Comment by somethoughts | Hacker News Reader

Comment by somethoughts | Hacker News Reader

The two comments/critiques I would have on the article are:

- Having a shared global design aesthetic also means there are likely open communication channels through which a shared global understanding might be achieved. If the citizens of the world can understand and appreciate each other through design, what else might they understand and appreciate about each other?

- Instead of critiquing existing designs - it'd be helpful to have a vision of what locally culturally distinctive designs for a coffee shop or AirBNB could look like. Help us readers envision what a better world - that's more "design inclusive" - might look like.

The advice to the author would be - "use your outlet to be the change you want to see." Highlight that cafe in Mexico City... or Morocco... serving coffee authentically that us readers should visit.[1][2]

[1] Mexico City coffee chain - Cielito_Querido_Cafe - looks distinct from a hipster SF coffee shop -

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d24591...

[2] Morocco coffee chain replicating across Asia - Bacha Coffee - also distinct from hipster aesthetics

https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/restaurants/bacha-coffee

> If the citizens of the world can understand and appreciate each other through design, what else might they understand and appreciate about each other.

While I don't discount the utopian sentiment behind this, it elides the fact that it is not all citizens of parts of the world understanding each other, but rather specific subsegments of the same. So while young, well-educated, white collar urban professionals might grok each other's vibe, that is immaterial even as we head into what seems to be a new era of nationalism and tribal competition.

Agreed - and it is that backdrop of growing nationalism where it might actually be beneficial to have a small subsegment of the population in every country which shares a common, unifying belief in the design perfection of a global hipster coffee shop.

Coming to an AI near you.

I mentioned it in another comment, but this has parallels to the Irish Pub.

I think we can just admit that good design is good design. This is extremely appealing to business owners because minimalism equals low setup costs. It’s also appealing to patrons because it’s aesthetically pleasing.

Some things become popular around the globe because the idea is so universally appealing. Coffee itself is a great example of such a phenomenon. Most coffee shops aren’t located in places that grow coffee.

> Instead of critiquing existing designs - it'd be helpful to have a vision of what locally culturally distinctive designs for a coffee shop or AirBNB could look like. Help us readers envision what a better world..

I agree, but then I'd argue that simply pointing out the homogeneity of cafes (and everything else) might have been the author's goal. To just make you stop and think. The finding of that authentic cafe is left as an exercise for the reader.

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