Aesthetic and design are at the forefront of popular culture. With accessible manufacturing processes, and affordable material it’s easier to get our hands on well designed objects. Having a home that mirrors Architectural Digest, Interior Design and Martha Steward Living, is achievable on a budget.
In high school, while living in England, my dad and I got into Minis. The great thing about a Mini is that they are affordable, making them modifiable to a ridiculous degree. I poured over magazines filled with Mini kits, where you could purchase a fiberglass body that would turn your mini chassis into just about anything, from a Viper to a Jeep. Endless possibilities.
At the time I didn’t understand why anyone would buy an actual Porsche when I could buy a replica at a fraction of the cost.
It’s extremely convincing and makes financial, and aesthetic sense. Except for when it comes to quality.
Cars are probably not the best example, Minis and VWs can be very nice and produce an excellent driving experience. Instead think of this as a metaphor.
As I get older the bigger the role quality plays. Quality is more than longevity of the object, it’s about how it’s used, what it feels like, the experience etc.
While I use my phone and computer to take digital notes I love the quality of my writing experience with a paper notebook.
The democratization of commodities has been driven by cost, which opens up access. This decisions sometimes comes at the cost of quality.
This is hugely gray area, and there’s no way to put a standard in place for everyone. Quality is like art, it’s dependent on the person. The point I want to make is that quality should be a factor when considering the objects we use and the experience we create.