What Makes a Design a Bad Design?

Bad design is boring. It doesn't challenge the user to think, and instead emphasizes making the interaction between product and user as effortless as possible. As a web designer, I often find myself analyzing the sites I visit, which can be both frustrating and inspiring. It's important to recognize bad design decisions so that we can avoid making the same mistakes.

When designing a product, it's important to communicate what it is and why people should want it. Additionally, attention to detail is key. If something as simple as a parking sign in Los Angeles requires Googling, then the designer hasn't done their job properly. I recently came across the Yale School of Art website, which is a great example of poor design.

It's ugly and outdated, but that's not the worst part. It's likely part of a marketing campaign, but it fails to capture the visitor's attention or explain what the site is about before they visit it. On the other hand, JioSaavn is one of the best-designed online music platforms out there. With 139,420 graduates, the Interaction Design Foundation is also one of the world's largest online design schools.

Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer, came up with his idea of good design in the late 70s called “10 Principles for Good Design” which is still relevant today. By being inspired by bad design decisions, we can make sure that we don't make the same mistakes and create better experiences for users. Good design should challenge users to think and be creative while also making sure that the interaction between product and user is smooth.