Learning Environments
woodshop demo
2015
In 2016 at Georgia Tech, during the 2nd Annual Student Shop Managers Conference, a team of graduate students shared the results of a brief experiment on how to get people to read signs in a shop setting.
Cats.
The only approach that made a noticeable difference was putting pictures of cats on or near the sign to be read. However, at some point there are too many cats in your shop and the effect wanes.
I prefer larger signs and fonts for how to exist in the room at all, specific SOPs taped to machines, and Log Lady from Twin Peaks reminding everyone to clean up sawdust, chips, and even logs.
I also placed panels of Lauren Purje's "Artist Comics" around quieter areas like the tool room door and the art method books above the sink.