Sometimes you can’t help but make something a little awkward. Take my house, for example. It’s over 100 years old and you may twitch at the wonky crown molding I installed, but it’s actually better than it was. There isn’t a flush wall in the place, so you do what you can to adapt.
But the people behind these mistakes don’t have any excuses.
1. Make up your mind!
Recycling bins are labeled to save time and money sorting the items when they reach the recycling center. Does everyone follow the instructions? Of course not, but at least make things clear for those who want to.
2. Teaching kids to navigate with a compass is great…when the compass actually works.
There is one thing every compass requires: a magnet. It’s perfectly acceptable to make a simple plastic version for kids, but if you don’t actually include a magnet, you’re just confusing things.
3. Why does this cat look like it’s planning my demise?
There is nothing about the look on this cat’s face that makes me want to buy the dental chews being advertised. In fact, it makes me terrified to even consider what it would do to my cat.
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4. I’m kind of craving a burger now, so I guess this technically works.
It’s the “In The Flower Of” part that really throws the whole thing off. The rest is awkward, but not completely unclear.
But besides that, why are there so many fonts?!
5. Hang out at the “hlotra ciluae!” It’s the coolest place in town!
A stack of old pallets covered in rough fabric doesn’t sound like an awesome “Chill Out Area,” regardless of whether it has a funky sign or not.
6. When you want to get in on a trend, but have no clue what it actually is.
Black Panther is comics, right? Marvel, right? Okay, close enough!
Ghost Rider , Captain America , and Spider-Woman is an odd combination.
7. This is the wrong kind of “pitch.”
I know that space is often at a premium, but there are certain things you can’t just slap on the side of a hill and figure it’ll be fine. I wonder how many soccer balls are in that water…
8. At least they tried?
Unless that button makes some magical, hidden ramp appear, it’s kind of pointless, no?
Making older buildings accessible is a tough challenge, but this solution misses the mark entirely.
9. Admittedly, I’d totally buy one of these terrible knockoffs. They’re hilarious!
At least this one managed to get one Avenger in the mix. Batman is at least a superhero, but what’s up with the random Na’vi?!
10. Oh sure, that looks stable.
The skinny little post is clearly strong enough to hold up the bigger, heavier post.
Really, everything about the construction of this support structure scares me. There are a lot of weird seams.
11. This magazine cover is hurting my head.
My brain can’t compute the messed up perspective caused by the flipped feet. That giant foot is just there, messing with my depth perception.
12. Just because you label it a reindeer, doesn’t make it a reindeer.
This looks an awful lot like a leftover bunny to me.
13. The sign for “Sushi Train” is a boat.
Does the boat predate the sushi restaurant? That can sometimes happen when changing things costs money.
Still, I guess you’ll always be able to remember the restaurant.
14. If you’re going to provide an easy way to open the box, make sure it actually works with your product.
Like, you’d need to tear the box to get the first cone out. The rest will come out fine, but by that point you’ve defeated the purpose.
15. Who thought this up?
I almost understand the kids thing. Anything that makes going to the bathroom fun can help with potty training and hygiene, but why would they use a marriage proposal as the advertising?!
16. This is why I’m always late.
I once worked in an office that was strict about break times but didn’t have a clock in the break room. I thought that was the worst.
I was wrong. An unusable clock is worse.
17. I’ve seen buildings with floating doors, but this is ridiculous.
Sometimes things change or renovations leave doors and windows in weird places. But usually, those random doors are secured in some way to prevent accidents.
18. At least this one is chained shut.
Still, when the stairs that were once there were removed, they probably should have done more to mark out this gate as dangerous.
19. Oh, this isn’t confusing at all…
Green means “no,” right? I have a feeling that if anyone gets in an accident because of this sign, it’ll be the fault of whoever installed it.
20. No running water, swimming, or letting pets free, but feel free to electrocute yourself!
At least, I think that bottom right icon is a fish bowl dumping a fish and a turtle.
21. This seems like an oversight.
Also, a spiral staircase may save space inside a small home, but it doesn’t really do the same thing on the outside of a building. It just seems out of place.
22. This planner seems confused about the days of the week.
There’s no Friday — which is a travesty!! — but there is one and a half Sundays. I can’t decide if that’s preferable.
23. I didn’t know turkey qualified as a fruit.
When did they change the nutrition guidelines on this?
24. This soap dispenser is just for giants.
Why else would someone choose to install it so close to the ceiling and right above the urinals?
There had better be another one elsewhere in the bathroom. Otherwise, I’d be dousing myself in hand sanitizer.
25. Sometimes doormats are a little too friendly.
Hey man, what you do behind closed doors is your business. But I don’t want to know about it.
26. Clearly, this movie theater is telling you to go big or go home.
These cup holders don’t have bottoms, so they only fit the largest cup size sold at the theater. If you bought a bottle of water, you’re on your own.
27. What exactly is this scent?
I don’t even know what baby balls are, but I definitely know I don’t want to smell one.
28. Waiter, there’s a gaping hole in my table.
I’m all for using reclaimed wood in your decor, but some pieces are better than others. I feel sorry for the person who was seated here.
