In the modern software landscape, the ability to build a functional product has become commoditized. With the advent of AI tools, shipping a product that 'works' is no longer a unique competitive advantage, as basic functionality is now accessible to a much broader range of creators. Consequently, the differentiator for a successful product has shifted toward brand, design, and the overall intuitiveness of the user experience. This shift mirrors the evolution of the automotive industry, where cars became a commodity and aesthetic details and quality became the primary means of differentiation.
'Taste' is defined not merely as a personal preference, but as a trained instinct—the ability to see beyond the obvious and recognize what elevates a product. Developing this instinct requires intentional exposure to high-quality work. For designers, this means studying great designs; for writers, reading great books. The goal is to analyze the patterns of greatness rather than relying on gut feelings. This involves moving beyond surface-level appreciation to understand the specific choices made by experts, such as why a particular interaction feels good or why a director made a specific creative choice in a film.
This image represents the core theme of the article: how aesthetic and experiential quality differentiates products in an era of software abundance.
Cultivating taste also requires a cycle of practice and critique. Creators must produce work to become better judges of quality, even if early iterations are subpar. A gap often exists between a creator's taste (their ability to recognize good work) and their skill (their ability to execute it). Seeking feedback from respected peers can accelerate this development. However, the process also involves a critical trade-off: while taste is essential for differentiation, it must be balanced against practical execution and user research. Over-emphasizing aesthetic taste without grounding it in user testing or clear exit conditions can lead to unsystematic design choices that prioritize form over functional utility.