Messages Crossed

Design Fail! Here’s a perfect example of how placement and layout can completely change the message. In both of these church signs, the use of the cross — meant as a powerful and sacred symbol — accidentally alters the intended meaning.

For the TWA Church, the cross unfortunately stands in for the letter “T,” but when combined with the rest of the wordmark, it creates a whole new (and unfortunate) word. Meanwhile, the Jesus Cares sign accidentally turns into Jesus Scares thanks to how the cross interrupts the text flow.

These are great reminders that in design, even good intentions can lead to unintended interpretations. Always step back and look at how symbols, shapes, and text interact — your message might be saying more than you think!