Taste has always been a crucial part of a designer's skillset. But somewhere along the way—especially with the rise of UX, product design, and AI tools—it seems to have taken a backseat.

The same applies to software. Simply shipping a product that works is no longer enough. Everyone can cook¹, especially now with AI tools like Cursor, V0, and Bolt making things more accessible. Functionality is expected. What truly differentiate a product is its brand, design, and overall experience. Taste is what matters.²

“

In a world of scarcity, we treasure tools. In a world of abundance, we treasure taste.

”

Anu Atluru, Taste is Eating Silicon Valley

What is good taste?

It's often mistaken for personal preference, but it’s more than that—it’s a trained instinct. The ability to see beyond the obvious and recognize what elevates something from good to great. It’s why some designs feel effortless while others feel forced.

So the real question is: "How do you train that instinct?"

Surround yourself with great work

Good taste isn’t innate—it’s cultivated. It grows through curiosity, exposure, and practice. The more you immerse yourself in quality, the more you'll start to recognize it naturally.

If you're a designer, study great designs. If you're a writer, read great books. Expose yourself to the best work, and you'll begin to understand what makes it great.

Taste is like a muscle—the more you engage with it, the stronger it gets. But it’s not just about seeing great work; it's about actively analyzing it.

Find people who are respected in their field. Look at who they admire. Curate a list of tastemakers and surround yourself with their work. Study their designs, use their apps, read their books. Learning from the best is the best way to learn.³

And remember, taste evolves. What you appreciate today might change as you grow. Keep an open mind and keep exploring.

Practice

Taste alone isn’t enough—you need to create.

A designer should design. A writer should write. The more you practice, the sharper your instincts become. This isn’t just about developing good taste—it’s about becoming a tastemaker.

The things you'll create probably won't be good at first, but that's a good sign. Your taste is good enough to tell that your work is not on par yet. This phase is normal. Don't quit, it'll get better overtime.⁴

References

1. Personal Software - Lee Robinson ↩

2. This comes from an article by Emil Kowalski, "Developing Taste" ↩

3. Similar topic from article by Julie Zhuo, "On taste, part 3" ↩

4. The Taste Gap - Ira Glass. ↩