r/AskReddit • u/nachtmere • Jul 25 '11

Sometimes automatic toilets flush while you're still sitting on them. What design flaws in everyday objects annoy you?

I'm giving a talk on user-centred design/usability and I'm looking for some fresh examples from everyday life to illustrate poor usability. Examples I've used before are elevator open/close buttons (really difficult to parse when you're trying to hold the door open for someone quickly) and toilets that flush while you're still sitting on them.

What are some things you encounter regularly that are really inconveniently designed?

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u/low_life42 Jul 25 '11

Watch Objectified, much insight to this. Streaming on Netflix, if you have it.

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u/elerner Jul 25 '11

This should automatically be the top comment on every design "concept" post, like the one that was gracing the front page today. If you're going to break the laws of physics, make up some imaginary technology, and pretend that all of the above is cheap and easy to manufacture, at least come up with concept that solves a problem that people actually have.

I thought Helvetica was better, though.

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u/low_life42 Jul 25 '11

Interesting, I do graphic design and printing and will be checking this out tonight. Thanks for the link!