Designing the Aesthetic Self: The Incorporation of Artifacts into Aesthetic Habits

This article explores the concept of the aesthetic self, a dimension of personal identity shaped by aesthetic preferences, habits, and interactions with arti facts. Drawing on theories of habits and material engagement, it examines how everyday objects, beyond their functional roles, contribute to designing the aesthetic self. First, the notion of aesthetic habits is introduced as behavioral and mental pat terns formed through exposure and intentional practice. These habits enable aes thetic experiences, refine sensibilities, and structure preferences. Over time, they evolve through repeated interactions with artifacts, which scaffold aesthetic identity by fostering distributed agency and enhancing self-expression. Second, the article argues that aesthetic experiences arise not only from artistic objects but also from habitual engagement with everyday objects, such as chopping wood or writing. These practices gain meaning through familiarity and symbolic resonance. By inte grating artifacts into daily routines, individuals construct an aesthetic identity that merges functionality with existential and aesthetic fulfillment.