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Organizing with Cleverly Designed Labels

By Jeri Dansky - November 13, 2014

in Product Design

As a professional organizer, I often work with clients to label their file folders and their storage bins so everything can be readily found. While I'm often using a basic label maker, there are plenty of other products to help with the labeling—many of them specifically designed to address specific labeling needs.

This limited edition Craftsman Dry Erase Tool Chest is no longer available, but it sure was a cool idea—coating the tool chest with dry erase paint, making it easy to indicate what's kept in each drawer, and change that as things get re-arranged.

Another way to label the tool chest would be the Z-CALZ labels, available as magnets or adhesive decals. With preprinted sets like this, there's always the concern that the labels provided won't match the items the end-user has. However, with a basic set of 70 labels, an advance set with 46 more labels, and a 22-piece socket set, the company has made a good attempt to provide for the most commonly owned items.

As someone whose eyesight is far from perfect, I think these socket labels are a wonderful idea.

Many end-users will find it useful to label their cables, and there are various product designs to help with that, including KableFlags. One drawback: The flags are made from PVC, which some end-users are trying to avoid.

The Dotz cord identifiers come with preprinted icons, and end-users can also create their own custom labels. For thicker cables, there are the Jumbo Cord Identifiers.

For end-users who constantly fumble to find the right key, the Label-Label key caps could be helpful. They're stretchy, so they should fit most keys. The two little nobs are intended to align with the top of the key, making it easier to insert the key the right way into the keyhole, even when it's dark.

The decal approach used for the Z-CALZ tool chest labels can also be applied to other types of labeling needs. Here's just one: the Hyundae Sheet stickers for the kitchen. These could come in handy for someone renting out a home via Airbnb or another such service.

For those who want to label which clothes go in which drawer, there are stickers for that, too. Or for a less child-centric approach, the end-user could use these drawer knobs from Ghost Nest, designed by Matthew Langille.

With this dresser by Peter Bristol, the label is built right into the furniture. This design lacks the flexibility of some others, but little kids might really have fun with it.

Another example of building the label into the product is this gym gear bag from Flight 001. The drawback, again, is that it's hard to repurpose this bag for another use. But it's an easy way to quickly identify specific things in a suitcase. (However, a clear plastic bag could serve the same function. Sometimes you don't need a label.)

And here's a creative labeling product: The MeBox, from Graphic Thought Assembly. As the company explains: "The ends of each box consisted of a grid of perforated discs that could be pressed out to create initials, numbers, symbols and texts. When assembled, the double-thick construction showed the message against the contrasting colour of the box lining."

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Marek Kuzusznik

7 years ago

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Why not use custom dry transfers? They look better than vinyl; easier to remove, thinner and can be made permanent with a clear coat of lacquer. See here: https://imagetransfers.com/blog/custom-dry-transfers-or-vinyl-lettering-which-is-better/

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Marek Kuzusznik

7 years ago

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PVC? Why not use custom dry transfers? They look much better than vinyl (easier to remove) and if you add a clear-coat over top they become permanent instead of semi-permanent. See this example: https://imagetransfers.com/blog/custom-dry-transfers-or-vinyl-lettering-which-is-better/

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James Patrick

10 years ago

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What's wrong with PVC?
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Juan Cano

10 years ago

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Great write up; I'm never this organized. My father-in-law, who's been a metal worker for decades, has a system with some of his tools. Under his big welding table, he has bins that he can slide in and out from either side. Like he has one that only has dozens of files, so he's taken an old file and attached it to the end of the bin with wire. Same with hammers, c-clamps, screwdrivers, etc. So you look under the table, see an actual c-clamp attached to the end, and you're like "this must be where the c-clamps are". No icons, no writing, just the actual object. Wish I had a pic with me!
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