Product taste is perceiving the many dimensions of the problem and how each of them sways the experience. The more layers you see the better, but very few come close to seeing the whole rainbow. In some cases you would notice a product that pays attention to a layer or two many others have ignored and you start feeling seen, as do the users. A dimension can be anything: color scheme, timing, search parameters, sorting filters, white space, context, hues, reverb, or silence in sound... If you dig into the layers of language and copywriting, it’s even more fun.
Actually, this is the case with any kind of process. Sound judgement and taste have to be applied in any kind of process or it just becomes mindless paper pushing. Bureaucracies always are in danger of valuing process over judgement and that is the way they become ineffective, stupid, and soul crushing. I kind of like the saying that comes with the Japanese martial arts. It says 'everything depends on the quality of the individual'. That really is a very important truth that one can never forget or the results will not be pretty.
Firstly, Apples's creative selection sounds like a nightmare.
This would put so much selective pressure on anyone lower on the totem pole compared to their superiors, it is sure to cast aside good talent for making the slightest mistake, but Apple makes good stuff so what do I know.
Secondly, I was a bit frustrated with the conclusion of the article.
> What can you do to acquire better product judgment? How might you recognise when someone has it? How might you develop taste?
I think this read needs a bit of stewing on those very questions, otherwise it's quite discouraging indeed. If you can't even define what good taste is, this advice kind of breaks down a bit for the average person.
I’m willing to bet that the Apple anecdote is a bit exaggerated and that one minor mistake won’t get you banished forever. That said, Apple operates on a highly accountable empowered team model so I wouldn’t be surprised if a major mistake would have a major impact on your career. Remember that individual contributor product team members at Apple (and lots of FAANG-caliber companies) are founders or had more senior roles at other companies, so it’s not weird that they’re given a lot of responsibility and are highly accountable for outcomes.
This summarizes some problems I see in the day to day with ex Amazon folk trying to transplant ideas without understanding why the process was successful in the first place. Some good detail that might help with that.
"Taste" is like politics: it shouldn't have bearing on a professional setting or in the office. Some of the smartest, most well-motivated people I knew were completely tasteless. They weren't motivated by superficiality or keeping up appearances, they just did stuff.
