How to Cultivate Good Taste: On Taste, Part 3

"Cultivating good taste is possible for anyone. It just takes time and effort." This piece is a guide for anyone who wants to become a distinguished critic like Anton Ego from Ratatouille, or simply wants to develop better taste. The author presents six ways to improve your taste, suggesting that these can elevate the level of your creation, criticism, or simple appreciation.

1. Believe that good taste exists.

"Good taste and bad taste exist." The core of this piece begins with this belief. The author acknowledges that the standards of "good" and "bad" can be ambiguous, but emphasizes that qualitative differences clearly exist in the creative world. Of course, not everyone needs to worry about these standards. Sometimes a simple intuitive reaction of "cool" or "meh" is enough.

But if you have passion for a particular creative field or want to achieve excellence in it, cultivating good taste is essential. As the saying goes, "your work can never exceed the level of your taste" — good taste plays a crucial role in producing better output.

2. Find people with good taste.

"Recognizing people with good taste is the first step." To cultivate good taste, you first need to find outstanding creators or critics. Make a list of people whose work or analysis you admire or instinctively agree with.

• Tips:
  • Start by finding respected figures in the field.
  • Look at who they respect and whose work they reference.
  • Repeat this process to expand your list.

This process isn't just about finding people with "good taste" — it helps you understand the values and perspectives they hold.

3. Immerse yourself in their values.

"Learning from the best is the best way to learn." Once you've found people with good taste, dive deep into their work. Use the apps they've created, analyze their portfolios, read their books, and watch their films.

• Ask yourself questions:
  • What works did they consider excellent?
  • Why did they evaluate them that way?
  • What is their working style like?

This process allows you to learn far more than simply consuming lots of work. You learn to see the world through their lens.

4. Always critique.

"Don't stop at 'good' or 'bad' — think about why." To improve your taste, don't stop at feeling "cool" or "meh" — analyze why you feel that way.

• Ask yourself questions:
  • What was good about it?
  • What didn't you like?
  • Were there any illogical or inefficient decisions by the creator?

The author says "critical perspective is like a muscle. The more you practice, the stronger it gets." If you're a designer, don't just use an app — analyze its design and interaction patterns. If you're a writer, after reading a book, savor the last sentence and reflect on the emotions and message the work left behind.

5. Exchange ideas with others.

"Your own thoughts have limits." To determine whether your opinions are truly insightful or merely personal preference, you need to have conversations with others.

• Be specific:
  • Which parts were good, which parts fell short.
  • Have deep conversations about style, themes, and details.

The author says, "73% of what I learned about design came from conversations like these," emphasizing the importance of exchanging opinions.

6. Practice by doing.

"You learn more from practice than observation." To cultivate good taste, you need to go beyond observing and experience creating firsthand. When you experience failure in the creative process and understand what success looks like, you gain a deeper understanding of what good taste really means.

• Important point:
  • After creating, you must seek honest feedback.
  • Criticism can be painful, but it's always the right choice.

Conclusion: Anyone Can Cultivate Good Taste.

"Good taste isn't innate — it's learned." The author says cultivating good taste is a skill. The fact that anyone can develop better taste with effort and time makes this a hopeful and comforting message.

Finally, let's recall the famous line from Ratatouille: "Anyone can cook." Likewise, anyone can develop good taste. It simply requires consistent practice, deep immersion, and an open mind.

Key Takeaways

• Good taste: It exists, and it can be cultivated.
• Finding role models: Seek out great creators and critics.
• Immersion: Dive deeply into their values and work.
• Critical thinking: Always ask "why?" and analyze.
• Exchange: Grow by sharing opinions with others.
• Practice: Create firsthand and experience both failure and success.

"Good taste is the beginning of good work." Are you ready to take your taste to the next level?