When Icons Go Rogue: A Cautionary Tale in Instruction Design

Good iconography should make assembly instructions clearer—not unintentionally alarming. In this example, the designer appears to have reached for a simple cordless drill icon but accidentally selected something… far more dramatic. The result? A symbol that looks unmistakably like an Uzi sub machine gun.

The mix-up creates a humorous moment, but it’s also a perfect reminder of why visual accuracy matters. A single misplaced icon can completely shift the tone of a design—from “no power tools required” to “please leave your submachine gun at home.” Always double-check your assets, especially when your audience is already stressed about assembling furniture.