2021 Bad Design Challenge Judging: Winners Announced!

The Bad Design Challenge is a contest where we try to make the absolute worst design possible. Judges: Maria Pitallano: industrial design lead at Intel. Raffi Minasian: designer at Toyota, Subaru, Rolls Royce, Boeing and over 40 years experience in the field. Marc Levinson: startup founder with multiple successful exits.
Check out my online industrial design course, Form Fundamentals: bit.ly/335vsqO
0:00:00-1:13:02 Judging Critique
1:13:03-1:14:19 Winners Announced
Connect with Raffi on LinkedIn: / raffi-minasian-21175
Connect with Maria and check out her work: www.pitallano.com
Connect with Marc on his discord: / discord
Connect with John Mauriello on his discord: / discord
Check out Buu Chau's work here (creator of the spherical tablet): / bd.chau
Bath Tub Toaster by Andrew: / coskeyandrew
Inflatable Dart Board by Coen: / coenkommer
Kedar Benjamin, multi tool: / benjometry
Hannes, Nic Cage Breath Analyzer: / hannesgeipel
RDesign, Carrot Carrying Case: / rhydian.design
James Skoggs, Crank Car: / skoggs_design
Joel M Fleming, Bottle Opener Lamp: / joel.m.fleming
Imran Othman, ergonomic chair: / imranothmandesign
Emilios, I'm Busy Glasses: / farringtonarnas
Poorvesh Dali, Pain Pins: / nope_not_that_dali
Nick Baker, iPhone Cup: / nickpbaker
Gabriel Newton, iPad Printer: / gabrielnewton_
Aidan Oddlok, Cardboard Candle: / aoddlok
Choki Choka, Easy To Use Water Bottle: / b0besp0nja
Join my mailing list to get notified of special announcements: www.studioello.com/mail
Join my discord channel and talk to me: / discord
Follow me on Instagram: / mauriellodesign
Follow me on LinkedIn: / mauriellojohn
Check out my Behance: www.behance.net/mauriellodesign
Want to learn more about my work? Check out my portfolio: www.studioello.com
Want to work with me on a design project? Contact me here: www.studioello.com/about-1
John Mauriello has been working professionally as an industrial designer since 2010. He is an Adjunct Professor of industrial design at California College of the Arts.

[@Sip_107]

Isn't "missing the deadline" just the cherry on top of a bad design, when you look at it from a service perspective? :D

[@Design.Theory]

That's an excellent point. I'll buy some more of her prints to make up for it

[@fuzziau5669]

missing a deadline isnt inheriently bad its dishonest, but not something that always works out if there is a flaw that isn't sought before the deadline, and its basically out of the question as a core feature of the product, they should be able to fix it even if it takes another month to a year. if it means the product comes out as envisioned, then I support it. but if they don't make consistent updates and proof of their progress, then I wouldn't follow their practice

[@asandax6]

Here's another bad design you can use as a joke: You make a computer mouse that's rechargeable but instead of putting the charging port on the front, side, top or anywhere it can be used while being recharged you place it at the bottom. Oh wait that's a real product by Apple Nevermind.

[@Design.Theory]

:O

[@hindigente]

I have never seen an Apple mouse, had to look it up and holy cow, it is in fact true. Not only that, but the shape of the mouse looks way too flat and symmetrical, I'd be surprised if it did not get very uncomfortable to use it for any extended period.

[@dariusus9870]

@@hindigente it's ergonomically OK-ish but the rest of it is horrible. no scroll wheel etc. you can scroll by "touch" which is stupid.

[@kuromaru9661]

Definitely need a rotating nasal carrot holder at home now

[@Design.Theory]

Yes please!

[@circeciernova1712]

I feel like the Nasal Carrot Holder could be better if it was used as a way to get dressing or another topping all over the carrots. Fill the nostrils with a topping like ranch dressing or guacamole, then insert your carrots into the nostrils and thoroughly coat them in your topping of choice. My cousin actually had an inflatable dart board, the darts were suction cup darts. It still didn't work well, the darts mostly just bounced off.

[@Design.Theory]

You are a monster 👹 ;)

[@l0realparis]

this was so much fun to watch and very interesting ! please bring these designers again

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you for watching, we had a lot of fun making it. Maybe I'll have them back on :)

[@juandorna111]

Hahaha that's awesome. I definitely have to do it with friends. It doesn't look like it but it costs quite a bit to do a bad design on purpose. Very good comments from the judges. I had a lot of fun!

[@Design.Theory]

Thank you everyone for participating. I was genuinely impressed by how terrible your designs were. Great job! Special shout out to Buu Chau for her excellent effort. Check out her IG: instagram.com/bd.chau . Also, I'm offering an online course on industrial design language and fundamental design principles. Check it out: bit.ly/335vsqO

[@buuchauchau]

Thanks for the shoutout John! It was a pleasure to join this competition though I wished you showed the smaller entries I've posted including the binary calculator! Cheers to next year's design contest :)

[@Design.Theory]

@@buuchauchau Now you have some entries for next year :)

[@Dreaddisco303]

My grandad used to say that there was a place called “the ministry of crap design” which is where things like leaky kettles and things with handles that don’t fit human hands came from.

[@PeterOeC]

I loved the Bottle Opener Lamp at 1:11:26 Just reading the text: Bottle Opener Lamp - but... why? Big shade for style - ok? Sleek, modern design! - ok, sounds good. Integrated bottle opener - yeah but why? Copper coating to stay protected from shocks! - ... wait, copper is highly conductive! You'll get zapped from this thing! Female outlet adapter - oh great, I can't even plug it in! haha And then the demonstration - you can't open the bottle without spilling over the copper wire - genius haha It was great fun to watch! Hope you'll make more of these :)

[@kaymarrand9970]

Female outlet adapter is even more genius when you realize male-male adapters are not even manufactured due to how profoundly dangerous they would be.

[@Silkroadgermany2]

22:59 - GENIUS! The carrot holder is killing me 😂😂😂

[@davitdavid7165]

I want someone to make the or-bit just to see how the art looks when you try to draw it. The distortion will make things verry interesting.

[@Hgoenge81]

I love the leaning paper candle. Not least because of the built in threat to human lives that comes with their promise of "for every candle sold, one will go to a nursing home or kindergarten "😂 😂

[@Design.Theory]

It's the little things that make the biggest difference

[@welsthe3rd]

I hope you do this again! Ths must have been a fun

[@EbrahimHasan]

Who else came here expecting some Apple products to win by a landslide?

[@oa793]

perfect and late or good and on time, the ultimate choice

[@marc.levinson]

Rohan, I can't believe you've joined in on John's gaslighting. I am definitely the main guy on Honest Unboxing. Watch yourself. ;) Seriously though, it was so great to reconnect with Maria and Raffi, I look up to them a lot.

[@NicholasBaker]

Oh I love John's second channel, Honest Unboxing. Are you a fan? You should check it out.

[@Design.Theory]

@@NicholasBaker Thanks! Yeah, it's by far my favorite endeavor lately. I'm truly grateful to have Marc as my faithful sidekick assistant.

[@marc.levinson]

We'll see what you guys say when the videos never come out again.

[@timcameron9023]

That toaster design has one huge advantage by denying a build up of crumbs inside the toasting body. I'm thinking of a fixed wire rack as a base to hold the bread vertically and a hinged 'toasting body' with handle that comes down onto the toast and then retracts when complete - think we're onto something lol

[@m0nologger]

that chroma corps reference in the meat and two breads one is great!

[@Design.Theory]

Marc loves Sinix

[@zachrodan7543]

not sure what I was expecting... but it definitely wasn't "serious discussions of the superficial problems of these designs, while ignoring the obvious problems that make them painfully absurd to begin with..." me and my laughter are here for it, though...

[@nugenki]

1:11 The true winner for bad design is the violin balancing on the guitar headstock. Props to Raffi if this his humor Actually looks like it's held up with string

[@itisMe04]

It's surprising how many of these I'd consider buying.

[@pavilionman64]

you give a bad idea to someone: he makes a bad design you give it to a designer: he makes a good bad design.

[@zoktoberfest]

With respect to the toaster on the ledge of the bath tub, I would have made the bath tub a toaster. Each toaster slot a narrow tub filled with bath water with one or two respective bather's languishing. A large power cord connecting the tub/toaster to a wall socket. What the hell...since the absurd seems to be the objective than it should be allowed to go where it needs to go

[@milovansluis]

fckn amaizing, loved it

[@xAgonisx]

How have I not known this? What memes. Good competition.

[@Trjsnyr7664]

hey loved the vid, as an aspiring product designer would love to join the discord server but unable to find an invite link it would be great if you could share it

[@Design.Theory]

it's in the description "Connect with John Mauriello on his discord"

[@Trjsnyr7664]

Thank you

[@ta.bespoke]

Mark is genuinely funny

[@arealious25]

Wish I could of participated. I will next time.

[@zachrodan7543]

47:21 That actually seems like a good product.

[@janbarrettnielsen2559]

Why didn't they mention The Red Dot Design Award?

[@yamahargxtt]

The breath drone looks like Jar Jar Binks

[@jdencemcbuilder2134]

I do not regret watching this whole video HAHAAHHA

[@derpsydaisy5202]

Nicholas Cage face mask - "Take my money!"

[@richardtickler8555]

As a mechanical priduct dev the printer gives me shaky hands makes my eyes pop. Too many designers come up with stuff that looks cool but cant work and they say stuff like "challenging the engineers is important". While theres truth to that statement no amount of engineering can fit 1l of liquid in a pen

[@Vinvolve]

The violin leaning on top of the guitar gave me anxiety for sure

[@Design.Theory]

:O

[@cunty]

UNGENOMICS PLEASE

[@sudhanshurai3424]

Isn’t the Reverse toaster obnoxious?

[@Design.Theory]

Incredibly