Imagine this: You visit a website to buy software, but the buttons are confusing, the checkout process feels like a maze, and pop-ups keep getting in your way. Frustrated, you leave. That, my friend, is bad user experience (UX) in action.
For B2B businesses, bad UX isn’t just an annoyance—it’s lost revenue, damaged reputation, and unhappy customers. In a world where your competitors are just one click away, good UX isn’t optional. It’s your competitive edge.
In this post, we’ll break down 12 real badly designed UX examples, dissect why they failed, and share actionable lessons you can use to avoid the same mistakes. Whether you’re building enterprise software, SaaS platforms, or mobile apps, these insights are pure gold.
What Is User Experience Design (UX Design)?
Before we dive into bad design examples, let’s clarify what user experience design is.
UX design is the process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and overall interaction between the user and your product. It’s not just about making things look pretty (that’s UI). It’s about making things easy, intuitive, and delightful to use.
For B2B products, this means:
- Simplified workflows
- Clear navigation
- Fast-loading interfaces
- Logical information architecture
Poor UX design can lead to ux failures where users struggle, get frustrated, and eventually churn. Now, let’s see how even the biggest brands get it wrong.
12 Bad UX Examples to Avoid (Real-World Lessons)
1. Snapchat’s Infamous Redesign
- What went wrong: In 2018, Snapchat overhauled its interface, merging stories and private messages. Loyal users hated it. The layout was confusing, with no clear navigation.
- Lesson: Don’t fix what isn’t broken. Radical UX changes without user testing can lead to massive backlash. Evolution beats revolution in UX apps.
2. LinkedIn’s Notification Overload
- Problem: LinkedIn bombards users with too many notifications, many of which feel irrelevant.
- Lesson: Prioritize meaningful interactions. Bad designed notification systems can overwhelm and annoy professional users. Opt for quality, not quantity.
3. Amazon’s Cluttered Product Pages
- Issue: Amazon’s product pages are packed with ads, recommendations, and too much information, leading to decision fatigue.
- Lesson: Simplify the path to purchase. In B2B, poor design examples like information overload can kill conversions.
4. Spotify’s Hidden Features
- Fail: Many useful Spotify features (like song credits or queue management) are buried deep in menus.
- Lesson: Surface your best features. Bad design examples of hidden functionality reduce product value.
5. TikTok’s Confusing Privacy Settings
- UX failure: TikTok’s privacy settings are hard to find and harder to understand.
- Lesson: Transparency builds trust. Especially in B2B, real badly designed privacy UX can be a deal-breaker.
6. Facebook’s Complex Settings Menu
- What’s bad: Facebook’s settings are scattered across multiple submenus, making it frustrating to navigate.
- Lesson: Group related functions logically. UI/UX design examples should prioritize clarity.
7. Microsoft Teams’ Cluttered Interface
- Problem: Teams has a busy, cluttered interface that overwhelms new users.
- Lesson: For collaboration tools, simplicity is key. Poor design examples like this hurt onboarding.
8. Instagram Prioritizing Reels Over Photos
- UX Fail: Instagram’s shift towards Reels pushed photo content aside, alienating core users.
- Lesson: Understand your audience’s primary needs. Don’t let trends dictate your entire UX strategy.
9. Discord’s Notification Chaos
- Pain point: Discord’s default settings flood users with constant notifications.
- Lesson: Give users control. Customizable notifications are essential in modern ux apps.
10. Airbnb’s Hidden Total Costs
- Bad design example: Airbnb often shows base prices upfront, with fees revealed much later.
- Lesson: Be transparent. Hidden costs damage trust and hurt UX credibility.
11. Uber’s Confusing Surge Pricing
- UX failure: Uber’s surge pricing indicators are sometimes unclear, leading to user frustration.
- Lesson: Communicate pricing clearly. Especially for B2B SaaS, real badly designed pricing UX can deter customers.
12. Reddit’s Poor Mobile Experience
- What’s wrong: Reddit’s mobile app suffers from inconsistent navigation and outdated design patterns.
- Lesson: Optimize for mobile. In B2B, many users access tools on the go—don’t neglect their experience.
Common Reasons Behind UX Failures
Even the most successful brands with huge design teams can fall victim to bad UX examples. But why does this happen so frequently? Let’s dig into the core reasons behind UX failures so you can recognize—and avoid—them in your own products.
Top Causes of UX Failures:
1. Ignoring User Feedback
Designing without listening to real users often results in bad design examples that fail in real-world use. Continuous feedback is key.
2. Prioritizing Looks Over Usability
A product that’s pretty but hard to use is real badly designed. Functionality should always come first in ui/ux design examples.
3. Overcomplicating Simple Tasks
Complex user flows frustrate users. Good ux apps simplify actions, while bad ones add unnecessary steps, leading to ux failures.
4. Poor Information Structure
Disorganized content creates confusion. Poor design examples often stem from weak information architecture that misguides users.
5. Lack of Mobile Optimization
In B2B, mobile experiences matter. Products that ignore mobile users deliver bad UX examples and risk losing valuable engagement.
6. Neglecting Accessibility
Accessibility isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” Failing to consider users with disabilities leads to ux failures and excludes a significant portion of your potential audience.
For B2B products, these missteps lead to lost deals, increased churn, and negative brand perception.
How to Avoid Bad UX in Your Product
No business wants to be remembered for bad UX examples. Whether you’re building SaaS platforms, enterprise apps, or B2B websites, delivering a smooth user experience is non-negotiable. Here are five practical ways to prevent UX failures and create products your users will love.
1. Start with User-Centric Research
Before designing anything, invest time in understanding your users. Conduct surveys, interviews, and usability tests to avoid assumptions that lead to bad design examples. Real user insights help shape intuitive ui/ux design examples.
2. Simplify Workflows & Reduce Friction
Users want to complete tasks quickly. Overcomplicating simple actions results in real badly designed flows. Focus on minimizing steps and creating seamless navigation across your ux apps and platforms.
3. Prioritize Accessibility & Inclusivity
Designing only for a small segment of users is a fast track to poor design examples. Ensure your product is accessible to all, including those with disabilities. This not only broadens your reach but also enhances overall usability.
4. Test, Iterate & Validate Continuously
Skipping testing is the biggest reason behind ux failures. Regular usability testing with real users uncovers pain points early. Iterate based on feedback to avoid launching badly designed features that frustrate your audience.
5. Foster Collaboration Across Teams
Great UX is a team effort. Encourage collaboration between design, development, and product teams. Misalignment often results in disconnected experiences and bad UX examples that hurt your brand reputation.
Key Takeaways: What We Can Learn from Bad UX Examples
Every product team dreads seeing their app listed among bad UX examples, but there’s valuable insight to be gained from these failures. Here are the key lessons businesses—especially in the B2B space—should remember to avoid falling into the same traps.
1. User-Centered Design is Non-Negotiable
The best ux design examples prioritize real user needs, not internal assumptions. Badly designed products often fail because teams forget who they’re designing for. Always involve your users early and often.
2. Simplicity Drives Adoption
Complex, cluttered interfaces are common bad design examples. Users appreciate simplicity. Especially in ux apps and B2B tools, a clean, intuitive flow keeps users engaged and improves overall satisfaction.
3. Accessibility is Part of Good UX
Ignoring accessibility creates poor design examples that exclude entire user groups. Designing for inclusivity benefits all users and helps your product stand out in a competitive market.
4. Consistency Builds Trust
Inconsistent design patterns, labels, and navigation confuse users. Many ux failures happen because products lack cohesive design standards. Consistency enhances usability and strengthens brand credibility.
5. Testing Prevents Expensive Mistakes
Skipping user testing leads to really badly designed features making it into the final product. Frequent testing ensures you catch usability issues early, saving time, money, and your product’s reputation.
6. Collaboration is the Key to Success
Disjointed efforts between design, development, and business teams are often behind notorious bad UX examples. Cross-functional collaboration ensures a smoother, more user-friendly final product.
7. Mobile-First is No Longer Optional
With more users accessing products via mobile, ignoring mobile optimization is a critical oversight. Many bad UX apps fail simply because they don’t deliver a smooth mobile experience. B2B users expect the same quality on every device.
FAQs
1. What is user experience design?
User experience design (UX design) focuses on creating products that provide meaningful and relevant experiences to users. This involves improving usability, accessibility, and interaction quality across digital touchpoints.
2. What are some common bad UX examples?
Examples include Snapchat’s confusing redesign, LinkedIn’s overwhelming notifications, and Amazon’s cluttered product pages. These are bad designed UX examples that frustrate users and hurt engagement.
3. How can poor design examples hurt my B2B business?
Bad UX increases bounce rates, reduces conversions, and damages your brand’s reputation. In B2B, where decisions are high-stakes, ux failures can cost you valuable clients.
4. What’s the difference between UI and UX?
UI (User Interface) refers to the visual design of an application—buttons, colors, typography. UX (User Experience) is about the overall feel of the interaction, focusing on usability and functionality.
5. How do I improve UX in my SaaS app?
- Conduct regular user research
- Simplify complex workflows
- Prioritize mobile optimization
- Focus on accessibility
- Iterate based on real user feedback
6. Why do big companies still make UX mistakes?
Often, big brands prioritize business goals (like ad revenue or new features) over user needs. Rushed timelines, siloed teams, and lack of proper user testing also contribute to real badly designed UX apps.
Final Thoughts
User experience design is no longer optional, it’s essential for any successful digital product. Many of the most common bad UX examples stem from overlooking real user needs, overcomplicating flows, or ignoring accessibility. These ux failures not only frustrate users but also damage your brand and impact revenue. By learning from these mistakes and focusing on clear, user-centered design, you can avoid creating poor design examples and build ux apps that truly serve your audience.
For B2B businesses especially, investing in strong ui/ux design examples pays off with higher user satisfaction, increased adoption, and stronger client relationships. Remember to prioritize usability, test frequently, and foster collaboration across teams to deliver seamless, efficient experiences. Avoiding these common pitfalls will help your product stand out for all the right reasons, not as one of those real badly designed apps everyone talks about.