God is in the details, they say. But so is the devil. Especially when you’re hungry and drained after yet another bender day in this wild, wild world. And though jerk packaging designs do not apply solely to food, but come in many shapes and product categories, they are the solid reason why so many of us have some level of trust issues.
Like, putting three salami tranches on the side of a pizza so that it gets a “window view,” shining like a diamond out of the package, is borderline bearable. We bear this injustice only because we know it can get worse. Like a wrap packaged in such a way that it looks ⅓ bigger than it truly is.
So Bored Panda has compiled this list as a safe place to talk about shamelessly evil packaging designs that have been spotted all over the world. And even if the phenomenon is more or less universal, it doesn’t mean it’s okay. On the contrary, it serves as a reminder that it can always get worse than your chocolate box with 50% of the candy discreetly concealed from the packaging because it doesn’t exist.
Psst! More infuriating packages that boil even the most Zen blood of all can be found in our previous articles here and here.#1
1001 Stickers And 768 Of Them Are Useless Squares. Thanks, Disney
Mishi_Moshi Report475pointsPOST
Woets5 days ago
Love that you counted them163ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#2
Tricked By The Packaging Of My Moisturizing Cream
Bail-Me-Out Report474pointsPOST
Hollysmom5 days ago
Happens all the time. Always read the amount/ oz’s etc… I open the packages too170ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#3
Is Anyone Else Bothered By Deceptive Packaging Like This?
This is Fine5 days ago
Aren’t the majority of women’s cosmetics deceptively packaged?252ReplyView More Replies…View more comments
Bored Panda reached out to Portugal-based graphic designer Laura Vanagaite who specializes in branding and illustration design. Laura said that deceptive packaging like the ones you see in this post is really a way to trick the human mind.
“Once we see unique photos of food and drinks, our mind creates the impression that the volume of the contents is greater than it actually is.” This anticipation is destroyed as soon as you open the package. “And once we find out that the reality is different, we feel the disappointment,” Laura explained.
When asked why there is still so much deceptive packaging sold in the shopping aisles, Laura said that this is a clever marketing technique. “Brands know that beautiful imagery sells and that catchy photos with great products create the illusion which will help to sell it fast.”#4
My Sister Got This For Her Birthday
GatorMaster2112 Report453pointsPOST
Hollysmom5 days ago
What a rip off.186ReplyView More Replies…View more commentshttps://af7b0a3c3688caf281cc4da484ba9dd4.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html#5
Bought These Sticky Notes Cause I Thought The Gold Border Was Nice
KarmasDoll Report452pointsPOST
Hollysmom5 days ago
Thats horrible. Back they go157ReplyView more comments#6
The Sticker Was A Lie
S. Tor Storm5 days ago
the sticker was microwave safe I guess :p156ReplyView More Replies…View more comments
However, the alluring impression of the deceptive packaging is temporary. Laura says that in order to establish a bond with your loyal customers, brands should employ functional and trustworthy designs. It’s what allows them “to create a feeling of security between them and their customer.”
When it comes to the right kind of packaging design, Laura explained “that all areas of design have a purpose to solve a problem and provide trust to the user.” This means that user-friendly packaging should have features like safety and enhanced usability, be appealing and optimal, and fit the specific customer requirements.
“Every good design needs to be functional, practical, and represent the brand itself in a good way.” But that doesn’t mean it should be boring, on the contrary. In addition to all the features mentioned before, efficient packaging has to grab the consumer’s attention.
This is where the product and packaging designers come into play. “The designer has the ability to make the design stand out by using shapes, colors, orientations. These are key in making it clear to the consumer what the brand is about and what its purpose is.”#7
Ahh Yes, Reality Is Often Disappointing
Hello it Smee5 days ago
Looks like a roll with a rat turd in the middle.171ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#8
“Printed All Over” And Deliberately Leaves The Pattern On The Outside Of The Package
Hollysmom5 days ago
Now this is blatantly false188ReplyView More Replies…View more commentshttps://af7b0a3c3688caf281cc4da484ba9dd4.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html#9
Rolling Stone Presents (39 Of The) 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time
Ty Stratton-Quirk5 days ago
They say “Always read the fine print”, but I never thought that would apply to the front cover of a book…150ReplyView more comments#10
Natural My Foot
93arkhanov93 Report385pointsPOST
80 Van5 days ago
It turns out this is due to a quirk in Indian food safety standards that allow only non-processed foods to be called natural without using the disclaimer. The company assures its customers that the sugar is indeed natural, but it is processed from sugar cane juice to sugar. https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/companies/not-its-true-nature-parrys-explains-disclaimer-on-its-natural-brown-sugar-7004201.htm97ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#11
Both Weigh 500g But The Green One Is In A 30% “Bigger Bag More To Share”
AApickleAA Report365pointsPOST
Aahzmandus Pervect5 days ago
Yes, more bag to share.198ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#12
So Thankful For My Singular Candy Topping
troufaki135 days ago
Well, it is candY topped, not candIES!180ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#13
Thought I’d Buy Some Colored Pens. Turns Out Every Single One Of Them Has Blue Ink
desperate_ly Report359pointsPOST
Hollysmom5 days ago
Would like to see the packaging161ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#14
Bought A Ball Pit For My Baby
wandile dludlu5 days ago
Blatant false advertising… there is no baby in the actual package544ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#15
This “Box” Of Beef Jerky
Raine Soo5 days ago
Yes, this is deceptive, but always remember to check the weight of the content.106ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#16
How Can They Even Call This “Non-Dairy?”
thatcadiegirl Report339pointsPOST
banana man5 days ago
someone is probably gonna die from this143ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#17
Sales Genius
RaroaRaroa5 days ago
Wishbone in New Zealand does this.53ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#18
This Cashew Packaging. I Was Wondering Why My Hand Instantly Hit The Bottom When I Opened It
DiggyKalborn Report317pointsPOST
Hollysmom5 days ago
Just wow72ReplyView more comments#19
Bought A Coloring Book And Pencils To Keep Myself Busy While I’m Off Work. Thought These Were Full-Size Pencils
Hello it Smee5 days ago(edited)
It has a built-in sharpener for what? To make them even tinier.116ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#20
New Packaging (Right), Same Quantity
RaroaRaroa5 days ago
Disgusting. Anything that uses more plastic to pack something than is absolutely necessary is just awful. Arggh, this is making me so mad! Who are these people?!208ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#21
800 Pieces. Yeah Right. The Box Is Half Blocked And 550 Pieces Are Tiny Dot Pieces. My Son Was Not Happy
robstraightedge Report307pointsPOST
Hollysmom5 days ago
People need to regularly post this kind of thing to warn others and stop companies from doing things like this220ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#22
New Means What’s Inside Is Not New
Vic5 days ago
L’O-UNREAL126ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#23
I Was Wondering Why This Watermelon Juice Tasted So Weird
spamtarget Report305pointsPOST
Tomas Holicka5 days ago
A misprint perhaps? It mentions three ingredients which are not in and apple, beetroot, carrot and ginger is a perfectly ok juice on its own…72ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#24
Brand New Protein Powder, Not Even Filled Half Whey
Furious_Flames Report300pointsPOST
Sleazy Weaver5 days ago
Ha! Love the pun. At least you *gained* something from this experience.175ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#25
My Mother Ordered 1000 Plastic Blocks For Her Nephews. Ended Up Receiving 523
Katrina5 days ago
They actually counted the bricks? They deserve a refund231ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#26
Bought Some Eye Makeup, Just Realized One Of The Eyeshadows Isn’t Safe For Eyes. Found Out Via White Print On A White Background
“Not intended for use in the immediate eye area”
PmMeYourFear Report298pointsPOST
Lorelai Purvis5 days ago
uuuhhhh… well that’s not right92ReplyView more comments#27
I Guess The Meatballs All Just Wanted A Window Seat
Grumble O’Pug5 days ago
I would get a refund104ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#28
8% Alcohol Or
CucumberWizard Report284pointsPOST
Foxxy (The Original)5 days ago
Super dodgy.108ReplyView more comments#29
Tesco Is Selling “Flushable” Wet Wipes Which Are “Harmful To Aquatic Life”
HarryMedawar Report281pointsPOST
Foxxy (The Original)5 days ago(edited)
ALL “flushable” wipes are harmful and should NOT be flushed because they still don’t break down well and clog up pipes and it is awful for the environment. These should be illegal to be called flushable.282ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#30
New Cereal Box Is 11% Taller With 1.6% Less Cereal
RaroaRaroa5 days ago
More wasteful packaging. How do the people who come up with these ideas sleep at night. A lot of cereal boxes are half empty. Not only would it save on cardboard, the plastic for the bag inside and the ink, if it were more realistic for the contents, it would also be cheaper to freight because they’d fit more boxes in a truck.150ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#31
No, It’s Not Bigger. It’s Of Same Size
ctp_obvious Report267pointsPOST
James0165 days ago
Doesn’t say what they are comparing it to. Is there some small print saying its now bigger than a pea?99ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#32
This Box Of Mostly Sticks With Some Matches In It
Hollysmom5 days ago
Just wow. That may actually be a production problem214ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#33
Disappointment
Draiman402 Report265pointsPOST
Enuya5 days ago
Everybody: “Uhh, this packaging is terrible.” Me: “Is this… CATAN on the second picture? Yay, let me play with you!”132ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#34
“Made In U.S.A”
wandile dludlu5 days ago
The case is made in the USA… we can’t actually trust them to make the important stuff.201ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#35
9 Sticker Rolls. One Mildly Infuriated 7-Year-Old
MrsPlague33 Report259pointsPOST
RaroaRaroa5 days ago
These are the worst. Unfortunately there is always a new generation of parents who are clueless enough to fall for them so they keep making them.103ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#36
Some Acrylic Paints I Bought
LeeKellyLK Report258pointsPOST
RaroaRaroa5 days ago
Not only is this deceptive, but it’s producing extra packaging for nothing. You know that package and all the paint tubes are going to still be on this planet long after all of us are dead and gone.124ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#37
Went To Poundland And Had The Choice Between These And After Eights, Got These Cause They We’re Bigger, I Paid For Air
Raine Soo5 days ago
Always check the comparative weights, not the size of the boxes.157ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#38
Pain
banana man5 days ago
sad58ReplyView more comments#39
Actual Size Is Not The Actual Size
relishmypickles Report226pointsPOST
Hollysmom5 days ago
Well that’s really blatantly false92ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#40
Coloring Kit That Is 90% Empty And Counts Each Piece Of Paper As One Piece In 100 Pieces
RaroaRaroa5 days ago
Always pays to read the contents list. This kind of item usually has one.72ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#41
Coloring Book For My Son
PhotosByDrew Report204pointsPOST
Kaisa5 days ago
Primary colors plus one free. What more could you want.66ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#42
Sneaky Packaging Cheating Us
tenebralupo Report202pointsPOST
James0165 days ago
That’s just really sh**ty given how much they charge for blades117ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#43
Package Of The Cheese vs. The Cheese Itself
Hollysmom5 days ago
All the time.44ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#44
One Of The Blocks Isn’t One Of The Blocks
golden-potato Report189pointsPOST
Couldnt_Find_A_Good_Name5 days ago
But can we appreciate the amount of effort put into making that piece of cardboard into looking like a block?115ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#45
Xtreme Jerks I’d Say
Mohsie Supposie5 days ago
They both say they are 60g.61ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#46
This Sour Batch Candy Bag Felt Oddly Light
KevroniCoal Report187pointsPOST
Raine Soo5 days ago
This is a complete waste of packaging.95ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#47
These Were Locked In A Glass Case Facing Forward So You Couldn’t Just Read The Back Before Purchase
Taylor-Cox-TLC Report184pointsPOST
Foxxy (The Original)5 days ago
You can ask to read the box before purchasing.90ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#48
This Pizza Tastes Like False Advertising
Catlady60005 days ago
I’m picturing a sweat shop full of kids frantically rolling 1000s of pizza crusts96ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#49
Even Worse – It’s Stale
RaroaRaroa5 days ago
Why would anyone buy popcorn in a bag, in a box, in a box with a window anyway?137ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#50
Thanks Jetstar For My Large Box Of Pencils
Hollysmom5 days ago
Was this from Wish?60ReplyView More Replies…View more comments
Note: this post originally had 144 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
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Inga KorolkovaiteAuthor, BoredPanda staff
Inga is a List Curator at Bored Panda. She is a Creative Industries graduate and has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. This panda’s mission is to find and cover perfect topics which would satisfy our readers’ curiosity, kill the boredom, or simply make them laugh. As the topics of her lists are so broad, so is Inga’s personal preferences. She loves dogs but can’t resist snuggling a cat, she likes creepy docuseries but also cute animated movies like Zootopia, her music taste varies from Indie Rock to Pop and Rave, she likes relaxing crafts, yet she usually spends her evenings dancing. Read more »
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