embrace the abandoned

We must remove the word ugly from our vocabulary. It is easy to dismiss something at first glance by labeling it “ugly.” Upon closer scrutiny, powerful inspiration can be drawn from even the most minute details. Every single thing on earth has some sort of unique appeal if observed closely and with nuance.  

• the way old gum stretches off the bottom of your shoe with each step you take 

• the infinite layers of knots in the hairball your cat coughed up

• the childish and curvy feel of comic-sans 

• the swishing noise a garbage bag makes when you are about to put it in the trashcan

• the mini universe you created in the smoothie you left out for a week

It is when you can determine the beauty in even the hardest things to look at that you will find your style. If you are the only person in the universe to find something beautiful, then no one else can use it as a basis for their creative process. Confining yourself with conventional beauty will only corner you into an area of normative thinking.

• embrace the abandoned

Design should elicit emotions. Ugliness triggers disgust, a strong emotion. Draw upon this feeling and manipulate it into whatever emotion you are trying to create. Defy the traditional standards of beauty and make people question why they like your work. Increase the attention they commit to what you have created and leave them demanding more. 

• push your audience outside of their comfort zone