Don't solve the problem given (as it's stated), figure out what the real underlying problem is.
To understand design, you have to be a good observer and question things. Travel with a camera and take photos. Don't use flash, use natural lighting when possible.
Affordances are the relationships (read: possible actions) between an object and an entity (most often a person). For example, a chair affords sitting for a human. Affordances enable interactions between entities and objects (similarly, anti-affordances prevent or reduce interactions). The presence of an affordance is determined by the properties of the object and of the abilities of the entity who's interacting with the object.
Signifiers are signals, communication devices. These signs tell you about the possible actions; what to do, and where to do it. Signifiers are often visible, but invisible (secret) signifiers do exist, like clicking a YT video to play