# Designs with unintended interpretations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388 "2017-04-13T17:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/1 "2017-04-13T17:04:52Z")
Every once in a while I see something; a car, a picture, a building, etc., and my brain makes a mental connection that I really doubt that the designers imagined would be made. Every time I see [a new Lexus](http://www.carbodydesign.com/media/2014/04/Lexus-LF-NX-Concept-Front-Spindle-Grille-Design.jpg), I see Hitler’s moustashe. I’d like to see some of the odd connections you’ve made between ideas based on nothing but visual cues. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/2 "2017-04-13T21:06:39Z")
That Lexus is more Darth Vader. Ugly, ugly car. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/3 "2017-04-13T23:44:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Every once in a while I see something; a car, a picture, a building, etc., and my brain makes a mental connection that I really doubt that the designers imagined would be made. Every time I see [a new Lexus](http://www.carbodydesign.com/media/2014/04/Lexus-LF-NX-Concept-Front-Spindle-Grille-Design.jpg), I see Hitler’s moustashe. > > I’d like to see some of the odd connections you’ve made between ideas based on nothing but visual cues. Oddly enough, I see Winston Churchill. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/4 "2017-04-14T00:01:55Z")
I agree with Burpo. There’s a company called [The Growbiz](http://www.thegrowbiz.com/) that I really don’t think intended to have their logo call to mind what it does (and this from a straight female who usually doesn’t spend a lot of mental time in the gutter). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/5 "2017-04-14T00:17:13Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I agree with Burpo. > > There’s a company called [The Growbiz](http://www.thegrowbiz.com/) that I really don’t think intended to have their logo call to mind what it does (and this from a straight female who usually doesn’t spend a lot of mental time in the gutter). Brings to mind a certain episode of, “Everybody Loves Raymond.” ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/6 "2017-04-15T18:07:44Z")
There used to be a trucking company named National. Every time I saw their logo I couldn’t help thinking all it needed was a swastika to look just like the Luftwaffe logo. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/7 "2017-04-15T18:14:35Z")
There was a toy Harry Potter wand that vibrated. I’ll leave it to your imagination but this toy did not seem appropriate for children. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/8 "2017-04-15T18:36:08Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > There was a toy Harry Potter wand that vibrated. I’ll leave it to your imagination but this toy did not seem appropriate for children. Close. It was a [broom](https://www.methodshop.com/2003/12/harry-potter-broomstick.shtml). Unless there was more than one vibrating Harry Potter product. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/9 "2017-04-15T20:30:38Z")
Courteney Cox wore a dress on an episode of \*Friends \*that had what I consider to be an [unfortunate design placement](http://celebritypictures.wiki/images/0005486/0005486_40.jpeg). (I couldn’t find a picture of the entire front of the dress, but you get the idea.) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/10 "2017-04-15T20:47:40Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Courteney Cox wore a dress on an episode of \*Friends \*that had what I consider to be an [unfortunate design placement](http://celebritypictures.wiki/images/0005486/0005486_40.jpeg). (I couldn’t find a picture of the entire front of the dress, but you get the idea.) That is an unfortunate placement, but I would find preprinted encircled armpit stain more vexing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/11 "2017-04-15T20:49:32Z")
I see two… the bloom of flowers from her vagina and the rings of sweat underneath her armpit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/12 "2017-04-15T20:50:25Z")
The Edsel front grill. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/13 "2017-04-15T20:50:43Z")
::shakes fist at two many cats:: ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/14 "2017-04-15T21:04:31Z")
Just google [“Bad Logos”](https://www.google.com/search?q=bad+logos&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2tODArafTAhUCRiYKHcisCIQQ_AUICCgB&biw=1125&bih=696) and you’ll find so many “phallic and worse” logos. What’s really jarring is walking down the street in Tokyo and [seeing one of them in real life!](http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/c_limit,w_680/fl_lossy,pg_1,q_auto/tfxqxeohqfo4f4oj11oz.jpg) [Here’s a good repository of bad decisions…](https://www.geckoandfly.com/12975/bad-company-logo-design/) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/15 "2017-04-15T21:27:02Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I agree with Burpo. > > There’s a company called [The Growbiz](http://www.thegrowbiz.com/) that I really don’t think intended to have their logo call to mind what it does (and this from a straight female who usually doesn’t spend a lot of mental time in the gutter). In the same vein, the [Trump Ocean Club](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Panama_08_2013_Trump_Ocean_Club_Tower_7090.JPG)in Panama City is (rather surprisingly) the reverse of phallic. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/16 "2017-04-15T21:33:16Z")
Stomping out the Nazis: [https://www.google.com/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/14/us-shoe-company-recalls-boot-swastika-prints-apologises-obvious/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/14/us-shoe-company-recalls-boot-swastika-prints-apologises-obvious/amp/) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/17 "2017-04-15T21:35:16Z")
There is also this rather unfortunate [Coca-cola](http://www.zamboanga.com/z/images/c/c9/SWAK_SA_KAINAN_COCA-COLA_RESTAURANT_Layac_%2CDinalupihan%2C_Bataan.jpg) campaign I saw signs for when I was in the Philippines. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/18 "2017-04-15T21:55:20Z")
Well, when you’re competing against Bathing Suit Girl, you gotta go all out and let the guys know you’re _serious_ about your Coca-Cola products… and meat being placed in your mouth… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/19 "2017-04-16T00:22:05Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > Stomping out the Nazis: [https://www.google.com/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/14/us-shoe-company-recalls-boot-swastika-prints-apologises-obvious/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/14/us-shoe-company-recalls-boot-swastika-prints-apologises-obvious/amp/) There was also the [Hitler tea kettle](http://business.time.com/2013/05/29/jcpenneys-hitler-tea-kettle-sells-out-online/). I don’t even own a tea kettle, but I wanted to buy one. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388/20 "2017-04-16T01:55:14Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > There was also the [Hitler tea kettle](http://business.time.com/2013/05/29/jcpenneys-hitler-tea-kettle-sells-out-online/). I don’t even own a tea kettle, but I wanted to buy one. That’s a bizarre Time Magazine subtitle. “Oh, you mean THAT Adolf Hitler!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designs-with-unintended-interpretations/784388.md?page=2)