life while trying various paths. Ultimately, you just have to accept that there is no way out and get on with it. You can calm your existential angst with some mozzarella sticks and fries.
52. Accidental cancellation
Users of this ATM couldn’t figure out why it kept canceling their transaction every time they tried to use it. Then they took a closer look at the buttons. Someone put the enter label on the cancel button and vice versa.
53. The odds are in your favor
The name of this fundraiser doesn’t come across the way it was intended. It sounds more like you are going to be fighting kids with diabetes at a Christmas bazaar. It wouldn’t take much to win that match.
The colors are not as they seem. It’s something this Redditor found out the hard way. He reached for red and picked up the blue one. If you read the labels carefully, you’ll see what we mean.
55. I was looking for those…
DIY white supremacists will love this section of the store. They can find all of the accessories they need here. Although, we imagine there are a number of ways the store could have phrased this better.
56. Female hand vs. male hand
“How can we make it clear that the second hand belongs to a male without showing the nails?” the relay planners wondered. They came up with an ingenious solution. They attached a suit collar and tie to the wrist.
57. Aaris or Aris or Paris
Since the company’s real name is Aris, it begs the question, why didn’t they make the tower the “A”. It definitely should be. Now their logo reads more like “Aaris”.
58. When your dental banner features an execution
It looks like the dentist is holding a gun to his patient’s head, right? Or are we just crazy? It’s definitely not a toothbrush and it doesn’t really resemble a drill either.
They tried to print a very thoughtful and friendly message — “Let it snow”. However, it didn’t really turn out that way, especially from the front view of the house. You would never figure it out.
60. Hotel shower vent doesn’t work
The vent in this person’s hotel shower isn’t helping them at all. Reason being? It goes nowhere. It is just the metal vent cover screwed onto a tiled shower wall. It’s missing a crucial component — the vent.
61. Not a car, not the police
The designer who created the package for this toy medical helicopter must have been high. That’s the only way to explain the fact that there is a picture of a police car on the front… something totally unrelated to the toy.
When are they hiring? Now. Right now. You better hurry over there, immediately. You wouldn’t want to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.
63. An exciting game, maybe
Is it a nonstop action and excitement event, or a non-action, excitement stopping one? It looks like we’ll just have to attend the event to find out. Or maybe not… do people actually go to New Zealand National Basketball League games?
This looks more like a sign for the Monty Python sketch, “Ministry of Silly Walks”, than it does a warning sign. The person is also missing arms. What’s up with that?
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage. Or something like that. The use of rings to represent both the letters “A” and “O” simply doesn’t work. If anything, the ring looks more like a “Q”.
66. First time programming
The design of this form leaves something to be desired. Surely, there is a better way to write a phone number than this? We aren’t programmers though, so what do we know.
This aspiring clothing designer certainly gets our vote for best in class. We think everyone should own a pair of cat socks. They are simply too fashionable to pass on and not creepy at all.
How big is the watch? Well, judging by the tiny hand pressing the buttons, we imagine it must be pretty big. Actually, it might even be a belt. We aren’t entirely sure.
“Are you left-handed or right-handed? the quiz question asks. However, the image doesn’t exactly match up. It shows two right hands.
70. Questionable safety pamphlet
“If you were in a car, would you know what accident to do?” We’re willing to bet the instructions inside this safety pamphlet are going to be very reliable. Accuracy and clarity are their strong points.
71. Seems a bit counterintuitive
Let’s play the what’s wrong with this picture game. Do you see anything unusual? How about the fact that the fire extinguisher is spraying out fire?
72. This hand dryer really blows
Imagine this man’s surprise when he went to toss his paper towel into the bin underneath the hand dryer. It blew with such force that it flung the whole bin of paper towels back at him. That’s some serious drying power!
The meme says it all. These could have been cute t-shirts for a couple to wear together, but the poor design ruins everything. No one wants to sport a pair of shirts that combine together to say “SOMA ULTE”.
74. Unrealistic body expectations
Here we have another prime example of unrealistic body expectations for men. They expect someone to be the size of a full leg. The other explanation is that the boxer briefs were designed for mutants.
It makes you wonder, are all these translations really necessary? It looks to us like they could have just gone with two and called it a day. After all, the main logo on the packet does already say “Tomato Ketchup”.
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