Even in think-y land, so much depends on instinct, "taste" for problems/approaches, an aesthetic of ideas. Frank Oppenheimer points out that play is so important because it's one of the only ways adults hone their sense of taste. (from Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens)
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It's interesting to contrast this to the approach for developing style which Hamming recommends in The Art of Doing Science and Engineering—analytical, reflective, retrospective. But maybe this is a kind of "play," too.
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I've noticed that the people I surround myself with have a huge influence on this sense of taste. Collaborating with someone with a really different aesthetic often feels like a permanent upgrade! One of many reasons I'm so grateful to , , , etc