We've all encountered products that leave us scratching our heads, wondering what on earth the designers were thinking. From appliances to toys, everyday items can sometimes baffle us with their counterintuitive features. Here, we've compiled a list of user-submitted frustrations and questionable designs that will make you say, "Who the heck designed this?"
“„In my experience - most educational resources/curriculums created by district employees that have never taught, or hasn't taught in 15+ years. The amount of times they give this new fantastic module/tool and it turns out to be an absolute shit show...- kayydeebe
The Never-ending Dishwasher Symphony
One exasperated user shared their frustration with a dishwasher that seems determined to wake the whole neighborhood. The machine beeps loudly at the end of its cycle and continues to do so every 45 minutes until the door is opened. This design choice begs the question: do these designers not consider the possibility of running a dishwasher at night?
“„That's something where technology advanced. Our dryer would beep once done. Not every 45 minutes but continously. My parents would blissfully sleep through that noisw but my bed was directly above. No sleep there.- rechtrecht
Comfort Overload On Carrying Products
How many times have you struggled with a heavy load, only to find the handle of your bag or box is more interested in comfort than functionality? A person pointed out that too many carrying products focus on the softness of the top of the handle, neglecting the side that actually bears the weight. It's a design flaw that seems to overlook the practical needs of people.
“„Omg nothing worse than a heavy-ass grocery basket with JUST those skinny wire handles that dig into your fingers. Bonus points if they pinch your palm- mydogatecheesecake
Toys That Speak Only One Language: EXTREMELY LOUD!
Parents can relate to the frustration of toys with only one volume setting - eardrum-piercingly loud! It's a head-scratcher as to why some toy manufacturers don't consider the sanity of parents when designing their products.
“„I do the same, but after a while even the lower volume turns into a water torture when it’s playing non stop. So I just pull a wire from the shitty soldering job connecting the speaker and blame it on China.- Wet_Sasquatch_Smell
The Printer That Can't Help Itself
A misaligned inkjet printer becomes a paradoxical puzzle when trying to fix itself.
For the printer to work correctly it needs an alignment diagnostic that produces a scan sheet, but if the printer is misaligned, it can't read the sheet. It leaves people stuck in a loop of futility. Even support can't provide a solution, leaving us to wonder if anyone tested this feature before release.
“„Tried replacing the cartridges? You may have a faulty print head on one. Happened to me (though mine wasn’t one of the self scanning alignment ones).- Farting_snowflakes
Educational Resources From A Different Era
Teachers in schools are given curriculums by district employees that have never taught, or hasn't taught in 15+ years, resulting in very low quality curriculum.
“„In my experience - most educational resources/curriculums created by district employees that have never taught, or hasn't taught in 15+ years. The amount of times they give this new fantastic module/tool and it turns out to be an absolute shit show... wild...- kayydeebe
Trunk Troubles In Chevrolet Cars
For some Chevrolet owners, a dead battery presents a unique challenge. The trunk won't open, and there's no keyhole or release cable. The battery itself is located in the trunk, making this design choice particularly baffling.
“„Oh god, on a similar note: the 2004 Chrysler Intrepid, where, to get to the battery, you have to either remove the air filter, which barely gives access to the battery, so the real way of doing it is to remove the tire.- LastMountainAsh
The Conundrum Of Women's Underwear
A common complaint revolves around the placement of critical components in women's underwear. It seems that the part meant to catch what it's supposed to isn't positioned optimally. A lady even hinted at a potential business opportunity to address this widespread frustration.
“„Wait, it’s not just me? I just assumed I had some kind of weird anatomy where the discharge took the path to the clit and not just straight down- Femme99
A Cargo Bag's Sticky Situation
One unfortunate man discovered a critical flaw in their waterproof cargo bag. The Velcro meant to protect the zipper was merely glued on, resulting in a disastrous first attempt at opening the bag. It's a clear case of inadequate product testing and a questionable cost-cutting measure.
“„In order to be waterproof it probably needs the glue. That being said it should probably be both glued and stitched.- fuzzy11287
The Shower Door Dilemma
Sliding shower doors with overlapping sections pose a cleaning conundrum for many people. Removing and cleaning the entire door becomes necessary, highlighting a design oversight that sacrifices user convenience.
“„Utterly disgusting. The house I rent had them, I removed them shortly after moving in and put up a regular curtain. The doors are in the garage and I'll reattach when I leave.- CookinCheap
HP Printer Drivers - A Continuing Saga
It seems that the struggle with HP printer drivers is a tale as old as time, spanning several decades. People continue to grapple with software that leaves them questioning whether these drivers were tested in real-world scenarios.
“„Let me guess - does it also ask you to download a downloader so that you can download the download with the manufacturer's own special download tool?- lmea14
"Tear Here" Troubles
Ever noticed that the "tear here" markings on packages never seem to align with the package's actual weak point? It's a small annoyance that adds up over time, leaving peoples to wonder why manufacturers can't get it right.
“„I know! The «resealable» flaps folds in on itself and becomes both non-sealable and too narrow to cover the opening.- toru_okada_4ever
Fridge Filter Fiasco
Changing the water filter in some refrigerators presents an unnecessarily arduous task. The filter is located behind the refrigerator, requiring my brother to pull out the heavy appliance to access it. It's a design choice that prioritizes convenience for the machine over the my brother.
“„Our Samsung fridge came with the house. It looks nice but none of the features really work. Ice machine doesn’t work. It doesn’t fill up the water jug that it comes with. And the filtered water has the most disappointing stream that takes 5 minutes to fill up a cup.- underthesea345
The Mischievous Iron
A lady shared their frustration with a new iron that has an unexpected feature: a restart if tipped over after timing out. This design quirk leads to potential safety hazards, especially if the iron is accidentally knocked over.
“„This is how my iron was and now I feel stupid for never thinking how dangerous it was. I ended up replacing it with the cheapest piece of shit ever because it was the only iron I could find without an auto-shutoff. I mostly use my iron to sew, so it was driving me crazy having to keep tipping the iron so it would reheat for every hem I needed to press.- SquareSquirrel4
Trash Can Troubles
Even the humble trash can fall victim to baffling design choices. A man described a trash can specifically designed for larger, stronger trash bags, only to find that it sacrifices functionality for aesthetics. It's a perfect example of how form should never trump function.
“„Get rid of it and get a new trashcan. Life is too short to deal with these kinds of annoyances.- Sarsmi
Conclusion
These user-submitted frustrations highlight the importance of user-centered design. Manufacturers and designers would do well to consider the practical needs and preferences of their consumers. After all, a well-designed product not only solves a problem but also enhances the user's experience. If you've ever encountered a product that left you questioning the designer's choices, you're not alone. It seems there are plenty of head-scratching designs out there that have us all saying, "Who the heck designed this?"