On Aesthetic Attraction
Thesis
Design choices are rarely isolated. They emerge from systems, not taste alone.
Aesthetic attraction is often discussed as instinctual or visual taste. In practice, attraction tends to organize in patterns. What feels appealing at a given moment often correlates with broader conditions rather than isolated preference alone.
These patterns shift with circumstance and exposure. While multiple forces may be present, attraction typically organizes around a dominant influence.
The categories below outline several core forces that frequently shape aesthetic attraction, offering a lens for understanding how preference takes form.
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Select a force to explore. Multiple may apply at once.
A framework for how aesthetic attraction tends to organize: