In my previous job at a branding agency, I was overcome by a strange sensation of detachment from the world around me. My colleagues seemed to possess an almost reverential devotion to beauty and an instinct for knowing when an aesthetic choice was “just right”.

Everything in the studio was carefully curated, from the mugs (the same as the ones Apple uses in its headquarters) to the imposing library filled with collectable coffee-table books and niche magazines. A typical lunchtime conversation bounced between the latest tier-zero sneakers, sleek countryside hide-outs, under the radar festivals, hi-tech fabrics, obscure fonts and single origin coffee beans. Every day, we indulged in a five-course lunch, complemented by a tastefully designed menu.

There was much to love, but I never felt able to embrace it to the full. The indulgent world of aesthetics inside the studio contrasted sharply with the barrage of upsetting news that showed the world outside sliding steadily into chaos.