Design Failures

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What are Design Failures?

Design failures – as the name implies – are designs that have completely failed. From time to time, designers fall flat on their faces and create solutions that are outlandish and impractical.

Mistakes happen and poor choices are made. The best thing to do is to learn and move on.

Sometimes, a design may fail regardless of the designer’s skill level or execution. For example, even if the user interface is exquisite and the information architecture is logical and intuitive, there is still a chance that the design may fail. Why? The design needs to be adopted and accepted by the target audience.

The spectrum of design failures ranges far and wide. But one thing is for sure, mistakes are a natural part of creativity and the best thing you can do is learn from them.

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  • Mike Rohde: Experience and Interface Designer, author of the bestselling “The Sketchnote Handbook.”

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All Free IxDF Articles on Design Failures

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Design Failures - Article hero image
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Design Failures

Steve Jobs once said: ''Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.'' Normally, we like to showcase great design but there’s a lot you can learn from dreadful design too. We don’t think Steve Jobs had anything to do with the 30 howlers that follow. From lousy usabi

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Bad UX Exposed: A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls - Article hero image
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Bad UX Exposed: A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls

In today’s vibrant digital design landscape, creating meaningful connections with users goes beyond offering innovative products or services. It leads us into the world of user experience design (or UX design). This critical factor shapes our interaction with the users and plays a big role in making

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What the Numbers Missed: 4 Times Personas Could Have Saved Millions - Article hero image
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What the Numbers Missed: 4 Times Personas Could Have Saved Millions

Numbers answer a big question—"What?” What is the problem? What happened when we did this? “What” gives us so much. It contributes to important decisions that improve people’s lives and business outcomes. But numbers cannot answer another big question—"Why?” Why is this a problem? Why did this happe

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Design Failures

Design Failures

Steve Jobs once said: ''Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.''

Normally, we like to showcase great design but there’s a lot you can learn from dreadful design too. We don’t think Steve Jobs had anything to do with the 30 howlers that follow. From lousy usability to no utility we’ve got all your design failures covered here.

Check out the ATM below. You have to wonder what the designers were drinking before they let this leave the drawing board. Perhaps, there is an abundance of giants in their neighborhood? It’s the only reason we can think of for letting this go ahead…

1. When you really need to examine the time in 3-dimensions

2. A bit of a bum deal for this children’s playground

3. Thou shall not pass!

4. Social Media.. Social Toilets... is this the next big thing?

5. It’s probably time to take the stairs…

6. These people always see something positive

7. A door into the unknown

8. In case of fire, please… find somewhere else to put it out.

9. The urban rollercoaster, no seat belts available.


10. The serial killer’s playground


11. We’re on the escalator to nowhere… come on and bump.

12. Architectural masterpiece


13. All you need now is an all-terrain wheelchair…

14. Hey Marty Mcfly is this your house?


15. See no evil!

16. How about proofreading it first?

17. You probably don’t want to do this…

18. Will it be fried eggs or a trip to hospital tonight?

19. The order in which you put the words really matters.

20. This bird is twice as hungry as other birds…

21. The family that should have bought better life insurance?

22. The new look for alien life forms this spring!

23. Big Brother is watching you!

24. And they say pride goes before a fall…

25. East is the new South!

26. Kevin from “Home Alone”: We don’t need spoilers like this…

27. Venn Diagram: Has there ever been such a clear case of doing it wrong?

28. We know a few parents who might adopt this as their slogan

29. IKEA usability case.

30. Take a step into the unknown.

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