18 Everyday Products That Are Poorly Designed

Some objects make it very difficult for you to use them properly. It leads to a bad user experience which beats its purpose. Badly designed products negatively impact the human experience and create additional obstacles for the user.

Microwaves

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Microwaves often come with numerous buttons. It creates unnecessary complexity. Manufacturers may mistakenly believe that more buttons enhance the product’s appeal. However, it is frustrating to try to navigate through all those buttons just to heat leftovers after a long day at work.

Handheld Shopping Baskets

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The handle’s central position in handheld shopping baskets makes it challenging to carry them without spilling out items. This disrupts the shopping experience. You end up awkwardly shifting the basket around, trying to find a comfortable grip while hoping nothing falls out and embarrasses you in the store aisle.

Umbrellas

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Umbrellas protect only the head and shoulders from the rain. It usually leaves the rest of the body exposed. Despite their intended purpose, they often fail to provide full coverage during downpours. You are left with wet clothes and shoes. This defeats the entire purpose of using an umbrella in the first place.

Serial Wired Fairy Lights

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Untangling serial-wired lights requires patience due to the delicate bulbs arranged in a single row. A single wrong pull can easily damage the fragile bulbs, prolonging the untangling process. It is like a puzzle that tests your patience, especially when you want to decorate your home for the holidays without all the hassle.

Glass Ketchup Bottles

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Glass ketchup bottles are notorious for difficulty in dispensing the desired amount of ketchup. Extracting the last drops from the bottle can be particularly frustrating. It leads to waste and inconvenience. You end up shaking and tapping the bottle like a magician trying to perform a trick just to get a little extra ketchup out.

Cereal Carton Boxes

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Opening cereal boxes can be surprisingly challenging. It often results in spills and messes. The varying amount of glue used to seal the boxes makes it difficult to predict the force required for opening, leading to breakfast-time mishaps. It is like a morning obstacle course, where one wrong move sends cereal flying everywhere.

Airline Boarding Passes

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Airline boarding passes are often poorly designed. It causes confusion among passengers. Unlike clear and accessible presentations, these passes tend to complicate the boarding process. It adds unnecessary stress for travelers. You find yourself frantically searching for the gate number and departure time amidst a sea of confusing information.

TV Remotes

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Television remotes still lag in the digital age. It makes navigation a frustrating experience. Despite advances in technology, there is no search function in the guide. This forces users to scroll endlessly through options. The archaic keyboard layout on remotes adds to the inconvenience. This leaves users longing for a more intuitive interface.

USB Ports

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Plugging in a USB stick is often a hit-or-miss endeavor, requiring multiple attempts even with familiar devices. The absence of color-coded ports adds to the confusion. This leaves users struggling to insert their USB sticks correctly. It is a small design flaw that leads to unnecessary frustration in our daily tech interfaces.

Nail Clippers

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Nail clippers that scatter clippings everywhere create more mess than they solve. The stress of collecting stray nails adds to the grooming routine. It disrupts the process of self-care. The design of nail clippers is a design oversight that leaves users scrambling to clean up after each use.

Identical Currency Notes

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Uniform American dollar bills can easily lead to mix-ups, especially in fast-paced transactions or dimly lit environments. The lack of visual cues for different denominations adds an extra layer of complexity to everyday transactions. It confuses both buyers and sellers. This design flaw complicates our monetary interactions.

Toothbrushes that You Can’t Put Down

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Despite the wide range of toothbrush options available, from wide-handled to electric, there is one flaw that remains unaddressed. No matter the design, toothbrushes always seem to topple over when you try to set them down on their backs. It is a small inconvenience that adds graduation to our daily hygiene routine.

Public Toilets

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Public toilets are riddled with design flaws, from hand flushes that promote the spread of germs to temperamental toilet paper dispensers that test our patience. The lack of clear instructions on operating unfamiliar devices turns handwashing into a guessing game. It leaves users frustrated and germ-conscious. It is a series of design missteps that make even the most routine bathroom visit a daunting experience.

Motion Sensor Faucets

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Motion sensor faucets promise convenience and hygiene but often require users to perform a delicate dance to activate them. Misaligned sensors and inconsistent detection make handwashing a tedious task, forcing users to wave their hands repeatedly in search of the sensors. It is a small inconvenience that detracts from the intended ease of use.

Lack of Pockets on Women’s Pants

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Women’s pants often lack functional pockets. This forces users to resort to carrying purses or bags for their essentials. The absence of pockets limits convenience and freedom of movement. It leaves users frustrated with the impracticability of their clothing. This design issue perpetuates gender disparities in fashion. It leaves women longing for more practical wardrobe options.

Stickers on Fruits

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Stickers of fruits may seem harmless, but their stubborn adhesion makes them a nuisance for consumers. The struggle to remove them without damaging the fruit adds an unnecessary step to the preparation process, leaving users frustrated with their produce. This design oversight complicates an otherwise simple task.

Clothing Labels

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Clothing labels, while informative, often irritate the skin and are difficult to remove without damaging the garment. The discomfort caused by scratchy labels detracts from the enjoyment of wearing new clothes. It leaves users longing for a seamless experience.

Push and Pull Doors

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Confusing door designs, such as pull bars on both sides leave users uncertain of the correct operation. The lack of clear visual cues adds to the ambiguity. It forces users to guess whether to push or pull and leads to moments of hesitation and awkwardness.

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