Tom Sachs Enforces Four-Step Knolling Protocol to Organize Workspaces

10 Bullets, #8: "ALWAYS BE KNOLLING". By Tom Sachs — Tom Sachs

Tom Sachs

Studio discipline mandates that workers scan, stow unused gear, group like objects, and align every tool at right angles to desk edges.

AI-assisted summary of 10 Bullets, #8: "ALWAYS BE KNOLLING". By Tom Sachs — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Tom Sachs establishes "Always Be Knolling" (ABK) as the eighth studio bullet, adapting a classic sales maxim into a core rule for workspace discipline. (0:12)
  • The knolling protocol begins by scanning for unused tools, books, materials, and music, stowing items away while leaving out anything of uncertain status. (0:12)
  • The workflow concludes by grouping all like objects together and aligning them squarely with the work surface or the studio geometry. (0:12)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube by artist Tom Sachs on June 21, 2011, this short video highlights the eighth rule from his "Ten Bullets" studio guide. The video description identifies it as an excerpt from the complete "Ten Bullets" movie and directs viewers to the full project website.

## TL;DR The video introduces the studio mantra "Always Be Knolling" (ABK) as a systematic operating philosophy for workspace organization. Knolling is defined through a four-step process: scanning the area for idle items, putting away anything not in active use, grouping like objects together, and aligning everything perpendicular or parallel to the desk or studio boundaries. The presentation concludes with a showcase of a perfectly knolled table arranged in precise geometric order.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation adopts a deadpan, authoritative instructional style reminiscent of an industrial training film or institutional handbook. It delivers each guideline with clinical, rhythmic discipline, turning ordinary shop cleanup into a solemn, almost ritualistic craft. The viewing experience feels meticulously controlled and satisfyingly orderly, highlighting an obsession with geometric alignment and functional tidiness.

## Bulletin - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Tom Sachs establishes "Always Be Knolling" (ABK) as the eighth studio bullet, adapting a classic sales maxim into a core rule for workspace discipline. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) The knolling protocol begins by scanning for unused tools, books, materials, and music, stowing items away while leaving out anything of uncertain status. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) The workflow concludes by grouping all like objects together and aligning them squarely with the work surface or the studio geometry.

## Key takeaways - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Bullet eight in the studio code establishes "Always Be Knolling" (ABK) as an essential operating philosophy. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) The ABK mantra adapts the classic sales maxim to maintain workspace order and focus. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Step one requires scanning the environment for materials, tools, books, and music that are not currently in use. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Step two instructs workers to clear away unused items to eliminate clutter. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Under the cleanup rule, workers must leave an item out if they are unsure whether it is currently needed. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Step three mandates grouping all like objects together. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Step four directs that all objects be squared and aligned parallel or perpendicular to the work surface or the studio. - [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) A completed knolled table positions all active tools and components strictly at right angles to maintain functional clarity.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) Bullet Eight: Always Be Knolling (ABK)

The studio code establishes a strict mnemonic mantra adapted from the classic sales maxim: "ABK" stands for "Always be knolling." The mandate is repeated rhythmically as an operating philosophy for maintaining order and discipline within the workspace, introduced formally as the guide's eighth core rule: “Bullet eight. Always be knolling.”

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: The Four Steps of Knolling accDescr: A process diagram detailing how to knoll a workspace according to Tom Sachs' studio rules. subgraph KnollingProcess ["How to Knoll"] A["1. Scan environment<br>(tools, materials, books, music)"] --> B["2. Put away unused items<br>(when unsure, leave it out)"] B --> C["3. Group all like objects"] C --> D["4. Align and square objects<br>(to surface or studio)"] end ```

The narrator outlines the exact four-step formula required to execute the process correctly:

1. **Scan the environment:** “One, scan your environment for materials, tools, books, music, etc. which are not in use.” 2. **Clear the clutter:** “Two, put away everything not in use. If you aren't sure, leave it out.” 3. **Categorize:** “Three, group all like objects.” 4. **Square and align:** “Four, align or square all objects to either the surface they rest on or the studio itself.”

The demonstration concludes by showcasing the finished result of the meticulous arrangement: “A perfectly knolled table.” All components, tools, and accessories sit grouped by function and geometry, placed parallel and perpendicular at right angles to the edges of the workstation.

## Notable quotes > [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) align or square all objects to either the surface they rest on or the studio itself. — The narrator

> [00:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ&t=12s) put away everything not in use. If you aren't sure, leave it out. — The narrator

## Mentioned Tom Sachs, Ten Bullets

## Video description Eighth bullet of my Ten Bullets movie. Full version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49p1JVLHUos http://tenbullets.com/

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-CTkbHnpNQ)

中文简报

汤姆·萨克斯推行四步“平直规整”法以整理工作空间 工作室纪律要求员工巡视四周、收起闲置装备、归类同类物品，并将每件工具与桌边垂直对齐。 该视频介绍了工作室格言“时刻保持平直规整”（Always Be Knolling，简称ABK），将其作为工作空间整理的系统化操作理念。平直规整法（Knolling）由四个步骤构成：巡视区域内闲置物品、收起非当前使用的所有物件、将同类物品归类放置，并将所有物品与桌面或工作室边界保持垂直或平行排列。视频最后展示了一张按精准几何秩序排列、呈现完美平直规整状态的桌子。 汤姆·萨克斯将“时刻保持平直规整”（ABK）确立为工作室第八条准则，把经典的销售名言改造成工作空间纪律的核心规范。 (0:12) 平直规整操作始于巡视未使用的工具、书籍、材料和音乐载体，收起物品的同时保留状态尚不明确者。 (0:12) 该工作流程以将所有同类物品归类并沿工作台面或工作室几何轮廓整齐摆放收尾。 (0:12)

Reading summary

Tom Sachs' studio code establishes "Always Be Knolling" (ABK) as its eighth core rule, prescribing a strict four-step process to maintain workspace order and discipline. ABK as a Studio Operating Philosophy (0:12) Adapted from a traditional sales maxim, the mnemonic "ABK" stands for "Always be knolling." Within Tom Sachs' studio guidelines, this mandate functions as an operating philosophy repeated rhythmically to instill discipline and systematic order across the working environment. The Four-Step Knolling Protocol (0:12) The studio enforces a precise sequence to organize a workstation. Workers first scan the area for idle materials, tools, books, or music, then put away unused items, with the specific instruction to leave an item out if its status is uncertain. The remaining objects are grouped with like items and aligned or squared parallel and perpendicular to the resting surface or the studio itself, culminating in a finished, functional workspace. The resulting arrangement yields a fully knolled table where all components and accessories sit organized by function, geometry, and right angles relative to the workstation edges.

精炼阅读摘要

艺术家汤姆·萨克斯（Tom Sachs）在工作室守则第八条中提出了“始终保持整理对齐”（Always Be Knolling，简称 ABK）的操作哲学，以此作为维护工作空间秩序与纪律的核心规范。 ABK核心准则与闲置清理 (0:12) 萨克斯工作室的准则借鉴了经典销售格言，确立了口诀式的核心指令“ABK”（Always be knolling），并将其作为工作室守则的第八条规则。该操作流程的前两个步骤集中于环境扫描与杂物排除：首先，工作者需要系统审视环境，排查未在使用的材料、工具、书籍以及音乐设备；随后，将所有闲置物件收纳归位。为了避免误收必需工具，规则特别设定了例外标准——若无法确定某件物品是否还在使用，则应将其留在外面。 同类物品归类与直角对齐 (0:12) 在清理冗余物件后，流程进入具体的几何布局阶段。第三步是将所有性质相同的物品按类别进行聚集整合。第四步则是将所有留存物件对齐摆正，使其边缘与所放置的台面或工作室本身的轴线保持平行或垂直。示范最终展示了“完美排列的台面”（a perfectly knolled table），所有组件、工具和配件均依据功能与几何形态完成归组，呈正交直角排列。 该指南提供了标准化的四步整理流程，强调通过严格的分类和直角几何对齐来建立空间秩序；不过，内容仅演示了静态台面的最终排列标准，未探讨动态作业过程中高频取放工具时的维护细节。

Source quotes

[0:12] The narrator: align or square all objects to either the surface they rest on or the studio itself. [0:12] The narrator: put away everything not in use. If you aren't sure, leave it out.

Original transcript

[0:12] A B K [0:14] Always be B. [0:16] K nolling. [0:17] Always [0:18] be nolling. [0:19] Always [0:21] be nolling. [0:26] Bullet eight. Always be nolling. [0:30] How to knoll. [0:31] One, scan your environment for [0:33] materials, tools, books, music, etc. [0:37] which are not in use. [0:39] Two, [0:40] put away everything not in use. If you [0:42] aren't sure, leave it out. Three, group [0:45] all like objects. [0:50] Four, align or square all objects to [0:55] either the surface they rest on or the [0:57] studio itself. [1:09] A perfectly nolled table.