Classification Notice for Shoe Pile by Door
There is a shoe rack. There is also a pile of shoes next to the shoe rack. The shoe rack is where shoes are supposed to go. The pile is where shoes go.
CLASSIFICATION NOTICE RE: Shoe pile at the base of the shoe rack TYPE: Proximity storage default behavior
The Intended Arrangement
The shoe rack was placed at the entrance to address the shoe management problem. The shoe management problem was: shoes removed at the entrance were placed randomly near the entrance, creating visual clutter and a tripping hazard.
The shoe rack's presence was supposed to direct shoe placement to the rack's tiers.
The Actual Arrangement
The shoe rack's base has become the primary shoe placement location. The rack has four tiers. Two are occupied by shoes from the organization session. Two are empty.
The pile at the base contains the last four days' footwear.
The One Additional Motion
The shoe rack's tiers require shoes to be lifted vertically to their tier height (approximately 10cm, 25cm, 40cm, or 55cm depending on tier). Placing shoes on the floor requires no vertical motion. The shoe rack is within reach. The floor is closer.
The one additional motion of lifting to the tier is the entirety of the barrier between the rack and the floor.
The Classification
The shoe pile is classified as proximity storage: items placed in the nearest available space rather than the designated space. Proximity storage is faster and requires less cognitive overhead than designated storage.
The shoe rack is used for shoes that are "good shoes" (less frequently worn, stored for longevity) or shoes placed during a session when the whole entrance was being addressed.
The pile is for current-use shoes.
The Status
Both systems coexist. The entrance has shoes in two locations instead of one. The designated location has capacity. The proximity location is at capacity. This arrangement will continue.