A while ago I noticed this sign on a vending machine in our local arts centre. It could have simply reminded people to use: “One Pound Coins Only Please”. But the sign maker took it one step further and decided to add a bit of context.
So the sign read:
ONE POUND COINS ONLY PLEASE
All these foreign and small denomination coins were taken out of the vending machine in one day… they do not work, and they could put the machine out of order, to the inconvenience of man… so please use one pound coins only!!
And then they added an image of the coins to illustrate.
Why’s and how’s vs do’s and dont’s
The image was an effective device for illustrating the severity of the problem and the explanation added a human element.
I could picture the frustrated customers, the exasperated volunteer sorting through the coins and the engineer fixing it.
This is a great counterpoint to the idea that signs and announcements need to be as short and succinct as possible.
If we’re looking for real behaviour change, we might want to consider adding a bit of context and a human touch.
