The Anatomy of Aesthetics 🪻

June 20, 2025

Hey there,

In my work as a Front-End developer, only part of the job is the actual programming — the other side is more creative, and it has to do with the actual interfaces, what users see on their screens, and how they interact.

That second part — the look, the feel, the vibe — can often be dismissed as "just the visuals." However, I've come to realise that aesthetics are far from just superficial. They're strategic.

They set the tone before a user reads a single word or clicks a single button.

The colour of a button can make you feel confident in clicking it. The spacing of text can make you trust the message. The layout can either invite you in or push you out. 👆

And it's not just in tech and the digital world. Aesthetics are everywhere: in the way we dress, our handwriting, and how we decorate our rooms. It's not just snobbery or "details" — it's a way of expression. They're how we tell the world who we are, before we even speak.

And here's the catch — whether you're aware of it or not, you already have an aesthetic. It could be crisp and intentional, but maybe it's chaotic and totally accidental. But, either way, you're saying something.

So the question isn't: do you have an aesthetic? It's:

Are you choosing it intentionally?

I've found that aesthetics work the same way.

You might think you don't "have a certain style," but that's still a style. A cluttered desk is a visual message. An outfit thrown together five minutes before heading out the door is also one. Your room, your browser tabs, your Figma files — they all reflect something (whether we acknowledge it or not). Whether you're aware of it or not, there's a pattern.

It's the same with people who look put-together. We often assume that means they have it all figured out. But maybe they just learned to curate the outer chaos before tackling the inner one. Or maybe they're using the external aesthetic as a skeleton, a scaffold, to hold the internal one in place. It's strategic in quite the life-engineering sorta way.

Aesthetics isn't about chasing luxury or flexing taste. It's about having taste to begin with, and displaying it through everything you do and surround yourself with.

And I believe taste is built, not bought.

Some things that helped me personally, in my journey of trying to acquire said taste:

• Taking photos of my space when it's clean — helps me remember what "good" feels like. This then goes into my vision for what an impeccable work/living space is.
• Buying fewer clothes, but choosing ones that feel like me.
• Designing Notion and other dashboards that are both useful and beautiful, so I actually want to open them.
• Spending an extra 10 minutes making side projects look the part, not just work behind the scenes. (I lied — it's taking hours, someone take the code away from me.)

It's weirdly satisfying when the things around you feel like they belong to the version of you you're trying to become.

Even if you're not fully there yet. 🛞

Weekly Insights

• The last 7-8 days felt like a mixed bag of events — both too much and not too much happening at the same time.
• On a positive note, I went and donated blood for the 2nd time this year! Even managed to bring a friend, so now it's partially a social thing, not just an errand. 🩸
• On a less positive note, I managed to misjudge some distances when backing out with the car, so now it has half its front bumper hanging off its otherwise pretty face. Nothing unfixable at the mechanic's (hopefully), but still left a nasty taste in my mouth, especially with how avoidable it all was. Oh well. 🤷

Movie Highlight: The Banshees of Inisherin

"The Banshees of Inisherin" is one of those random movies you stumble upon while going through the less popular TV channels that gets you curious enough to see how it ends, despite its otherwise simple premise.

It's a movie set in a coastal Irish-inspired village, where we meet the people who live their relatively simple lives there. The main character, Pádraic, is distraught when his best friend and drinking pal for many years, Colm, suddenly says he doesn't want anything to do with him. He doesn't take it well, and the 1st half of the movie is him begging for an explanation — he gets so insistent and desperate, that Colm threatens to start cutting off his own fingers if Pádraic doesn't leave him alone.

The second half of the movie expands on the growing tension between the two characters — one friend who wants to return to the way things were, and the other who wants to start anew without feeling guilty about the past. It's a very thought-provoking movie, and it manages to pack a lot of plot in an otherwise boring rural setting. It definitely gets you to reevaluate your relationships with people, think about the legacy you leave behind, and maybe even become more thankful for the people you have in your life.

It's an interesting movie for sure, maybe just not a movie everybody would necessarily like — a 7.5/10 in my book. 🍿

Worth Watching This Week

Just Set Systems, and You'll Level Up by Michael Fricker — a clear, no-fluff case for designing systems that quietly make your goals inevitable.

Why I Live a Boring Life by Captain Sinbad — a calm reframe on why a "boring" lifestyle can actually be the most exciting decision you make.

Closing Thoughts

Till next week, stay safe, stay curious, and keep kicking. ✌️