Knolling/Organizing parts and tool

[John Wagenseil]

Adam Savage (Mythbusters) talked briefly about Knolling on one of his videos.
It is a workbench organization method that is useful when building up something from many sub parts.

Knoll (verb) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Always Be Knolling

An example of an artist's knolled workspace
Always Be Knolling - CranberryCloud Laurel Martin

[whulsey]

Looks like something my old boss (the ex-marine) would have loved. He wouldn't even walk by my light table. Just seeing that makes me want to go play 'Anarchy in the UK' at neighbor annoying volume.

[Mark Petersen]

That desk/worktable/drawing table in the wiki article looks like a poster for OCD. Nothing wrong with a neat organized work space though.

[EvilTessmacher]

According to that website, here are the "rules" for Knolling:

1. Scan your environment for materials, tools, books, music, etc. which are not in use.
2. Put away everything not in use. If you aren’t sure, leave it out.
3. Group all “like” objects.
4. Align or square all objects to either the surface they rest on, or the studio itself.

I can never get past #2. I am either using it, or not sure about it, so according to this, it gets left out, and defeats the purpose.

[Lighter]

I swear; nothing staged - this is my work bench right as I read this thread. 90 degrees top and 45 degrees left and right.

[airdave]

Lighter...your workplace is a mess.
I would have to readjust every item that was not exactly 90 at right angles
or perpendicular! Seriously...this is my problem. This is what I refer to as
my OCD problem. As I am sitting here, reading this, I have just arranged four
items on my desk (a tape measure, a Flash drive, a Caliper and my camera).
They are all nicely grouped now...three in line, with the caliper at the top.
I didn't realize there was a name for this behaviour...I just called it OCD. lol
I constantly have to reorganize and get everything lined up, into little blocks,
or little groups...and yes, I do it with parts when building something.
This is not a thing...its a compulsive disorder.
I think someone with this disorder has found an excuse for it!
If you look at something long enough, you can invent a reason why.

[Lighter]

Originally Posted by airdave

Lighter...your workplace is a mess.

Yeah, I know. I cleaned up since I took the photo.

I didn't realize there was a name for this behaviour...I just called it OCD.

It never bothered me since I figured knowing where things were/are is more helpful than being casual. Yes, it's a hobby, I know. And there is lots of disarray - the swing arm lamps aren't symmetrical . . .

[Karl]

I think we all have OCD to varying degrees.

On my desk everything has a place and if its not where it is supposed to be work stops until its sorted out.
When I visit a restaurant I often find myself moving the cutlery around until it is neat enough for me to relax.

One of my staff has a thing about scrap paper. We all tear it up into smaller pieces for making notes but this guy seems to generate the stuff.
He has a wall around his desk of neatly torn, perfectly sized piles of scrap paper.
Every now and again when he starts to wall himself in I insist he takes half of it to the local orphanage for the kids to draw on.
Other than a compulsion to arrange scrap paper into neat perfect piled squares he is a normal guy and a valuable trusted employee.