Yesterday I saw a new update to a system.

The update was poorly implemented. Certain parts of the system didn’t work anymore. Simple things broke, which suggested the update had not been carefully tested.

But the visual redesign was the most interesting part.

They had added glassmorphic elements everywhere: blurred panels, translucent cards, floating layers. The kind of interface style popularized in recent years by companies like Apple.

The problem wasn’t the glass effect itself.

The problem was that it was simply slapped on.

Underneath the glass was a broken system. The design language had changed, but the thinking had not. It felt like decoration instead of design.

This is what bad taste looks like.

What is Taste?

Taste is the personal selection of the products, experiences, ideas, and environments we choose to surround ourselves with. It is the quiet filter through which we decide what deserves our attention and what does not.

Everyone has taste. The difference is whether it is intentional or accidental. Or "coldly" wether you have bad taste or good taste.

What is Good Taste?

Good taste is the ability to expose yourself to great things and bring those influences into whatever you create or experience in a cohesive way.

It may resonate with others, but the first person it must resonate with is you.

Good taste looks refined.
It feels curated.
It is orderly.

There is a sense of authenticity to it that people recognize even when they cannot fully explain why.

Bad Taste

Bad taste is loud and chaotic.
It feels forced, constantly struggling for attention.

Where good taste feels deliberate, bad taste feels assembled without care. It accepts almost anything. The result is work that looks like it was designed by a committee; too many directions, no clear arrowhead.

Why Good Taste Resonates

Good taste often resonates with others because people can sense the effort behind it.

They see the restraint.
They notice the choices that were not made.

That discipline creates clarity.

The Habits of People With Good Taste

People with good taste rarely stumble into it by accident. They curate their world.

They collect mood boards.
They build playlists.
They bookmark thoughtful articles and insightful posts.

They are curious people. They ask interesting questions, and the quality of their conversations often leads to ideas, essays, and projects like the one you are reading now.

Can Taste Be Developed?

Yes. Taste is a muscle.

You grow it by consistently exposing yourself to things you genuinely believe are excellent, without compromise.

You grow it by being selective about what you accept.
You grow it by forming opinions and being willing to defend them.

Developing taste requires deliberate choices and decisive thinking.

Over time, those choices compound. And what begins as effort eventually becomes instinct.