Benji Taylor’s observation recently sparked a pause:

Taste is maybe the biggest deciding factor in whether a product ends up feeling good or not, regardless of how much skill is involved.

In design, skill is foundational, yet taste is different. It's less about technical mastery and more about intuitive sensing of what feels true and right. It's an inner guide.

Developing taste is like tending an inner garden of impressions. Each encounter with thoughtful design – like the flow of Arc Browser, the visual harmony of Eagle, the gentle rhythms of Amie, or the quiet efficiency of Raycast – plants seeds. We absorb not just function, but sensibility.

To cultivate our taste, we must engage mindfully. When Raycast feels effortless, we ask: why this feeling? When Amie delights, we reflect: what principles are at play?

This isn't mimicry, but understanding design's deeper currents. Taste isn't a destination, but a journey of refinement. It grows with experience, deepened by reflection. The more we engage with thoughtful design, seeking the why behind the what, the more attuned we become to that inner resonance. Perhaps, this resonance is taste itself.