The Office Sign Project

The Office Sign Project is a web-based photo project that seeks to document the under appreciated art of office sign making

Office Signs are the ultimate passive aggressive expression in todays
workplace. These signs are made usually in the midst of the
contradictory haphazard concern that so often accompanies office life. They
are commonly handwritten or composed in 'Word' but they are never
commonplace. Each has its own style, message, and stylish clip art theme.

These signs typically are made to inform the audience that they need to
clean up after themselves. The viewer is often told that their mother does not
live in the office and is not available to clean up for them. More aggressive
examples, also known as 'the shallow threat" complain about coffee prices
and coffee ownership or sternly warn the viewer to not flush paper towels or
tampons down the toilet.

Note: I started my project in 2000 (my first submissions were with actual film pictures),some time before Passive-Aggressive Notes came out with a website and book.  No one really has ownership over public art such as office signs so it's no biggie. However this project is more about the appreciation of the aesthetic qualities and proper preservation and documentation of such signs.

Submit a Sign

The Office Sign Project is looking for submissions of photo documentation
of these sorts of signs. OSP is also looking for written testimonies of
anyone who has ever read a sign that changed their behavior, or anyone
that is an office sign creator.

Even though this project is called The Office Sign project, submissions are
in no way limited to just office work places. Anyplace where signs are used
in lieu of personal communication will work.

Please click here to submit your photo or story via email.