Is the World Getting Uglier?
Summary
Ezra Klein and design expert Debbie Millman explore why the modern world feels increasingly drab or vulgar, contrasting the right’s maximalist aesthetic with the left’s minimalist default. They discuss how market logic, convenience, and algorithmic homogenization have flattened design, leading to a loss of individuality and emotional resonance in everyday objects. The conversation highlights the tension between functional efficiency and expressive beauty, arguing that intentional design and the friction of physicality are essential for a meaningful, non-sterile life.
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