True comedic genius lies in brevity and simplicity. If you can make your audience laugh in just a few seconds, it’s safe to say that you intuitively understand how humor works. Not all lovers of comedy end up doing stand-up, though.

Some of them end up in graphic design. We are featuring some of the most hilariously creative and creatively hilarious signs, billboards, and warnings ever made, as shared on the ‘Funny Signs’ online community. They’re the kind of jokes that are so good that we want to hang them in our living rooms… and we wish we thought of them first!

#1 What A Deal!

#2 Yappy If Not Daisy

#3 I Actually Laughed At The Tsunami Joke

Some people (the lucky ones!) instinctively know how to make others laugh. Others take a more academic approach to comedy, humor, and laughter.

No matter which of these categories you fall into, the fact is that you can learn to amuse and entertain other people. This requires understanding the psychology of humor. And that means getting to grips with incongruity.

Let’s get into it!

#4 If You Can

#5 You Are Here

#6 Ok, Maybe I Should Watch For My Dog

The American Psychological Association emphasizes that, according to research, incongruity is the key ingredient in getting others to laugh. Another vital factor is uncovering an unspoken truth.

Topher Bellavia, a member of the Washington Improv Theater, points out that creating successful scenes means mirroring the world in a slightly askew way.

#7 I Want To Know About The Incident That LED To This Sign

#8 Hmmmmmmmmm

#9 Don't Think It Will Happen

Showing the world from a slightly different perspective means leaning into absurdity and exaggeration.

“Our basic mantra is 'truth in comedy.' People want to see themselves on stage, and they want to see people they know on stage. When they see that, it resonates with them and it causes them, for some reason, to laugh,” Bellavia told the APA.

#10 Stop ❌ Stob ✅

#11 There A 2 Possibilities, One Of Which I Don't Like

#12 Today's Special

And yet, improv pros and comedians aren’t always sure why they make others laugh. It sometimes comes as a surprise to them, too.

“As a performer, [audience laughter] can be very disorienting. Sometimes I'll do something that I don't even intend to be funny, and it will be hysterical to someone,” another member of the Washington Improv Theater, Anna Trester, said.

#13 You Understand Old Man?

#14 Job Ads These Days

#15 This Was At One Of The Dining Halls At My College A Couple Years Ago

According to researcher and psychology professor Rod Martin, PhD, at the University of Western Ontario, incongruity, an idea or object being out of place, lies at the heart of humor.

Furthermore, the juxtaposition of truth and incongruity provides the audience with different perspectives on situations that they find familiar.

#16 Why Is This So Accurate?

#17 Holy Water

#18 I Love My Vet

In a nutshell, humor helps you see the familiar in a fresh, new way by focusing on a mismatch between your expectations and reality.

However, what’s also needed is a playful atmosphere where there’s no threat.

“There could be things that are incongruous, but they aren't funny. Someone walking down the sidewalk and being hit by a car is incongruous, but not funny,” Martin explained.

#19 I Wonder What Kind Of Establishment This Is

#20 Don't Let Anyone

#21 Sign In A Lithuainian Forest

Meanwhile, humor researcher Jyotsna Vaid, PhD, stresses the importance of setting up expectations in jokes, only to go down a different, surprising route.

In other words, you take your audience on a short, playful journey where you give them something unexpected.

“In 'garden path' jokes, you think you are being led in one way but the real humor comes in being tricked,” Vaid said.

#22 This Is Not A Trash Can?

#23 Too Many Fish In The Sea Anyway, Joke

#24 I'd Plant Some Pork Chops Too

In the meantime, communications professor David Ritchie, PhD, at Portland State University, noted that people’s enjoyment of humor largely comes from the fun of going through the mental gymnastics of getting to the true meaning.

However, Martin explains that if you want to go further than a chuckle or two, you need to provide a perspective on unspoken or even uncomfortable truths.

There’s a lot of depth to be found in pointing to things that everyone knows but won’t speak about. There is one caveat, though: you won’t find the truth funny if you don’t agree with it.

#25 They May Want To Rethink This One

#26 A Rather Unfortunate Name For His Choice Of Profession

#27 Make Good Decisions

The ‘Funny Signs’ community has been amusing and entertaining the entire internet for nearly a decade and a half.

It was created way back in April 2012. Now, more than 14 years later, the group still draws in around 53,000 online visitors every single week.

Community members are encouraged to share fresh content while also avoiding faked or forced jokes. We believe it’s this focus on humor and originality is what has helped this group stay relevant throughout the years.