Is the World Getting Uglier?

The world is increasingly defined by a sense of vulgarity and drabness, driven by a lack of design intention and the relentless pursuit of market efficiency. Graphic designer and educator Debbie Millman argues that while intentional ugliness can be subversive, modern design often suffers from a lack of proportion and purpose, resulting in interchangeable infrastructure and soulless environments. This aesthetic flattening stems from an attention economy that prioritizes shareability over human experience, alongside a market logic that favors standardized, frictionless assets over unique, tactile objects. As public spaces become saturated with corporate branding and residential design shifts toward resale value rather than personal expression, the loss of individuality undermines the emotional connection between people and their surroundings. Ultimately, the struggle for beauty reflects a deeper conflict between convenience and the desire for meaningful, deliberate human expression in the built environment.