people are actually unhappy with taliyah's design?

Personally? Just don't like her character and story. Seem very fan character-esque.

Are we talking design standpoint or just personal opinion?

IMO Jinx was the last hot character we got. Kalistas kind of a ghost/ghoul so thats gone, reksai aint even human or humanoid like nami so thats gone and something about Illaois voice just turns me off of her (I also find her boring as shit to play though so that might have something to do with it).

From a design standpoint, Idk, again kalista has a cool design with the spears sticking out and ghostlike appearence, reksai just looks fucking awesome (A LAND SHARK, not topping that), and I already don't like illaoi enough.

It just occurred to me that kindred is also female. Best looking female champ since kindred or reksai I guess, but that's only above illaoi so its not saying much.

I find it kind of refreshing to not have a female character that's not all boob and flashy (other than kindred, rek'sai, etc), considering that a majority of the female characters in League either have a skin that's very fan service-y or their base design is that way. I also really enjoy her clothing, as it does kind of denote what she's been through on her journeys. I haven't seen much about people disliking her, but then again I don't come onto the boards much.

she looks boring AF

and I can't even make out what her in game model is supposed to be

taliyah is sexy in my eyes yes im quick to these things

I like her look despite how alien her face. I have never seen such facial structure outside of science fiction movies, especially that flat nose that connects straight to the forehead.

Maybe that's why people dislike her face: they instinctively categorise it as inhuman.