I’ve always wanted a quote of my own. A sentence that captures a complex observation in a few apt words. An anchor for a thought that keeps returning. After much deliberation, I arrived at this:

“Where we win with tech, nostalgia arises, and we lose charm.”

— Maarten Meijer 😉

And yes, in my own professional field, this quote cuts painfully close to home, but I’m putting it out there to spark a dialogue. And it’s absolutely not an indictment of technology, but an invitation to critically examine what we call ‘progress.’ It’s the start of a debate, and naturally, I invited my own thinking for the first round. The counterarguments are as logical as they are predictable: technology doesn’t destroy charm, it creates new forms of it.

Think of the unique aesthetic of 8-bit games or the global interconnectedness that would be unthinkable without the internet. Moreover, the quote is a dangerous generalization. Medical technology that saves lives doesn’t rob us of charm; it relieves us of suffering. And sometimes, nostalgia isn’t the consequence of tech; rather, the resulting frustration and fear are the very fuel for it… just look at the countless filters that try to imitate the imperfection of analog photography.

And yet… despite the validity of these counterarguments, the essence of my quote continues to gnaw at me. Reality feels different.

Nostalgia

The hours I spent as a DJ digging through dusty record crates in search of that one unique track… that hunt, that thrill, that reward… has been replaced by the predictable efficiency of an algorithm. The deep craft of the photographer, who had to master light, chemistry, and patience, is captured in a one-click filter. The raw, mechanical sound of a V8 engine is simulated by speakers, a perfect but soulless echo. The mid-century furniture, built with craftsmanship and durable materials, is being pushed out by mass-produced retro copies that imitate the form but lack the soul.

The value lies not just in the end product, but in the process, the effort, the scarcity, and the authenticity. Technology is masterful at eliminating friction, but what if that very friction was the source of value and meaning?

About this series – TECH × CREATIVE × MAKER Mental Spaces

Mental Spaces are thoughts taking shape on paper: mental zones to create, to imagine, or simply to be still. They offer space to think — for the maker, the artist, the designer — and for the technology observing alongside.

In this blog series, I reflect on the evolving relationship between humans and machines, on creativity as an interface, and on the act of making in a time when systems often seem smarter than we are.
These texts are not statements, but suggestions. Not answers, but openings.

For those navigating the tension field of TECH × CREATIVE × MAKER.

Nowhere is this tension more palpable than in my own field: education. With EdTech, we can make enormous gains in efficiency, data analysis, and personalized learning. We can automate knowledge transfer and accurately measure student progress. This is the ‘win’ the quote speaks of. But where is the loss?

Charm

The ‘charm’ of education lies in its unpredictability. The unexpected question that turns the whole lesson on its head. The intuition of a teacher who senses a student is struggling, something no dashboard can measure. The creative chaos of a group discussion that leads to an insight not specified in the learning objectives beforehand. These are the ‘inefficient’ moments that transform learning from a transaction into a meaningful experience. If we’re not careful, we will design systems that polish away this crucial human friction, reducing the teacher to a manager of a learning platform.

Designing with Wisdom

This brings me to the final, philosophical question: what are we truly trying to solve with technology?

Are we solving problems of scarcity and inefficiency, or are we unconsciously eliminating the valuable struggle that defines our craftsmanship, our creativity, and ultimately, our humanity?

The challenge is not to shun technology, but to design it with wisdom. As a lever for our craft, not a replacement for it. Because not every win on a spreadsheet is a victory for the human scale.

Maarten Meijer — an Imaginologist. A conceptual thinker who moves between creativity, systems and strategy. I design visions, frameworks and futures that challenge the expected and open new possibilities.

My mission is simple: To initiate creation.
By disrupting fixed patterns, I help people think differently — to imagine what could be, and make it real.