50 Dangerous Design Blunders That Put Style Over Safety
Design influences almost everything we interact with daily, from kitchen gadgets to vehicles. It shapes how products look, function, and are safe to use.
A well-thought-out design can make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable, while poor design can lead to frustration or safety issues. In an ideal scenario, designers achieve a balance between practicality and aesthetics.
The best designs solve problems, streamline tasks, and maybe even add a touch of style to our routines. Unfortunately, not all products reach this standard.
Sometimes, design choices can be impractical, awkward, or even hazardous, leaving us wondering how these items made it into production. The internet is flooded with examples of products that missed the mark.
Poorly designed items, from absurd furniture pieces to unnecessarily complicated gadgets, can cause minor irritations or potential health risks. Many design fails have been widely shared on social media for a good laugh and as cautionary tales.
Some of these designs are so bizarre that they seem like jokes, making it hard to believe they were serious attempts at creating functional products. They serve as a clear example of why user-centered design is critical.
An excellent look or quirky concept might grab attention, but it doesn’t guarantee success. Designers must prioritize how a product will be used and ensure it serves its intended purpose safely and efficiently. We've gathered 50 of the most dangerous design blunders.
Designing is not easy...
Pexels"This Dangerous Bike Lane I Came Across While Biking"
TTwerty"Looks Really Safe"
Altruistic-Ferret835"Because Who Cares About Fire Safety, Right?"
th3rstyle"Our Municipality Finally Made Bike Lanes For Us"
sarsina"This Is Just A Plastic Toy, And Not Candy"
cylemmulo"The Glass Globe Of This Light Focused The Sunlight Enough To Burn The Sun's Path Into The Grass"
ExtraGooseGrease
"The Road Planners Must Really Hate Cyclists"
progopis
"Nothing Like The Smell Of Coffee And A Good Eye Stab In The Morning"
CosmeBuzzanito
"This Packaging Seems Dangerous"
felixbeaudrydesigner
"And I Thought Tide Pods Looked Like Candy"
hybridtheory1331
"I Can’t Be The Only One Who Thinks That This Looks Like Protein Powder"
wuzzle98
"A Rental Car That Depends On You Having Cell Data To Be Able To Run"
kari_paul
"New Windshield Completely Blocks Out Red Lights"
Pielacine
"I Can Hear This Image"
12welveCreations
"A Very Useful Ramp"
Ki_ro
"This Soldering Iron Has A Screw On The Handle Directly Connected To The Heat Source. It Was A Burning Surprise To Say The Least"
stim_jerling
"This Back Road Near My House"
esteban_agpa
"I Hope The Electrician Knows The Sprinkler Schedule"
Augustom11
"My Cat Just Trapped Me In The Bathroom By Opening A Drawer"
LaztheFox
"When Your Security Gate Is A Ladder"
pcjcusaa1636
"My Feet Hurt Just Looking At This"
bobmarno
"A Plastic Vent Cover For An Industrial-Strength Heater"
JohnnyCharles
"Why Are Hotels Like This?"
shailla131
"One Is A Toilet Cleaner, The Other Is For Washing Dishes. Choose Wisely"
Jonlevy93
"This Bench. Where I Live It's Very Hot, And It's Impossible To Sit In This Park"
RocketSmash9000
"This Hair Dryer Melts Its Own Casing"
Jovak_
"This Sign In A Hotel Elevator Is A Little Hard To Read"
testsubject1137
"Almost Pulled A Michael Scott While Delivering Groceries Today"
CrumpetLovin
"They Tried To Accommodate Blind People But Failed To See The Problem With This Design"
kerver2
"What Can Go Wrong If We Put The Power Button Next To The Most Used Key? Great Idea, HP Envy"
Sehrengiz
"I'm No Architect, But I Think The Design Needs More Bolts"
mark_s
"Cherry On Top Of The Road"
bdrnglm
"Stainless Steel Bench At The Beach. The Temperature Today Is 31°C."
unfederica
"Car At The Bottom Is Flooded. Car At The Top Has Been Totalled"
Aoibh120
"Removing One Blade Will Definitely Make The Fan Work"
DaNewestGurl
"The Outlet Is Less Than A Foot Away From The Shower And Is Inside The Curtain. Is This Safe?"
Bigger-Chip
"The Electrical Outlet From Hell"
UnfinishedProjects
"The Most Unsafe And Dangerous Design Feature I've Seen In A Hotel"
Rougmeister
"If You Ever Thought Kids Getting Hurt One At A Time Isn't Efficient Enough, Here's An Idea"
etthat
"Bicycle Lane In Paris. The Two White Bumps Are Nearly Invisible Because Of The Paint Camouflaging Them"
blacksun89
"Stoplights In Lake Tahoe Filled With Snow Due To Not Having The Bottom Cut Out To Prevent Snow Accumulation"
Worst_Username_Evar
"Just A Matter Of Time"
WhosBarryBadrinath
"The Entrance To Our Apartment In Berlin"
TurkMcGill
"A Late Night Bathroom Emergency May Become A Real Trip To The Emergency Room"
msnoodlecup
"This Kid-Friendly Hand Sanitizer Package. Looks Like One Of Those Apple Sauce Things, No?"
dank_memed
"A Banana Slide That Trains Your Determination. If You Get Lost, Your Crotch Will Die"
DonnySRT-10
"A Bench At A Metro Station"
Ryuj1san
"A Pop-Up In My Car Telling Me The Dangers Of Taking My Eyes Off The Road, Causes Me To Take My Eyes Off The Road"
JakeTee
"This Power Plug Is Connected Exactly On The Opposite Side Of The Shower"
demonic_eel
"Handicap-Accessible, On The Way Down Maybe...?"
delangle
For every clever product that makes life easier, plenty of others leave us confused. But at least these design missteps give us something to laugh at and learn from.
Whether it’s an app or a household gadget, the focus should always be on how well it works. After all, a sleek design isn’t constructive if the product itself falls short.
These flawed products remind us that creativity must be paired with practicality. So the next time you encounter a frustrating design, remember that someone, somewhere, believed it would work.
