TEDx Talks · The Accidental Brilliance of Makeshift Signs | Kate Canales | TED

1. 1. Designer Kate Canales documents makeshift signs that provide crucial extra instructions for everyday objects where original designs fall short.
2. 2. Canales identifies the creators of these informal instructions as "designers" who intervene to make poorly designed products functional for users.
3. 3. Ubiquitous confusing designs necessitate explanatory signs in common public spaces, such as point-of-sale machines and public bathrooms.
4. 4. Canales's perspective shifted from documenting "bad design" to appreciating these signs as examples of ingenious human problem-solving and adaptation.
5. 5. Imagining the confusion before a sign existed reveals the pressing human need that prompts individuals to create these essential instructions.
6. 6. Canales finds reassurance and humanity in the fact that simple, everyday actions often require informal guidance, signifying our inherent need for mutual support.
7. 7. These makeshift signs represent a legacy of empathy, where individuals proactively leave instructions to improve the experiences of those who follow.