Aaaack! Why would you...no! NOoo!
March 24, 2014 9:02 AM Subscribe
The Uncomfortable. A treasury of poorly designed things.
There's something about this that reminds me heavily of my time working at the MoMA Design Store.
I strongly believe that people would not only buy this stuff, but brag about its superior design elements, if MoMA were to sell any of it.
(Also, I agree, if that Oreo is wrong, I don't want to be right.)
posted by Sara C. at 9:06 AM on March 24, 2014
I strongly believe that people would not only buy this stuff, but brag about its superior design elements, if MoMA were to sell any of it.
(Also, I agree, if that Oreo is wrong, I don't want to be right.)
posted by Sara C. at 9:06 AM on March 24, 2014
I saw this set a while back and was amused at most of them (the Oreo wasn't in the set I saw... I agree it would be awesome) but I still don't get the last one. What's wrong with that brush? Is it just that the handle is too thin or too short?
posted by kmz at 9:09 AM on March 24, 2014
posted by kmz at 9:09 AM on March 24, 2014
Oh these are great. Although "furry plate" is almost definitely inspired by Le Déjeuner en fourrure.
posted by griphus at 9:09 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by griphus at 9:09 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
Oh these are great. Although "furry plate" is almost definitely inspired by Le Déjeuner en fourrure.
Yeah. Man Ray's "Cadeau" is also lurking in the background of a lot of these.
posted by yoink at 9:11 AM on March 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yeah. Man Ray's "Cadeau" is also lurking in the background of a lot of these.
posted by yoink at 9:11 AM on March 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
A treasury of poorly designed things.
I was kind of hoping this would be a compendium of actual bad product designs that made it to market.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:13 AM on March 24, 2014 [20 favorites]
I was kind of hoping this would be a compendium of actual bad product designs that made it to market.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:13 AM on March 24, 2014 [20 favorites]
What's wrong with that brush? Is it just that the handle is too thin or too short?
Hint: It's a push broom for floors.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:14 AM on March 24, 2014
Hint: It's a push broom for floors.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:14 AM on March 24, 2014
See also Jacques Carelman, especially his Coffeepot for Masochists, which you can actually buy.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:17 AM on March 24, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by hydrophonic at 9:17 AM on March 24, 2014 [7 favorites]
I assume it's part of the joke that the full-screen button on the photos is on the top right and the close button is on the bottom.
posted by transient at 9:24 AM on March 24, 2014 [16 favorites]
posted by transient at 9:24 AM on March 24, 2014 [16 favorites]
If I saw that wine glass, I'd grasp it by the stem using my left hand with the opening facing away from me, bend my elbow to tilt the glass almost-upside-down (not enough to spill) with the opening facing me, then take the bowl in my right hand and sip the wine.
You would be so jealous of how smooth I made it look.
posted by straight at 9:52 AM on March 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
You would be so jealous of how smooth I made it look.
posted by straight at 9:52 AM on March 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
#9 is how I feel every time I sit in a cellist's chair.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:52 AM on March 24, 2014
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:52 AM on March 24, 2014
I saw a link to this collection buried in some Reddit chatter... a followup comment referred to it as, "An illustrated analogy of what it's like to use PHP."
Best. PHP. Analogy. Ever.
posted by mindsound at 9:54 AM on March 24, 2014 [5 favorites]
Best. PHP. Analogy. Ever.
posted by mindsound at 9:54 AM on March 24, 2014 [5 favorites]
That Oreo is actually a great illustration of the only possible way that Oreos could be more disgusting than they already are.
posted by invitapriore at 9:58 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by invitapriore at 9:58 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
This happens in my dreams. A lot. I try to get someplace I've been before and the passage gets narrower and narrower until it's impassable. I've tried to figure out why I have this recurrent theme in my dreams, to no avail.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:09 AM on March 24, 2014
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:09 AM on March 24, 2014
If that were a double chocolate oreo, I might go for it.
However, I can totally see all sorts of genuine practical uses for that triple door (built-in toddler or pet gate, for example).
posted by thomas j wise at 10:17 AM on March 24, 2014
However, I can totally see all sorts of genuine practical uses for that triple door (built-in toddler or pet gate, for example).
posted by thomas j wise at 10:17 AM on March 24, 2014
The watering can looks like it's scratching its head, baffled about its purpose in life.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:22 AM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:22 AM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm uncomfortable with the site design. And the lack of commentary and explanation.
I'm also unclear about the context. These are examples of designed products the site's authors have found/discovered and are sharing?
Or these are examples of uncomfortable designs the site's authors (a design firm) have created to practice up/fatten their portfolio?
Leaning toward the latter.
One thing is clear. I'm a grump. And I'm uncomfortable with that, too.
posted by notyou at 10:45 AM on March 24, 2014
I'm also unclear about the context. These are examples of designed products the site's authors have found/discovered and are sharing?
Or these are examples of uncomfortable designs the site's authors (a design firm) have created to practice up/fatten their portfolio?
Leaning toward the latter.
One thing is clear. I'm a grump. And I'm uncomfortable with that, too.
posted by notyou at 10:45 AM on March 24, 2014
The wine glass is a hiccup cure.
posted by clavicle at 10:45 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by clavicle at 10:45 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
Not knowing what things are does tend to make them uncomfortable. Because my first instinct is to try to wear them as a hat.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:51 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:51 AM on March 24, 2014 [3 favorites]
Also! #7 is how it felt to get stuck with The Worst Chairs in the Band Room, aka wedgie chairs. Hard plastic with a palm-size hump in the center front of the seat. THE WORST. I'm heartened that I can't find a picture and displeased by the vivid sense memory I'm having right now.
posted by clavicle at 10:55 AM on March 24, 2014
posted by clavicle at 10:55 AM on March 24, 2014
> I'm uncomfortable with the site design. And the lack of commentary and explanation.
Well done, you found #24.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:18 AM on March 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
Well done, you found #24.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:18 AM on March 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
clavicle, I think those butt-molding ones are called tractor seat chairs. I've always read them as being chairs for really really dumb people. Might as well be labeled with a little sign that says HINT: ASS GOES HERE
posted by phunniemee at 11:23 AM on March 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 11:23 AM on March 24, 2014 [4 favorites]
The wine glass would let you drink in the rain without your wine getting watered down. Very practical.
posted by arcticseal at 12:14 PM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 12:14 PM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
Or these are examples of uncomfortable designs the site's authors (a design firm) have created to practice up/fatten their portfolio?
Yes. And to create something interesting and to communicate ideas about design. And to have fun.
posted by hydrophonic at 12:28 PM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
Yes. And to create something interesting and to communicate ideas about design. And to have fun.
posted by hydrophonic at 12:28 PM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
It's missing a fur-lined sink in which to wash the furry plate.
posted by vespabelle at 1:42 PM on March 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by vespabelle at 1:42 PM on March 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'd like to add a spectacularly bad "wheelchair accessible" bathroom stall design I used to see quite frequently, but which has mostly been eradicated by the ADA.
The stall door was wide enough for a wheelchair, sure, but the stall itself was the same uniform width. What this required the wheelchair user to do, then, was begin his or her transfer and rotate 180 degrees in midair before landing on the toilet.
If there were ever a Paralympic X-Games, there would be your charter event.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 3:19 PM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
The stall door was wide enough for a wheelchair, sure, but the stall itself was the same uniform width. What this required the wheelchair user to do, then, was begin his or her transfer and rotate 180 degrees in midair before landing on the toilet.
If there were ever a Paralympic X-Games, there would be your charter event.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 3:19 PM on March 24, 2014 [2 favorites]
What are the cups with strainers?
They look disturbingly like sink drain strainers.
posted by bad grammar at 4:52 PM on March 24, 2014
They look disturbingly like sink drain strainers.
posted by bad grammar at 4:52 PM on March 24, 2014
That's exactly what they are, the description:
The mug is perceived as a strainer sleeve. A bit pesimistic and maybe nauseating, I decided not to include it in the light funny and amusing collection of images i usually do.
I don't know about other folks, but a sink strainer is the last thing I would want to be eating/drinking from. Also they make me uneasy the same way those toilet-puppies from the Windows 7 "Characters" collection of background images do.
posted by mcrandello at 9:45 PM on March 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
The mug is perceived as a strainer sleeve. A bit pesimistic and maybe nauseating, I decided not to include it in the light funny and amusing collection of images i usually do.
I don't know about other folks, but a sink strainer is the last thing I would want to be eating/drinking from. Also they make me uneasy the same way those toilet-puppies from the Windows 7 "Characters" collection of background images do.
posted by mcrandello at 9:45 PM on March 24, 2014 [1 favorite]
Didn't do much for me, except for the key, just the thought of which makes my fingertips queasy.
posted by nickzoic at 10:14 PM on March 24, 2014
posted by nickzoic at 10:14 PM on March 24, 2014
The site design led me astray at first; the main image wasn't up yet, just a tiny "wait" spiral, and I thought the thumbnails at the bottom were it. So I spent a minute or two trying to figure out what was supposed to be the super-obvious defects in the Citroën dealership or the seaside villa, but was stumped.
posted by Harald74 at 3:01 AM on March 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Harald74 at 3:01 AM on March 25, 2014 [2 favorites]
The site design led me astray at first; the main image wasn't up yet, just a tiny "wait" spiral, and I thought the thumbnails at the bottom were it. So I spent a minute or two trying to figure out what was supposed to be the super-obvious defects in the Citroën dealership or the seaside villa, but was stumped.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one confused.
posted by talitha_kumi at 6:11 AM on March 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
Glad to hear I'm not the only one confused.
posted by talitha_kumi at 6:11 AM on March 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
those toilet-puppies from the Windows 7 "Characters" collection of background images
hahahaha I would never have described them like this but now that I've heard it it's the only thing that fits.
My computer monitor is my TV, so the desktop background is a fairly large focal point in my living room and generally always on. An ex of mine was super freaked out by the toilet puppies, and would shriek and turn the TV off any time they came around.
I've always found them cute, in an I'm-going-to-wear-your-spleen-like-a-hat kind of way.
posted by phunniemee at 6:47 AM on March 25, 2014
hahahaha I would never have described them like this but now that I've heard it it's the only thing that fits.
My computer monitor is my TV, so the desktop background is a fairly large focal point in my living room and generally always on. An ex of mine was super freaked out by the toilet puppies, and would shriek and turn the TV off any time they came around.
I've always found them cute, in an I'm-going-to-wear-your-spleen-like-a-hat kind of way.
posted by phunniemee at 6:47 AM on March 25, 2014
Reminded me of Jeremy Hutchison's Err, posted previously.
posted by Kabanos at 10:03 AM on March 25, 2014
posted by Kabanos at 10:03 AM on March 25, 2014
The wine glass would let you drink in the rain without your wine getting watered down. Very practical.
A straw would make 100% of the drinking vessels comfortable.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:53 AM on March 25, 2014
A straw would make 100% of the drinking vessels comfortable.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:53 AM on March 25, 2014
I'm picturing a tube closed off on both ends with two holes in the middle.
posted by griphus at 11:14 AM on March 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 11:14 AM on March 25, 2014 [1 favorite]
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posted by phunniemee at 9:03 AM on March 24, 2014 [7 favorites]