What happens when the design of everyday things misses the mark? People fill in the blanks. Designer Kate Canales has spent more than 20 years photographing the handmade, improvised signs that appear when the original falls short. From perplexing bathroom directions to our struggles with doors and point-of-sale machines, her photos capture something technology can’t replace: our instinct to look out for each other and leave a few instructions behind. (Recorded at TEDNext 2025 on November 11, 2025)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.
Watch more:
TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at
#TED #TEDTalks #Design
@ExistentialWolf
May 18, 2026 at 11:26 am
I suggested Brown Eyed Girl and American Pie … but really everything we harkened to the orbital missions stems from groups like The Five Man Electrical Band. It looks like the predominant theme is “your first one is free” 😉 BTW pay attention to the play between lyrics and _melody._
@tedl7538
May 18, 2026 at 3:12 pm
Well that’s about as off-topic as a comment could be. Observations, Kate? 🤣
@ExistentialWolf
May 18, 2026 at 3:31 pm
@tedl7538 Try something floppy;) Come on out.
@TrainerAshNZ
May 18, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Hard night on the champagne, there’s a bin for that.
@ExistentialWolf
May 18, 2026 at 4:53 pm
@TrainerAshNZ Which one? Sorry, I’m not familiar with the symbols…
@Geniocratic
May 18, 2026 at 2:14 pm
I’m in Japan right now. You would LOVE the signs here, like:
– DO NOT SQUAT ON TOILET SEATS.
– DO NOT THROW TOILET PAPER INTO THE BIN.
@Santiino
May 18, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Nice message.
@akcine
May 18, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Love her!
@com1695
May 18, 2026 at 5:36 pm
For real, sorry — Takada Kenshi.
@rml54
May 18, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Very good, collections can often prove quite interesting- i wish to comment.We set about people who make or design Things are not thinking enough about the use or instructions- they know the info, but either don’t care or are very incomplete in sharing it- i recently wanted to try one of those blue light- light bulbs for the evening- the ones that help cueyour mind that daytime is over- anyway the one that seemed just right, it’s a full size bulb just like I want, but I can only find it in 9 watts- you would think that’s the amount of light for a night light- it does turn out that the box has the amount of lumens listed on it is the key- who’s used to determining which bulb by the number of lumens??? it turns out that this nine watt bulb does indeed equal what we are used to seeing in forty or sixty watts- so my point is this- this company goes to so much trouble to tell you why their blue light bulb is the one you should get and different models They also make and sell, and theirs is the best.And it goes on and on, they don’t see fit to explain this small detail to you, or anyone- i find the fact that instructions or ease of actual use are overlooked phenomenally annoying
@spiralpython1989
May 21, 2026 at 8:06 pm
@rml54 I choose light globes based on the lumens, along with the light temperature.
@rml54
May 21, 2026 at 8:18 pm
Need I say?- bright idea!!!@spiralpython1989
@Schmidtelpunkt
May 19, 2026 at 8:01 am
Wait – there are still TED talks which are not praising AI and/or millionaires giving life advise?
@CitizenKate
May 20, 2026 at 12:43 am
I’ve left signs like this, myself. Good talk, Kate, I love your perspective!
@AlenaLight
May 20, 2026 at 3:51 am
We still need each other 🙏💙🤗
@angelineolaso
May 21, 2026 at 5:05 am
🥹
@LoserHouse
May 21, 2026 at 12:18 pm
and?
@DaisyG33
May 21, 2026 at 2:43 pm
In my later years I’ve become dyslexic. But I recently discovered I am also emoji dyslexic. I recently asked a receptionist for directions to the restroom and was pointed the way. As I approached my destination I noticed a sign which I interpreted as, and commented to myself, “Isn’t that nice, they have a handicap accessible toast and coffee kiosk near the restroom.” What I thought was symbol for toast with a cup beneath I later realized was supposed to represent a toilet. 😂
@jessrosemarsh
May 21, 2026 at 3:36 pm
This is just missing international potty signs – there are much more interesting ones out there, especially in Asia!
@Bazsi-u3d
May 21, 2026 at 4:17 pm
scrolling facebook for eight minutes and not analyzing a single thing.
@PCostello
May 21, 2026 at 4:23 pm
I once marveled at Star Trek. No post it notes, no caution tape on cross over automatic doors, or signs about force fields or turbilifts in effect.
@maxvonboeventer6132
May 21, 2026 at 5:23 pm
I once presumed the service station coffee machine would drop a cup to catch the coffee I had paid for – but instead watched it pour down into nothingness – a homemade sign saying ‘put your own cup here before pressing the button’ would have helped…
@ragetobe
May 21, 2026 at 5:33 pm
My son is 12 years old and wondering how he fits into this world, this video exists, he is going to be fine.
@Secondone-l9x
May 21, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Increasingly the world we inhabit is no longer designed for humans, it is designed to minimize production costs. It is up to us to support each other.
@AlwaysfirstNeverlast-m3s
May 21, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Did you ever wonder how some one design human and all the flaws? Did anyone place a sign somewhere “erectile dysfunction ?”
@Oz1111
May 21, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Some Ted talks are as useless as those signs…. See above!
@markbernier8434
May 21, 2026 at 9:27 pm
I think you would have loved this. New ATMs delivered. Updates for accessibility. Braille instructions, carefully covered with a smooth transparent plastic sheet .