They Say Beauty Lies in the Eye of the Beholder but These Design Fails May Prove Otherwise

By Garrett Keyes

Imagine that you are walking along your day when all of a sudden you catch sight of something strange. Imagine if you have been looking around you for the last five minutes and saw if anyone else is noticing what is happening. This is exactly the same response that terrible designs receive when they are presented to the public.

We can easily ignore the good, but what about the bad? Oh, our eyes and brains would never let them go! Thanks to the awesome Ugly Design on Instagram, we have compiled a list of some of the most interesting designs that we have ever seen. Let’s see how long you can keep your mouth shut before you burst into tears.

Turn Up the Heat

If there’s one photo that speaks to the horrors of late-stage capitalism, it would be this. A cashier slowly boils in a giant pot on a cooker as he writes up receipts. Whoever designed this has a lot of explaining to do.

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Now that is not a real cooker, and neither is the blue flame underneath the pot real. However, one wonders why they placed this contraption right in front of the door. Whatever happened to the good old cashier counters?

Rocky Armchair

An armchair is one of the best chairs because it is made to ensure the absolute comfort of whoever sits on it. That added cushion does wonders for the body after a long day of work.

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That alone explains why this is a horrible idea. The chair has got all of the aesthetics but none of the appeal. So make a stone bench, if you will, but giving it the shape of a regular armchair is where we draw the line.

Half-pants

Pants have undergone multiple evolutions since they were first created, and each unique variation appeals to different demographics. We’ve got baggy pants, bell bottoms, and culottes. There are also skinny jeans, harem pants, and joggers.

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But nowhere on that list would you find a pant with a single leg, and that’s because such a piece of clothing shouldn’t exist. Whoever came up with this thought differently, though. And this woman is confident enough to strut her stuff with one leg bare.

Man or Centaur?

Anyone who’s seen or read “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” should know about centaurs. They are a race of intelligent creatures that are half horse but with human parts from the abdomen up.

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This bar stool makes it look like the man sitting is a little “Mr. Tumnus” from that beloved film. And it’s all because someone thought it would be a good idea to carve horse hinder parts in place of regular bar stools.

There’s a Snake in Your Hair!

At first glance, it looks like a snake crawled up this woman’s body and made its home in her hair. But nothing as scary is actually happening here. Instead, a creative designer decided to make a multi-functional hair clip.

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One that would keep hair in place while scaring the socks off anyone brave enough to stand too close. The irony is that human hair has been said to help keep snakes away. Sprinkle some around your home, and they’ll stay away.

Eggscuse Me; Please Take a Seat

This egg-themed seating plan is one of the highlights of a highly thematic sky bar in France. The restaurant named “Le Nid” after “The Nest” was created by graphic artist Jean Jullien. And just like its name suggests, it’s a nest full of eggs.

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Fans of this kind of design can make their way to the City of Nantes in Western France to watch the city below while enjoying a relaxing drink. Still, not everyone would enjoy sitting in egg yolk.

Immediately, No!

This ceramic dwarf-themed egg yolk filter is available on Amazon for less than 30 dollars. But not even half that sum would make us consider getting one as kitchenware. First, there’s the fact that more practical egg white separators exist.

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Then there’s the fact that the dwarf face is very off-putting. Need we mention how gross it is that the egg white comes out of the nose too? It doesn’t matter how easy to clean or effective this is. Immediately, no!

High-fashion Pit Stains

Sweat stains are a somewhat inevitable part of the human experience. They occur when the aluminum in deodorant mixes with sweat and gets absorbed into clothes. Proper hygiene and a consistent laundry schedule can always fix the damage.

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But someone out there decided to get creative with it. Why worry about embarrassing pit stains or mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to get rid of them? These golden pearls embroidered onto this shirt can do the work of hiding them pretty well.

Silica-turned Crossbody

There’s a reason this crossbody bag looks a little too familiar. It’s fashioned after those little paper packets that come with a wide range of commercial products. Everything from food to shoes and bags can have a pack of silica gel packed with it.

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Essentially, it works as a drying agent and helps prevent moisture from damaging the product. And it’s best to take the “Do not eat” warning very seriously. Because though non-toxic, silica gels can present choking hazards.

Bed With Feet

This one is either a big hit or a big miss. Interior designer Tim Verenovsky was commissioned to design a home for a family, and he settled on this bed for the teenagers’ room. Well, according to his Instagram post, it was actually the teenager who made the choice.

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This legged monstrosity is a surreal dream bed made by Frank Oelke, which dates back to the late ’60s. The bed’s new owner must be an incredibly bold lover of vintage pieces.

Snail Pulpit

Christian churches and similar religious establishments often come with pulpits. They are a standard for such designated buildings because they serve a dual purpose by keeping the Preacher in full view of the congregation while holding their Bible and notes.

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There’s no strict design scheme that all churches must follow when deciding on a pulpit. But that’s not to say that a giant snail is the best option, either. With the way this thing is shaped, one push and it’s over.

Weak at the Knees

Trends are often so commonplace that it becomes increasingly difficult to trace their origins. But we know enough to say that ripped jeans appeared on the fashion scene sometime in the ’70s. It was a way for the counterculture to embrace their unique style without conforming to mainstream standards.

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Punks of that era expressed their dissatisfaction with society by ripping their denim trousers. But whoever did this decided to add a layer of fabric to give the illusion of burnt skin.

Candle Holder or Horror Film Prop?

We have the Czech Republic to blame for this unique take on candle holders. Modern designer and co-founder of the Qubus design studio Maxim Velčovský is known for his work with porcelain. And this ‘Little Joseph Candleholder’ is one of his creations.

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These porcelain heads are available in multiple online stores. But one thing that’s bound to stop potential buyers in their tracks is the fear of waking up at night to the sight of these eerily-looking porcelain heads covered in wax.

Creepy Face Mask

When 2020 came around, the pandemic hit, leaving us scrambling to settle into a completely different way of life. The habit of wearing face masks became normalized during that period; and trust people to come up with their own unique variations of that simple tool.

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Those who didn’t like the clean surgical look of the standard masks got arts and crafty in a bid to make their own. We only hope this granny didn’t scare any kids with this odd-looking knit.

Goodbye to Privacy

Ever heard of the story of a man who had major beef with his neighbor? Rather than talking it out to settle the issue and bury the hatchet, he decided to build a house right beside that of his enemy, leaving practically no space between the two buildings.

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It looks like that’s what happened here. We really hope the occupants of these apartment buildings put up curtains. How else are they to maintain some semblance of privacy in their poorly-constructed flats?

Matching the Upholstery

How does this happen? How does a person pick out an outfit only to arrive at their location to discover that they’re wearing the same fabric used to cover the seats? Isn’t that the most embarrassing thing ever?

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The shopping site “PAOM” has this item listed as the ‘Connex shirt,’ and apparently, the crew neck can be washed with similar colors. It’s also cotton, so that means more durability and comfort. Just a tip for anyone willing to replicate this photo.

Melted Manicure

It’s always best to enjoy art without personal bias because all art is subjective. The fact that we think something looks bad does not mean it is flawed. In this case, though, we desperately beg to differ.

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We hope this was an accident and nothing intentional because the fact that anyone would seek out a nail technician to install this is simply unbelievable. It looks like someone went over the nails with a lighter, giving them this garish, melted look.

Gummy Tech

This is one spectacular design fail. How could anyone see a set of plastic dentures and think, “Hey! that would make a really good USB holder?” It doesn’t even seem practical to have this on a workstation.

CamTheChest / Reddit

But if there’s one place where plastic dentures would be more useful, it would have to be at the dentist. They are the go-to solution for replacing lost teeth. And not only are such dentures highly functional, but they are also the most cost-effective method.

Coffin Float

It’s a good thing the designers of this inflatable mattress confirmed that their work is often weird, satirical, or nonchalant. Because those are all terms that fit. When this casket-shaped float was first released, they settled on a color that does well on Instagram–Millenial Pink.

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We have to say, though, with the number of donut-shaped floats and flamingos we’ve seen all over the internet, this coffin seems like a good option. But we changed our minds after discovering it retailed at $120.

Sneaker-pack

Someone saw the Nike Air Force 1s and decided it would make a pretty good backpack. Pictures like this only highlight the thin line between a radical design that works and one that’s just plain tacky.

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Not to say that Nike makes a tacky design, though. After all, it is one brand that has maintained a strong hold on the market for decades thanks to its commitment to producing shoes of the highest quality. No one does branding quite like them.

Sandal Socks

Why bother with sandals when you could settle for a pair of socks with a sandal design imprinted on them? This impractical trend took hold of many sock-lovers in 2017 and what began as an inside joke among tourists soon made its way into mainstream fashion.

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These woolen creations, which were named ‘Tourist Sandals,’ got even more recognition after they were presented at the 2018 fashion week with designers like Dries Van Noten and Collina Strada hopping on the trend.

Thimble Cutlery

The thimble may no longer be a critical part of sewing culture, but once upon a time, it was all the rage. The helpful device, which dates back to the 1600s, was first designed by a Dutch metal worker in England. But some say mammoth hunters also used thimbles to sew pearls onto leather.

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Ordinarily, thimbles help protect the finger from being pricked by needles while sewing. So revamping its original design to make miniature cutlery seems a bit pointless.

Sink Your Teeth In

Everything leads back to teeth, it seems. Someone thought it was a good idea to fashion a sink in the shape of the lower jaw. As if that wasn’t enough, they also settled on this shiny black paint to give it an even more garish appeal. What happened to the good old basins and sinks?

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Speaking of sinks, did you know that finding the perfect one depends on the overall design of the home as well as the needs of the house’s occupants?

What Loyalty Looks Like

Bernie Sanders is an American politician and a fierce advocate for fair wages for the American populace. But all of his good intentions haven’t made him immune from falling victim to internet meme culture.

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During the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden, Sanders was pictured sitting on a folding chair and staring blankly into space, and the internet went wild with it. This man appears to have taken things up a notch by printing photos of his favorite Senator all over his outfit.

A Befitting Throne

This would be a regular setup for a functional workstation if it weren’t for the gigantic chair in bright pink. It’s the only spot of color–apart from the woman’s green scarf–in the room full of beige, brown, and grey.

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While the chair does nothing for the room’s overall design, it seems its owner cared less about aesthetics and more about comfort when picking it out. We’d also take a guess and say she settled on pink to reflect her feminine side.

Firm Toes

Again with the toes. This design is nowhere as jarring as the gigantic toes we saw on that vintage bed earlier, but it’s just as unusual. With the plethora of toothbrush holder designs available on the market, why would anyone settle on this?

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These life-like feet-shaped silicon toothbrush holders may appeal to kids, though. With their unique sense of humor, we can see how children would be more interested in brushing their teeth so long as they get to see this.

Meaty Sculptures

This may very well be a vegetarian’s worst nightmare. But many meat lovers would drool at the thought of sitting on any of these pieces. This garden furniture was carved out of rose quartz, giving it its somewhat meat-like appearance.

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So while it’s true that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, we can say with all confidence that this isn’t the best location for a vegan meat and greet. And odd coloring aside, the back-less stools don’t look comfortable.

Cigarette Drapes

These two-toned curtains are listed as “Home Printed Border Unlined Eyelet Curtains in Mustard.” Argos Home really popped off when they designed it to look like an unlit cigarette.

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It may be a testament to prevalent smoking habits that one look at a fabric with beige at the top and mustard at the bottom brings to mind a smoke stick. Things have never been the same since cigarettes were first introduced in the United States in the early 19th century.

Udder Purse

This bag was designed with fans of cows in mind. Someone on a farm would probably be excited to own this accessory. But most of us would rather not walk around with a bag that looks like it could have milk dripping out o fit at a moment’s notice.

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At last check, there were about 94 million cows in the United States, with only 9.45 million being milk cows. So it’s fair to say there are more than enough udders already.

Toilet Paper for a King

This one is too funny for words, so it’s okay if you need a moment to laugh out loud. First of all, we already know no one will find this helpful in an actual toilet. Secondly, we’d like to know why anyone thought of transforming what should be a roll of toilet paper into a statement piece.

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The first toilet paper was created during the Tang Dynasty in China. If only they knew centuries later that it would become an accessory.

Pebbly Flats

This time we have all the tools to determine the source of the designer’s inspiration. So we’ll take a wild guess and say they were influenced by the pebbles on the seashore. Correct us if we’re wrong, though.

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The long-eared owl, arctic hare, and chameleons may be praised for their impeccable camouflage skills. Even the snow leopard and stick insect are not left out. But no one does it as well as the woman who wore these flats to the beach.

The Wrong Kind of Choker

The first Black doll was created in 1947 by African American cartoonist Jackie Ormes. She based the dolls on the characters of the cartoon panel she drew for a newspaper at the time.

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Two decades later, the first African-American Barbie doll was created. And now, dolls in many different shades and skin tones exist in most places around the world. That said, wearing the head of one around the neck seems like the wrong way to push the boundaries of personal style.

Strange Silhouette

This situation could have been avoided if this woman had simply worn a dress in a different color. But still, she may have never considered that she would blend into the background on the screen during her segment.

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So while she may not have noticed what was happening, imagine how the viewers felt watching this. No doubt the question on the minds of everyone was, “Why doesn’t her head match the rest of the body? Is she shrinking from the neck down?”

Typical Fan Behavior

When Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album, “Midnights,” in October 2022, many songs felt like they’d been copied off the listener’s journal. But one song, in particular, sent many into a frenzy, kickstarting one of the most peculiar trends on Tiktok.

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“Mastermind” had many confessing the lengths they’d gone to catch the attention of their crushes. And chances are, this woman can also relate to the lyrics of that single. What if we told you none of this wasn’t accidental?

Why Bring Dogs Into It?

Who let the dogs out, and why do they have toothpaste in their mouth? Is now a good time to bring up the age-old debate of the proper way to get toothpaste out of the tube? On one end, we have bottom squeezers that flatten the tube and press upwards.

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Then there are the middle squeezers who like to press the plump part of the tube. They also seem like the kind to get this miniature dog head just for funsies.

Take Your Pick

Does anyone else remember the early stage of the 2020 pandemic when people were out buying toilet paper in bulk? The more people felt threatened by the health crises, the higher the demand for toilet paper surged ahead of non-perishable foods.

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This highlights the importance of personal hygiene in a state of crisis. But no level of anxiety makes it okay to have this many rolls in a single toilet. After all, there is such a thing as having too many options.

Statement Earrings

Toilet paper appears to be a recurring theme, and one wonders how many people out there have a growing obsession with the item. If the details on Amazon are to be believed, then they’re a lot more than one could imagine.

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These pretty pair of pearl earrings are the least of our problems. Amazon has novelty dangly earrings that look just like the ones in the toilet. No pearly overlay or some other fanciful attachment. Just paper dangling on a hook.

Careful, It Bites

We have Sir John Harrington, godson of Queen Elizabeth I, to thank for the invention of the flush toilet. In 1592, he created the first water closet with a raised cistern and a small down pipe through which water ran.

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Then 1778 came, and Joseph Bramah of Yorkshire patented the first practical water closet in England. We’ve come a long way since then. But not long enough to realize it’s silly to put teeth on the toilet seat and cover, apparently.

Someone’s Watching

This would make a good start to a horror movie. You know how that story goes. A person enjoys a soothing, warm shower, completely unaware that some dastardly force is going around attacking unsuspecting homeowners.

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Though this photo isn’t a still from such a movie, we can all agree that Halloween seems like the best time to put up such a curtain. Invite friends over and wait to hear the screams when they discover this scary silhouette behind the shades.

Wait, What?!

Say what you will about “The Chronicles of Narnia.” But at least it makes sense for a fantasy world to exist behind the wall of a wardrobe. The logic makes sense because there’s a door opening up into a different place.

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But this is a different situation. At first glance, that looks like a handle on the wall. But a closer inspection would reveal it’s just a piece of tubing that got painted over. It still doesn’t explain why it’s there, though.

Flannel Fan

We know a fan of flannel when we see one, and we appreciate his dedication to the cause. There are so many reasons why people swear by the plaid-like design of this clothing item. When flannel was first designed, it became synonymous with blue-collar workers.

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But it soon went mainstream thanks to its versatility and ease of maintenance, so even white-collar workers began wearing it. Another of flannel’s biggest selling points is that it can be worn by any gender.

Orange Milk

The history of signage dates back to Ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. Back then, different symbols were used to convey messages. Somewhere along the line, the concept of signage made its way into commerce.

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So the more we moved into the era of highly detailed packaging, the more graphic signage became an intrinsic part of customer communication. But the purpose of signs as a way to direct customers fails when a person searching for milk gets directed to the juice aisle.

Seated in Louis Vuitton

There’s a good reason why Louis Vuitton is one of the most successful brands on the global market. And if we’re being honest, there are more than enough reasons to back up this claim. First, its rich and unique history adds to its appeal.

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But history is nothing compared to the superior craftsmanship they showcase in every product. So whoever decided to wrap this set of chairs in the iconic LV print must be a huge fan of the brand.

Shut the Noise Out

Earbuds are all the rage now. Once phone manufacturers began rolling out smartphones without accompanying headphone jacks, it presented an opportunity to phase out wired earphones and adopt a more sophisticated approach.

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This earring is a cheaper alternative to the best noise-canceling earbuds on the market. Want to block out the voices of the people around you? Just pop that orange bit in, and you’re good to go. It also doubles as a pretty accessory, so what’s not to like?