Unpleasant Design

abstract

Screws placed on steps of entrance doors. Benches with seating spaces limited by armrests. Spikes and pointy elements on window sills, traffic signs and co. — what are these "design-elements"? Why are they being used? And most importantly, whom are they being used against? Unpleasant Design is slowly creeping into our public space, pushing certain groups of people out of our sight. Yet, design is supposed to help us solve problems, right? In our paper we are addressing the question of what unpleasant design is, who is behind it and why designers and architects are supporting this ideology instead of dealing with the social problems that urgently require solutions.