Comments on: An information architect and a wine rack http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack Information architecture, interaction design and much more Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:20:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Donna Maurer http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-801 Donna Maurer Sat, 03 Nov 2007 13:22:26 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-801 hey lynn. now that I have moved out of that house, my system is much more primitive. I have 6 cases of great shiraz in my wardrobe, and 6 cases of sauv blanc there too. I have around 2 cases of 'good wine' sitting on top of that wine bank, and 2 cases of 'drink now' in my kitchen pantry. Funny how life makes you simplify hey lynn. now that I have moved out of that house, my system is much more primitive. I have 6 cases of great shiraz in my wardrobe, and 6 cases of sauv blanc there too. I have around 2 cases of ‘good wine’ sitting on top of that wine bank, and 2 cases of ‘drink now’ in my kitchen pantry.

Funny how life makes you simplify

]]> By: lynn http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-800 lynn Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:30:45 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-800 we have a miniature version of that, with only one primary ordering system. because it's located underneath our kitchen counter, we have placed the cheap wines, quick and easy to grab, at the top and in the center, and the more expensive wines at the bottom and the edges. it's a method that seems to work for high-traffic cabinets. we have a miniature version of that, with only one primary ordering system. because it’s located underneath our kitchen counter, we have placed the cheap wines, quick and easy to grab, at the top and in the center, and the more expensive wines at the bottom and the edges. it’s a method that seems to work for high-traffic cabinets.

]]> By: Donna Maurer http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-799 Donna Maurer Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:26:57 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-799 Hi Dug. We could do a faceted system for the digital world, but not the physical. wine.com do just that. And I don't have any pesky french wine, but if I have pesky Australian without varietal, I just fit it into a gap ;) Hi Dug. We could do a faceted system for the digital world, but not the physical. wine.com do just that.

And I don’t have any pesky french wine, but if I have pesky Australian without varietal, I just fit it into a gap ;)

]]> By: dug http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-798 dug Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:30:21 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-798 Hi Donna :-) Two wee questions Could we adapt a faceted navigation based on usage (good with with fish, nice to drink before eating with snacks etc)? What to do with those pesky french folk who blend varieties and don't label by grape variety? Oh, and I can second the cool/warm higher lower thing. Restaurants here in London have started back-lighting their wine rack (nice to look at) which means all the wine is served warm - bleuch! Hope you've got a lovely chalk cellar well under way Best, Dug Hi Donna :-)
Two wee questions

Could we adapt a faceted navigation based on usage (good with with fish, nice to drink before eating with snacks etc)?

What to do with those pesky french folk who blend varieties and don’t label by grape variety?

Oh, and I can second the cool/warm higher lower thing. Restaurants here in London have started back-lighting their wine rack (nice to look at) which means all the wine is served warm - bleuch!

Hope you’ve got a lovely chalk cellar well under way

Best,
Dug

]]> By: Tony http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-797 Tony Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:40:30 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-797 What Donna didn't post here is that this wine rack is now at capacity. I think it's time to make alternative arrangements - like digging out under the house to make a proper cellar. That will take care of longer term storage issues (including the white/temperature issue) Maybe by posting this publicly Donna will give me the go ahead! I promise you will be able to organise both cellars and it won't cost *too* much ;) Tony What Donna didn’t post here is that this wine rack is now at capacity. I think it’s time to make alternative arrangements - like digging out under the house to make a proper cellar. That will take care of longer term storage issues (including the white/temperature issue) Maybe by posting this publicly Donna will give me the go ahead!

I promise you will be able to organise both cellars and it won’t cost *too* much ;) Tony

]]> By: Ben Ryan http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-796 Ben Ryan Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:03:00 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-796 Your system certainly makes sense to me, the only thing I'm curious about, is why you decided to put the whites on top and the reds at the bottom? I have the same problem as Gary though and often mistake the vintage as a "Use By" date. Your system certainly makes sense to me, the only thing I’m curious about, is why you decided to put the whites on top and the reds at the bottom?

I have the same problem as Gary though and often mistake the vintage as a “Use By” date.

]]> By: Tom hughes http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-795 Tom hughes Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:36:31 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-795 Nicely done. You can always tell when this kind of thing is done by someone who cares about the subject matter. You enjoy the wine, you enjoy organizing the wine; so a system with some built-in needed (but never mandatory or deadline-driven) maintenance is ideal. Taxonomists take note: love will always beat systematization. Nicely done. You can always tell when this kind of thing is done by someone who cares about the subject matter. You enjoy the wine, you enjoy organizing the wine; so a system with some built-in needed (but never mandatory or deadline-driven) maintenance is ideal. Taxonomists take note: love will always beat systematization.

]]> By: Donna Maurer http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-794 Donna Maurer Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:57:04 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-794 Good tip about the white wines on the bottom - I hadn't thought of that (though the pantry has no heating, is insulated and kept closed, so heat isn't a huge problem) Good tip about the white wines on the bottom - I hadn’t thought of that (though the pantry has no heating, is insulated and kept closed, so heat isn’t a huge problem)

]]> By: Jay Fienberg http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-793 Jay Fienberg Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:43:57 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-793 Since I lost my older wines to poor storage :-(, my wine collection tends to be so small that the labor of going through bottle-by-bottle to find the right one is mostly enjoyable. But, with the tea collection, it's much more complicated! Besides a wider variety of "use cases" across tea drinkers at our place, the tea containers are also less uniform than wine bottles, which complicates the space for any organization system. So, I periodically get the "our teas need some IA-help this week" request. Level of caffeination tends to be a major feature of any organization plan :-) One of things interesting about these kinds of systems is: the act of finding something is usually also an act of removing it from the system, possibly shifting things around in the process, and then possible placing that thing back. Generally, the organization has to evolve over time, and it's interesting to think about "time" (or "events") as one of the information dimensions that's part of the (dis-)organization process. Since I lost my older wines to poor storage :-(, my wine collection tends to be so small that the labor of going through bottle-by-bottle to find the right one is mostly enjoyable.

But, with the tea collection, it’s much more complicated! Besides a wider variety of “use cases” across tea drinkers at our place, the tea containers are also less uniform than wine bottles, which complicates the space for any organization system.

So, I periodically get the “our teas need some IA-help this week” request. Level of caffeination tends to be a major feature of any organization plan :-)
One of things interesting about these kinds of systems is: the act of finding something is usually also an act of removing it from the system, possibly shifting things around in the process, and then possible placing that thing back. Generally, the organization has to evolve over time, and it’s interesting to think about “time” (or “events”) as one of the information dimensions that’s part of the (dis-)organization process.

]]> By: Jonathan Peterson http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-792 Jonathan Peterson Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:40:57 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-792 Nice. And hardly mad. I'm somewhat similar - especially with the labeling (I buy mixed cases and write price and where I bought on the label then go back and buy larger amounts of stuff that I really like that is a good deal). I only organize the really good stuff and the mixed case purchases, case purchases go in the basement where they stay together. Shouldn't you put the whites closer to the floor where it's cooler? I really should move my good wine to the basement where the temperature doesn't change as much - but I worry that without seeing it, I'll let stuff get too old. Nice. And hardly mad. I’m somewhat similar - especially with the labeling (I buy mixed cases and write price and where I bought on the label then go back and buy larger amounts of stuff that I really like that is a good deal). I only organize the really good stuff and the mixed case purchases, case purchases go in the basement where they stay together.

Shouldn’t you put the whites closer to the floor where it’s cooler? I really should move my good wine to the basement where the temperature doesn’t change as much - but I worry that without seeing it, I’ll let stuff get too old.

]]> By: Markus Pirchner http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-791 Markus Pirchner Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:19:35 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-791 Unless you have underfloor heating I'd rather recommend to put the whites wines on the bottom shelves as it is usually cooler at the bottom. Your system seems to work well for a certain number of bottles (about 180?), but how about 750 from at least 50 producers and representing a minimum of 20 varietals? That's the problem I have waiting in my cellar :-)) Unless you have underfloor heating I’d rather recommend to put the whites wines on the bottom shelves as it is usually cooler at the bottom.
Your system seems to work well for a certain number of bottles (about 180?), but how about 750 from at least 50 producers and representing a minimum of 20 varietals? That’s the problem I have waiting in my cellar :-))

]]> By: Ruth Ellison http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-790 Ruth Ellison Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:28:11 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-790 I love the organisation system! I love the organisation system!

]]> By: Gary Barber http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-789 Gary Barber Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:25:58 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2007/an-information-architect-and-a-wine-rack#comment-789 *cough* I can't store wine at our place, I have not self control. Its gets drunk. Hence I have no "system" besides drink now, drink late (a few weeks). What does that say about me.. I wonder! Donna you are just over organised. :) *cough* I can’t store wine at our place, I have not self control. Its gets drunk. Hence I have no “system” besides drink now, drink late (a few weeks). What does that say about me.. I wonder!

Donna you are just over organised. :)

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