Think of it like this: If you want to help someone, you don’t start by guessing their age, job, or hobbies. You start by asking, “What are they struggling with?”
On a daily basis, we encounter new items such as products, pitches or NFTs art that strive to grab our attention and can potentially shape our engagement with them. These things may possess a WOW-factor that prompts us to take a closer look. By identifying the level of WOW-ness, we can gain a better understanding of its values and in turn, shaping our choices.
The expression “WOW” is used to describe an interjection of feelings to show impressive and excitement, often triggered by elements of surprise. However, it is important to note that originality is not always the driving force behind these feelings. In fact, it can be argued that everything is a remix where all ideas have been rearranged, modified, or reinterpreted in some way. The formula for this cross pollination is quite simple, 1+1+X = X. Yet not all the output will produce the same level of impressiveness and excitement.
By interpreting WOW-ness like a mental gauge meter, it gives me a better clarity to decide on my next course of action. It’s similar to understanding the depth of the ocean to determine the appropriate diving gear.
Different Shades of Wow-ness
Below is the different levels of Wow-ness that I have classified. It’s worth noting that this arrangement might be different for different people as its based on personal experience.
Chart of Wow
There are two perspectives: from the point of view of a consumer, it provides insight into the value that one hopes to gain from a product through the amount of effort that has gone into its ideation.
From the point of view of the creator, it raises questions about the longevity of the new idea and the value that it is trying to achieve.
The main objective is to cultivate mindfulness and actively listening to our initial reactions when encountering new experience, in order to broaden our appreciation for true beauty in all its forms.
Updated: 12 Apr 2025
“A mismatched assessment of our broad definition of ‘value’ can lead to a range of negative feelings: confusion, under appreciation, being patronised, awkwardness, resentment, and obligation. Positioning something as an artefact can be a tax on the receiver’s attention, passing on an unhealthy fetishisation, a net negative.
We can acknowledge that not everything should be positioned as an artefact, and recognise that things can sit comfortably along a spectrum of value”
Just because something is meaningful to you doesn’t mean it will (or should) be meaningful to someone else.
