Can you unsee things?

If you ask any graphic designer who has an eye for typography, they would tell you that they are cursed for life. It is impossible not to spot odd spacing and kerning.

Certain things, once you know them, cannot be forgotten. But this doesn’t mean it is wrong or that not be don’t be done differently. The line between intentionally odd spacing and carelessness is very thin. The design is in the details, no doubt.

But the problem is that this one “mistake” can take away the pleasure of enjoying the other aspect of the design. Is there no room for imperfections? Or are these really imperfections?

A friend of mine recently mentioned the same thing with pottery. She cannot unsee the negative space between the handles of mugs because she has been taught and trained to make mug handles in a particular way. Later, she also realised that there is no right or wrong way to do this.

Instead of critiquing design or objects through your own lens, is it possible to step out of your own ego and observe things for what they are? Our opinions do give the uniqueness to the work we make as artists and designers, but they should not take away from appreciating the work of others.