6 embarrassing examples of bad kerning

Forget how to draw or how to start a blog, in this post we're concentrating on how to kern type. Or not. Every now and again, we come across signs, logos, posters, etc, displaying questionable kerning. Some are frustrating, some are cringeworthy and some are just downright funny.

Here are some of the worst examples we've seen. Let them be a lesson to you: kerning is very important! Here's how not to do it...

01. STOP

Examples of bad kerning

This stop sign conjures a different kind of road rage altogether. Whoever painted this little gem was clearly having an off day and should've just, well, stopped.

02. Excuse me?

From afar, the 'c' and 'l' blur in this insurance company's billboard (which has since been taken down) leading a lot of people to read that they should cover their homes in a 'dick' rather than a 'click'. Bad times.

03. Funny. Not.

OUR EYES! OK, so we know this is a deliberate, ironic example of bad kerning, but this design still does what it says on the tin and drives us to distraction.

04. 'Special' lighting

We wonder how many people bought these with an idea that they'd end up with something other than just 'Flickering Lights'?

05. For professionals...

Let's hope the sign writers of this design have nothing to do with any of said construction. So bad, it's funny. Kind of.

06. Stop M, yeah?

We're not entirely sure what we're bothered by more, the appalling kerning or terrible punctuation. No, wait, it's the kerning. Definitely the kerning.

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