Something that is deemed “ugly,” “tacky,” or “bizarre” can immediately be a turn-off. However, they can also stand out for various reasons. According to game design consultant Joe Mares, grabbing attention can override aesthetics.
“In a sea of ‘safe’ design decisions, tacky or weird things stand out. It doesn't mean they're good, but it does mean they get your attention,” Mares told Bored Panda. “If something doesn't quickly grab our attention, it may as well not even exist, so in that sense it's not the worst thing in the world.”
Licensed therapist and Pacific Coast Therapy founder Kaila Hattis shared a similar sentiment. As she explained, asymmetry draws attention, which means “bad” things can evoke a reaction.
“The opposite in two things usually attracts people more than the similarity. Therefore, something unexpected can draw attention and spark interest,” Hattis said. “In my opinion, 'bad' taste is a strange and unusual combination that is designed to look bad but somehow doesn’t because of the author’s skill.”
Intentional unconventionality and poor design are almost polar opposites. According to Mares, the difference lies in the distinction between design and art: something well-designed is often intended for consumption and achieves its goal purposefully.
“(Most well-designed objects are) meant to be useful or even just pleasing to the eye. There is no wasted space. It is efficient and simple. That's usually what beauty is. Art, on the other hand, can be open to interpretation and may not have any actual use, and can be unnecessarily excessive, whether it be clothing or entertainment media.”
Meanwhile, Hattis says it is all about intention. She points out that even something conventionally displeasing to the eye can look attractive if its creator clearly expresses their intentions.
“If a person clearly understands what they want to convey to the audience by creating this thing, their concrete intention makes it look more interesting. It is essential to find details that will help the viewer connect emotionally with the work of art or design,” she said.
The people whose works were featured on the subreddit likely wanted to stand out by creating something unusual. However, there is a method to the madness to achieve success. According to Mares, authenticity is at the root of it all.
“Once you've established that, hone it for usefulness, usability, aesthetic, and/or purpose. You can serve both audiences here: those looking for something unique, while not offending the senses.”
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Hattis, by contrast, is all about being expressive. She says this helps the beholder understand what they are looking at, even when it borders on strange.
“Good taste is good, but I believe that to increase the effect of ‘bad’ taste, it is necessary to emphasize the expressiveness of the work. To highlight the ‘bad’ taste, one should carefully consider all the details and make the work unique.”
