imperfect
When musicians make electronic music, they add in imperfections to stop it sounding too mechanical to the human ear. They make one beat or instrument play slightly out of sync with the rest. Perfect metronomic melody is not something the brain likes to listen to. We need imperfection in order to relate to music.
Known as the "Pratfall Effect," research shows people who make minor blunders are often perceived as more likeable.
The imperfections you’re tempted to fix might prove to be what make the work great.
Rick Rubin • The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Found in places like Eaglehawk Neck in Tasmania, these natural rock formations have cracked into rectangular blocks. The imperfections in the pattern allow for better drainage and reduce erosion.
Architects sometimes design buildings with intentional flaws, such as a “wabi-sabi” approach in Japanese aesthetics. These imperfections make the spaces feel lived-in and welcoming.
Cracks in walls create strong footholds for climbers
In the olden days, map makers would purposefully add mistakes into their maps so they could detect forgeries others had made
Remember, people are often drawn to things that are done imperfectly. Whether it’s art, movies, or books, people tend to talk more about the flawed things that get stuck in their heads than they do the obvious, perfect things.
As Malcolm Gladwell says, “You want an aftertaste, and that comes from not everything being perfectly blended together.”
As Malcolm Gladwell says, “You want an aftertaste, and that comes from not everything being perfectly blended together.”