Aesthetics of 2026
==================

In Q2 2026, you should either max out being a specialist or max out being a messy/composer/glue layer (see [messy jobs](https://www.siliconcontinent.com/p/why-desk-jobs-survive-and-amodei)).
Here is some inspo for messymaxxing.

<style>
.aesthetics-image-grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
  gap: 0.75rem;
  align-items: center;
  margin: 1rem auto;
  padding: 0 1rem;
}

.aesthetics-image-grid img {
  display: block;
  width: 100%;
  max-width: 240px;
  height: auto;
  margin: 0 auto;
}
</style>

**Paul Laffoley**

<div class="aesthetics-image-grid">
<img src="/img/paul-laffoley-high-on-fire.webp" alt="Neon diagram poster with an eye, pyramids, and dense symbols">
<img src="/img/paul-laffoley-cosmic-diagram.webp" alt="Paul Laffoley diagram with concentric circles and labeled panels">
<img src="/img/paul-laffoley-xanatopia.webp" alt="Paul Laffoley's Xanatopia diagram with maps, cross-sections, and labeled panels">
</div>

**Matthew Ritchie**

<div class="aesthetics-image-grid">
<img src="/img/matthew-ritchie-wall-drawing.webp" alt="Matthew Ritchie wall drawing of tangled black lines and faint diagrams">
<img src="/img/matthew-ritchie-red-painting.webp" alt="Matthew Ritchie red and orange abstract painting with translucent marks">
<img src="/img/matthew-ritchie-eighth-sea.webp" alt="Matthew Ritchie painting with blue loops and gold branching marks">
</div>

**Casey Cripe**

<div class="aesthetics-image-grid">
<img src="/img/casey-cripe-human-sensorium.webp" alt="Casey Cripe's Human Sensorium diagram of the senses and brain">
<img src="/img/casey-cripe-neural-network.webp" alt="Casey Cripe diagram labeled inputs, hidden layers, and output">
<img src="/img/casey-cripe-virus.webp" alt="Casey Cripe virus diagram with a central anatomical figure and animal hosts">
</div>