The Problem with Modern Design Tools (And Why I Built Nstup Taste)

Look at any AI-generated design tool in 2026. The output is predictable:

• Purple-blue gradient hero section
• 3-column feature cards
• Generic SaaS pricing table
• Stock photo of diverse team meeting

This is what I call design slop — technically correct but aesthetically bankrupt.

The Pattern

AI design tools optimize for what's common, not what's good. The result is a homogenization of design where every product looks like every other product.

Nstup Taste

Nstup Taste is my anti-slop design system:

• No purple-blue gradients
• No 3-column layouts
• No stock photography
• Opinionated constraints that force better decisions

The Philosophy

Good design isn't about following trends — it's about making intentional choices that serve your content. Most AI tools optimize for the average, which by definition produces mediocrity.

Design systems should encode taste, not just components. Taste is knowing when to break the pattern.

Paul Rand's thoughts on design remain more relevant than any AI tool.