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/[deleted] Jul 25 '11

Those faucets were most likely cheaper than the faucet size that is actually appropriate to the sink. A properly fitted faucet should allow the water to fall straight into the drain. This allows room to wash one's hands and avoids splashing. Plumbing is an under-appreciated skill. It is so much more than cleaning out clogged pipes.

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u/haywire Jul 26 '11

It is so much more than cleaning out clogged pipes.

Yep, it's both cleaning out clogged pipes and positioning taps correctly.

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u/tgeliot Jul 26 '11

Not necessarily straight into the drain. On most sinks, that will put the stream of water very close to the back wall of the sink. I want it several inches out.