For a utilitarian government building, a blank concrete wall is a finished product.

But for St. Peter’s Basilica in Italy? “Finished” included painstakingly carving stone so it resembled twisted rope and other intricate textures—even in places so high overhead that most visitors couldn’t possibly notice them.

Two different contractors worked on two different buildings. And both had extremely different ideas of what “done” looks like.

So when someone charges you a cheap rate for “a website”, that’s the same as someone charging you a cheap rate for “a building.”

Generally speaking, we tend to get the level of craftsmanship we’re willing to pay for.

In the age of AI, this is more true than ever.

For a great TED Talk on the societal damage caused by people who make ugly buildings, check this out.