Table of Contents

( Newest bad designs) ( Coolest bad designs)

Introduction

Things

1. Things that don't work the way you expect
   • Kitchen timer
   • This is a mop sink
   • That's not a handle!
   • How do you open the toothpaste?
   • Trapped between the doors!
   • Out of order?
   • How do you open the refrigerator?
   • Opening the file drawer
   • Dead battery
   • Don't press any buttons underwater
   • Coffee machine
2. Different things that are too similar
   • What's in the bottle? (Example 1)
   • Hey, which side do you use for cutting?
   • Plugging in a USB connector
   • Canned tuna
   • Yellow street lights
   • What's in the bottle? (Example 2)
   • Which way does the door open?
   • Can opener
   • Where is a soup spoon?
   • Why doesn't the marker cap fit?
3. Things that are hard to see
   • What's wrong with this intersection?
   • Please push slowly!
   • Doors without windows
   • Watch your step!
   • Staplers
   • Is it inside out?
   • Oh, that's how you open it!
   • Push to start
   • Needle in a haystack
   • Where are the stamps?
   • What's wrong with this toy?
4. Things that don't work well together
   • Try to plug in this hair dryer
   • Hiding the radio
   • Mechanical pencils
   • Top-loading VCR
   • Paper towel dispenser
   • Video rentals
   • A reach-around mirror
   • Cutting board
   • Wet sink
5. Things that get in your way
   • The path of least resistance
   • Please use sidewalks
   • Watch out!
6. Things that are hard to handle
   • Smooth as glass
   • Self-service parking attendant
   • Hard to open
   • Bad news for left handers
7. Things that are hard to remember
   • Which side has the gas cap?
8. Steps that are hard to remember
   • Do not open
9. Things that don't fit you
   • There's coffee on your nose
10. Things with "ergonomic" designs
    • Ergonomic toothbrush?
11. Things that take too long to respond
    • What time is it?

Displays

1. Different displays that are too similar
   • How fast am I going?
   • How much is the gas?
2. Displays that look like controls
   • Labels that look like pushbuttons

Controls

1. Incompatible mapping of controls to devices
   • Guess which switch controls the projector screen?
   • Entryway
   • Stove top controls
   • How do you play the CD?
2. Unexpected placement of controls
   • Where are the window controls?
   • Where's the flusher?
   • Brake release
3. Controls that work in unexpected ways
   • How do you raise the window?
   • Understand the umbrella stand? 
4. Controls that are too close together
   • Oops, I popped the trunk lid by mistake
5. Inconsistent control activation
   • How do you unlock the door?
   • Windshield wiper controls
6. Controls that are hard to figure out
   • Raising the driver's seat
7. Controls that are hard to remember
   • Which control turns on the fan?
8. Controls that are too far away from devices
   • Hot water dispenser
9. Unnatural ordering of control settings
   • Lamp switch
10. Hidden controls
    • How do you turn on the shower? (Example 1)
    • How do you open the gas cap door?
    • Getting the elevator to go to your floor
    • Raising the window shade
    • Auto ceiling lights
11. Too many controls
    • How do you turn on the shower? (Example 2)
12. Unexpected mapping between functions and controls
    • Go or whoa?
    • Which way do you turn the handles?
13. Controls that are too easy to activate
    • Don't press that button!
14. Controls that are too easy to activate accidentally
    • Who left the coffeemaker on?
    • The phone keeps disconnecting!
    • Cheek music
15. Controls that have unexpected functions
    • Ejection seat
16. Controls with conflicting cues
    • Turn down the TV
    • How do I set allegro
    • Water faucet
    • This phone's broken
17. Controls with conflicting feedback
    • More coffee or less
18. Controls with ambiguous labels
    • Making a photocopy
19. Controls with unintuitive labels
    • What do these symbols mean?
20. Controls that are too similar to each other
    • Yikes! I pressed the call button again!

Signs, Names and Labels

1. Ambiguous signs
   • Don't go to the right?
   • Maximum occupancy not to exceed 182 persons
   • Men's room sign
2. Different names that are too similar
   • Street names
3. Patterns of signs
   • Ok, which code do I write down?
   • Which way is the gate?
   • Where did we park the car?
4. Missing labels
   • Which number is it?
5. Signs that are hard to see
   • Camping or not?
6. Incompatible mapping of labels to connectors
   • Where do you plug in the mouse?

Common Questions and Answers

Recommended Books

Credits

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Copyright © Michael J. Darnell 1996-2010. All rights reserved.

Last updated on May 2, 2010