Developing Good Taste

I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of “taste” and how rarely it’s highlighted as a skill which needs to be actively developed.

I’m constantly in awe of folks who are able to share strong and thoughtful opinions across different topics. Creative and cultured people do this best.

Rather than just passively consuming information, they dig deep asking why things are the way they are and how they inform culture. Curating, reflecting and refining their views is a constant practice.

Building this muscle applies to simple, everyday things too. Why do I prefer this particular brand of coffee, this movie director’s style, or this piece of furniture? Can I articulate this?

Good taste isn’t only important for the arts. It’ll continue to be a critical skill in every industry as AI commoditises labour. It’s a reflection of our ability to make decisions, be visionary thinkers and to communicate with nuance.

Seth Godin says that “good taste is knowing what other people want just before they do”. I think this is only one half of the puzzle.

Developing good taste starts from deeply understanding what we like. Having the eloquence, self-empathy and courage to express this can be equally, or even more challenging than just absorbing the feedback of others.

It also requires seeking new experiences and knowledge to make more of the unknown known.

I’m learning to be more thoughtful about this myself.