You can always count on people to fill in the blanks #TEDTalks

For over 20 years, I have been taking For over 20 years, I have been taking photographs of signs that help us get photographs of signs that help us get photographs of signs that help us get around everyday situations. Places where around everyday situations. Places where around everyday situations. Places where for whatever reason, we just need a for whatever reason, we just need a for whatever reason, we just need a little extra coaching. little extra coaching. little extra coaching. Signs like this And I've come to see the makers of the And I've come to see the makers of the signs as designers. They're coming in signs as designers. They're coming in signs as designers. They're coming in after the work of the original design after the work of the original design after the work of the original design team to make it so that you can actually team to make it so that you can actually team to make it so that you can actually do the thing that you're trying to do. do the thing that you're trying to do. do the thing that you're trying to do. In this case, unlock a door. In this case, unlock a door. In this case, unlock a door. Sometimes these signs are kind of Sometimes these signs are kind of Sometimes these signs are kind of subtle. You just know what to do. subtle. You just know what to do. subtle. You just know what to do. Other times this sign is actually helping us think. this sign is actually helping us think. We have been so trained to see red as We have been so trained to see red as We have been so trained to see red as danger. Thankfully here someone is danger. Thankfully here someone is danger. Thankfully here someone is letting us know it is just a light letting us know it is just a light letting us know it is just a light switch. I have hundreds and hundreds of switch. I have hundreds and hundreds of switch. I have hundreds and hundreds of photographs like this. You've probably photographs like this. You've probably photographs like this. You've probably seen them already today, especially if seen them already today, especially if seen them already today, especially if you have paid for something.

you have paid for something. you have paid for something. We have a We have a We have a very consistent issue very consistent issue very consistent issue with point of sale machines. seem to really be struggling in the seem to really be struggling in the public bathroom. An inexplicably large public bathroom. An inexplicably large public bathroom. An inexplicably large proportion of my photos were taken in a proportion of my photos were taken in a proportion of my photos were taken in a public bathroom. public bathroom. public bathroom. I could have done the entire talk using I could have done the entire talk using I could have done the entire talk using only public bathroom photos. only public bathroom photos. only public bathroom photos. When I started taking these photographs, When I started taking these photographs, When I started taking these photographs, I really was on a mission to document I really was on a mission to document I really was on a mission to document examples of bad design, the way it examples of bad design, the way it examples of bad design, the way it frustrates and interferes. frustrates and interferes. frustrates and interferes. But I've become much more interested in But I've become much more interested in But I've become much more interested in preserving the signs as examples of preserving the signs as examples of preserving the signs as examples of ingenious human problem solving.