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People Share The Baffling Products That Clearly Aren’t Used By Their Designers
By Mikelle Leow, 26 Jan 2021
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Image via Shutterstock
How many inventions do we use every day that could have been designed better?
Internet users are sharing the mini frustrations they’ve been experiencing with products that people generally take for granted, in response to a Reddit discussion started by user TheTenthDimension, who asked, “What’s your best example of ‘Whoever designed this must not use their own product?’”
Some of their grouses are applicable for a small subset of products, like a counterproductive sleep mode and a doorbell that hilariously “rings ‘dong-ding.’”
The more irksome design flaws are the ones plaguing entire product types, like the hard-to-reach adjusters behind bras and touchscreen car volume controls that distract drivers from the road.
One user doesn’t think the pop-up toaster is the best thing since sliced bread, as its thermal surface doesn’t fully cover the slice. The appliance also tends to brown toast unevenly.
If you’re up for some minor annoyances, check out some product design gripes below.
Televisions that cannot function without their remote controls
Image via The Simpsons
Comment from discussion willbeach8890's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
Bras, with their flimsy straps and unreachable adjusters
Image via Nestled Nostalgia
Comment from discussion Aphid61's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
A sleep mode that triggers another light
Comment from discussion ArtemisJQ's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
Card readers that can’t read your card
Comment from discussion Brancher's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
Unfriendly job application portals
Comment from discussion theshoegazer's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
Pop-up toasters
Image via Soft & Gentle
Comment from discussion Moist_Examination811's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
Peel-off lids
Image via SpongeBob SquarePants
Comment from discussion junglesgeorge's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
Touchscreen volume controls in cars
Comment from discussion picksandchooses's comment from discussion "What’s your best example of “whoever designed this must not use their own product”?".
[via George Takei, cover image via Shutterstock]
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