A series on building the muscle of discernment — so you can tell the difference between what you genuinely love and what you’ve just been conditioned to want.
The Case for Taste
Most people never stop to ask themselves why they like the things they do. Not because they lack taste — but because no one ever told them it was worth examining.
I didn’t think much about this until recently. A friend and I were walking through the Carol Bove sculpture exhibit at the Guggenheim, openly talking through what we liked, what we didn’t, and why. It felt unremarkable to me — just a good conversation. But afterward, she mentioned that some of her friends wouldn’t know how to navigate that situation at all. The confession she relayed stopped me:
“Am I supposed to like it? What do you want me to say? How long should I be there for?”
Up until this conversation, it had never dawned on me that these thoughts crossed peoples’ minds when in an art museum. I’ve always found great solace in art museums. From getting lost in the creator’s process, to understanding the context of their lifetime and the influences of their work. Little have I realized that over decades, I’ve worked to develop these opinions, my stances of taste and preference rooted in design rationale and references, but not everyone does.
What I realized, ascending that cylindrical ramp of the museum, is that I’d spent fifteen years in rooms where having a point of view was the whole job —
- The fashion showrooms of my 20s flashed through my mind with memories of collection reviews before going to market;
- The corporate creative campaign reviews before a product launch;
- Even the stylistic arguments I’ve had with corporate lawyers over UI/UX design for the best end user experience…
- All rooms where having a point of view wasn’t optional — and where I was building one without realizing it.
Beyond Simply a Preference
Taste in how I’m referring to it is more than simply opinions and preferences. I’m talking about all things in number two:
1. Personal Preference (Psychology)
Liking: A personal inclination, fondness, or affinity for something.
Example: “I have an expensive taste in watches” or “She has acquired a taste for black coffee.” [1, 2]
2. Judgment and Style (Sociology and Aesthetics)
Discernment: The ability to judge, appreciate, and understand beauty, art, fashion, and behavior.
Aesthetic Quality: Manner or style that reflects this discernment.
Example: “He has impeccable taste in interior design” or “That outfit is in poor taste.” [1, 2, 3]
Discernment isn’t a personality trait you’re born with. It’s a practice. And like any practice, it starts with a single question — one worth asking every time you reach for something, pin something, save something, or say I love that without knowing exactly why. Do I like it or do I just see it everywhere?
Do I like it or do I just see it everywhere? That’s what this series is here to work through. If you’re in the process of figuring out your own taste — what it is, where it came from, whether it’s actually yours — drop a comment below or find me on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn ✨
