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School. It’s somewhere we all have to go, whether we like it or not. They could at least make it a pleasant place to be, couldn’t they? Well not really, no. Most public schools are formulaic, functional places that hardly make students want to be there, let alone inspire creativity and the joy of learning.
With budgets being further slashed under conservative governments in the U.S. and UK, the situation in these countries at least isn’t looking up. Not only are students and teachers dealing with boring, dilapidated buildings and classrooms, but many also have to live with shortages of basic materials too, prompting teachers to leave the profession en masse. So much for caring about the next generation!

Bored Panda has collected a list of examples of school designers either taking shortcuts, not caring or needing to go back to school themselves. From thoughtless toilet placements to hilariously offensive murals, these students can at least have a wry chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all.

Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

#1 This School Bus Ad

Image credits: reddit.com

So we’ve seen the consequences of bad design, so what makes for good design? There are a few basic principles to stick to if you want to make sure your design is practical, relevant and makes sense!

According to Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer who was responsible for the design of Braun’s consumer products for many years, there are 10 principles of good design, also known as the ’10 commandments.’ Even though they were written long ago and technology has advanced beyond his wildest dreams, Dieter’s principles still apply today!

#2 New Statue At A Catholic School

Image credits: Carmineld91

#3 Interesting Take For A School Quote

Image credits: Windows_10_Faggot

Furniture designers Vitsoe have worked closely with Dieter Rams for decades, and helpfully summarize his founding principles of good design with the following explanations:

Good design is innovative The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.

Good design makes a product useful: A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

Good design is aesthetic: The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use every day affect our person and our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

#4 It’s Even More Fascinating When This Shit Happens In A Design School

Image credits: raynehk14

#5 “A Man Plowing A Field” On A Local School Building

Image credits: JohhnyTheKid

Good design makes a product understandable: It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory.

Good design is unobtrusive: Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

Good design is honest: It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

#6 The Absolute Crap Design Of My School. This Is The Place Where Every Hallway Intersects

Image credits: LuigiSaysKachow

#7 The Way My School Installed The New Projector

Image credits: Triomat

Good design is thorough down to the last detail: Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the user.

Good design is environmentally-friendly: Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Good design is as little design as possible: Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.

So three you have it, pretty simple right? If you are tasked with designing something and want to avoid the hilarious mistakes found in this list, check these principles off first and you should succeed!