How anyone can develop their taste

Key Concepts

• Taste
• Point of View (POV)
• Curatorial Ability
• Frameworks
• Human Creativity
• Designers (Product Side)

Developing Taste and Point of View

The video posits that taste is fundamentally linked to one's "point of view" on things and the process of developing that perspective. The core argument is that expanding one's viewpoints by engaging with new experiences, identifying correlations and links across diverse areas, fields, and mediums, is crucial for cultivating good taste. This involves actively seeking out and observing various expressions of human creativity.

Building Internal Curatorial Ability

A significant emphasis is placed on the importance of creating personal "frameworks" for oneself. This process builds an "internal curatorial ability," which allows individuals to refine their own thinking and viewpoints. This ability also necessitates a willingness to revisit and re-evaluate previously held perspectives. The speaker suggests that this continuous refinement is the pathway to achieving "great taste."

The Designer's Adaptability

A specific example is provided regarding "designers on the product side." The video highlights their ability to switch between their personal taste and the requirements of a project. They can acknowledge their own preferences ("I have my own taste. I know what I like.") but then adapt to a different aesthetic or direction if the project demands it ("And then, okay, you're going for this. And that might be different than what I like, but I can match it."). This demonstrates a practical application of developed taste, where personal preference can be set aside to meet external objectives.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The central takeaway is that taste is not an innate quality but a cultivated skill. It is developed through a conscious effort to broaden one's exposure to diverse forms of creativity, actively seek connections between different domains, and build a personal framework for evaluating and refining one's own perspectives. This internal curatorial process, coupled with the flexibility to adapt one's viewpoint when necessary, is presented as the foundation of great taste, particularly exemplified by adaptable product designers.