communication

Japan Tobacco's Clever and Strange Smoking Manners Signs

leelefever — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:38:29 -0500

Japan is surely one of the politest places you're likely to visit. If you ask someone for directions, there is a good chance they will walk you there themselves. Behaving honorably is an important part of the culture and there is never a lack of signs, often cleverly illustrated, reminding the public of what is expected.

One of the most interesting and clever examples I found is produced by Japan Tobacco. In smoking areas, on trains and near ashtrays, there are often signs related to smoking and behavior in crowds. Notice the minimalist illustrations and the strange-but-effective messaging from these examples.

This is my favorite. The proper disposal of cigarette butts is an important issue. Meet. Love. The End. - A timeless story.

and...

Some are designed (I think) to promote awareness of how non-smokers perceive smokers.

and...

also...Neglect.

But, it's not just focused on smokers. On trains you may see signs about proper train behavior. For instance, apparently public grooming is discouraged. Make up - Image down.

And those backpacks. I have been in violation multiple times.

Unexpectedness, emotion, concrete examples, these signs are right from Made To Stick.

You can find a gallery of over 70 of these signs via Conbinibento and some particulary funny ones at InOnePunch. I've been collecting strange signs from all over here and don't forget Darren's Hall of Technical Documentation Weirdness.

Bonus sign - a mission statement in Engrish, from a bakery at a train station in small town Shikoku, Japan:

Good quality cumbustion setting up is very important for me, personally.

Japan Tobacco's Clever and Strange Smoking Manners Signs

leelefever — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:38:29 -0500

This is my favorite. The proper disposal of cigarette butts is an important issue. Meet. Love. The End. - A timeless story.

and...

Some are designed (I think) to promote awareness of how non-smokers perceive smokers.

and...

also...Neglect.

But, it's not just focused on smokers. On trains you may see signs about proper train behavior. For instance, apparently public grooming is discouraged. Make up - Image down.

And those backpacks. I have been in violation multiple times.

Unexpectedness, emotion, concrete examples, these signs are right from Made To Stick.

Bonus sign - a mission statement in Engrish, from a bakery at a train station in small town Shikoku, Japan:

Good quality cumbustion setting up is very important for me, personally.

Japan Tobacco's Clever and Strange Smoking Manners Signs

leelefever — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:38:29 -0500

This is my favorite. The proper disposal of cigarette butts is an important issue. Meet. Love. The End. - A timeless story.

and...

Some are designed (I think) to promote awareness of how non-smokers perceive smokers.

and...

also...Neglect.

But, it's not just focused on smokers. On trains you may see signs about proper train behavior. For instance, apparently public grooming is discouraged. Make up - Image down.

And those backpacks. I have been in violation multiple times.

Unexpectedness, emotion, concrete examples, these signs are right from Made To Stick.

Bonus sign - a mission statement in Engrish, from a bakery at a train station in small town Shikoku, Japan:

Good quality cumbustion setting up is very important for me, personally.

Japan Tobacco's Clever and Strange Smoking Manners Signs

leelefever — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:38:29 -0500

This is my favorite. The proper disposal of cigarette butts is an important issue. Meet. Love. The End. - A timeless story.

and...

Some are designed (I think) to promote awareness of how non-smokers perceive smokers.

and...

also...Neglect.

But, it's not just focused on smokers. On trains you may see signs about proper train behavior. For instance, apparently public grooming is discouraged. Make up - Image down.

And those backpacks. I have been in violation multiple times.

Unexpectedness, emotion, concrete examples, these signs are right from Made To Stick.

Bonus sign - a mission statement in Engrish, from a bakery at a train station in small town Shikoku, Japan:

Good quality cumbustion setting up is very important for me, personally.

Japan Tobacco's Clever and Strange Smoking Manners Signs

leelefever — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:38:29 -0500

This is my favorite. The proper disposal of cigarette butts is an important issue. Meet. Love. The End. - A timeless story.

and...

Some are designed (I think) to promote awareness of how non-smokers perceive smokers.

and...

also...Neglect.

But, it's not just focused on smokers. On trains you may see signs about proper train behavior. For instance, apparently public grooming is discouraged. Make up - Image down.

And those backpacks. I have been in violation multiple times.

Unexpectedness, emotion, concrete examples, these signs are right from Made To Stick.

Bonus sign - a mission statement in Engrish, from a bakery at a train station in small town Shikoku, Japan:

Good quality cumbustion setting up is very important for me, personally.

Japan Tobacco's Clever and Strange Smoking Manners Signs

leelefever — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:38:29 -0500

This is my favorite. The proper disposal of cigarette butts is an important issue. Meet. Love. The End. - A timeless story.

and...

Some are designed (I think) to promote awareness of how non-smokers perceive smokers.

and...

also...Neglect.

But, it's not just focused on smokers. On trains you may see signs about proper train behavior. For instance, apparently public grooming is discouraged. Make up - Image down.

And those backpacks. I have been in violation multiple times.

Unexpectedness, emotion, concrete examples, these signs are right from Made To Stick.

Bonus sign - a mission statement in Engrish, from a bakery at a train station in small town Shikoku, Japan:

Good quality cumbustion setting up is very important for me, personally.

Japan Tobacco's Clever and Strange Smoking Manners Signs

leelefever — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:38:29 -0500

This is my favorite. The proper disposal of cigarette butts is an important issue. Meet. Love. The End. - A timeless story.

and...

Some are designed (I think) to promote awareness of how non-smokers perceive smokers.

and...

also...Neglect.

But, it's not just focused on smokers. On trains you may see signs about proper train behavior. For instance, apparently public grooming is discouraged. Make up - Image down.

And those backpacks. I have been in violation multiple times.

Unexpectedness, emotion, concrete examples, these signs are right from Made To Stick.

Bonus sign - a mission statement in Engrish, from a bakery at a train station in small town Shikoku, Japan:

Good quality cumbustion setting up is very important for me, personally.

The Weblog Elevator Pitch- One Year Later

leelefever — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 19:27:58 -0400

It was one year ago that I won my first contest as a writer. The challenge was to create the "perfect corporate weblog elevator pitch". It was put on by the folks at Weblogs Inc. via the Social Software Weblog and Judith Meskill.

At the very least, I hope the little contest preserves a look at what people thought was an accurate summary of how blogs could be used inside a corporation. One day, people may say "that was sooo 2004". For now though, I still stand beind the pitch 100%.

Here it is:

First, think about the value of the Wall Street Journal to business leaders. The value it provides is context â€” the Journal allows readers to see themselves in the context of the financial world each day, which enables more informed decision making.

With this in mind, think about your company as a microcosm of the financial world. Can your employees see themselves in the context of the whole company? Would more informed decisions be made if employees and leaders had access to internal news sources?

Weblogs serve this need. By making internal websites simple to update, weblogs allow individuals and teams to maintain online journals that chronicle projects inside the company. These professional journals make it easy to produce and access internal news, providing context to the company â€” context that can profoundly affect decision making. In this way, weblogs allow employees and leaders to make more informed decisions through increasing their awareness of internal news and events.

The Weblog Elevator Pitch- One Year Later

leelefever — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 19:27:58 -0400

Here it is:

First, think about the value of the Wall Street Journal to business leaders. The value it provides is context â€” the Journal allows readers to see themselves in the context of the financial world each day, which enables more informed decision making.

With this in mind, think about your company as a microcosm of the financial world. Can your employees see themselves in the context of the whole company? Would more informed decisions be made if employees and leaders had access to internal news sources?

Weblogs serve this need. By making internal websites simple to update, weblogs allow individuals and teams to maintain online journals that chronicle projects inside the company. These professional journals make it easy to produce and access internal news, providing context to the company â€” context that can profoundly affect decision making. In this way, weblogs allow employees and leaders to make more informed decisions through increasing their awareness of internal news and events.

The Weblog Elevator Pitch- One Year Later

leelefever — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 19:27:58 -0400

Here it is:

First, think about the value of the Wall Street Journal to business leaders. The value it provides is context â€” the Journal allows readers to see themselves in the context of the financial world each day, which enables more informed decision making.

With this in mind, think about your company as a microcosm of the financial world. Can your employees see themselves in the context of the whole company? Would more informed decisions be made if employees and leaders had access to internal news sources?

Weblogs serve this need. By making internal websites simple to update, weblogs allow individuals and teams to maintain online journals that chronicle projects inside the company. These professional journals make it easy to produce and access internal news, providing context to the company â€” context that can profoundly affect decision making. In this way, weblogs allow employees and leaders to make more informed decisions through increasing their awareness of internal news and events.