The rise of integrated tech and the decline of platforms
Platforms ruled the past, connecting people and transactions. But integrated tech is the future—a seamless loop of services enhancing each other. Europe risks missing out if it doesn’t adapt.
Hi, I'm Stijn
I'm a
digital product builder,
I
sometimes write,
like concepting/designing
new ideas
and take the occasional
photograph
Writings
The agency model is under pressure
Agencies are little factories, and have been for nearly three centuries. Creative hubs that produce campaigns, videos, advertisements, websites, webshops and all sorts of other things. Over time agencies have grown into a serious industry. But one that, underneath the ‘artistic’ still operates like an 18th century factory. How viable
The leadership miracle inside IBM
Inside IBM, a maverick team built the first PC, defying the corporate machine.
Bandit’s brilliant marketing reframe
Bandit’s unmarked apparel gave successful Olympic athletes a chance to signal they were open to new sponsorships, flipping the traditional model on its head and building deep brand loyalty in the process.
Think! Make? Perfect.
Creating is an infinite loop of thinking, making, perfecting.
The rise of integrated tech and the decline of platforms
Platforms ruled the past, connecting people and transactions. But integrated tech is the future—a seamless loop of services enhancing each other. Europe risks missing out if it doesn’t adapt.
The agency model is under pressure
Agencies are little factories, and have been for nearly three centuries. Creative hubs that produce campaigns, videos, advertisements, websites, webshops and all sorts of other things. Over time agencies have grown into a serious industry. But one that, underneath the ‘artistic’ still operates like an 18th century factory. How viable
The leadership miracle inside IBM
Inside IBM, a maverick team built the first PC, defying the corporate machine.
Bandit’s brilliant marketing reframe
Bandit’s unmarked apparel gave successful Olympic athletes a chance to signal they were open to new sponsorships, flipping the traditional model on its head and building deep brand loyalty in the process.
Think! Make? Perfect.
Creating is an infinite loop of thinking, making, perfecting.
Sudoku strategy
Crafting strategy is like solving a sudoku. The objective is to mindfully and correctly place the numbers at the beginning, so that the rest will fill in itself
Europe, don’t regulate yourself to the dark ages
The EU prides itself on being the global shepherd of big tech. The reasoning is that European regulations make technologies and products worldwide better, safer, and fairer. But reasoning is based on the assumption that there is one technology used for all products worldwide. But what if this
The problem-solution paradox
I'm in love with solving problems. From one to the next. But what do you do when you have a solution already? Redefine, reconnect with the problem.
The human-machine paradox
The Human-Machine Paradox reveals our struggle: we build machines for efficiency but crave human connection. The answer lies in balance—integrating empathy with digital convenience.
The AI illusion
Artificial intelligence as a new technology has captured our imaginations, made us marvel and dream. But AI as a magician, and AI as a technology, are two very different things.
On product thinking
"Producting" is different from prototyping. "Producting" is about creating ever tighter constraints, and allowing a value and method of consistently delivering that value, to emerge.
On my publishing
I write to think, to capture snippets of thought. I publish to concretise, to become clearer, and to create a record of how my thinking and observations evolve over time
On branding
Branding is about designing meaning. A tool elevate what is, to what it could become. And with that, a tool binds a shared identity. For startups, businesses and teams. Thus becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Take pride in simplifying things
I used to take pride in complexity. I still do. But i take more pride in simplifying complex situations. Bringing calmth and action, and a feeling of satisfaction
Aesthetic as truth
Trust your intuition to recognise beauty, and point you to be on the right path to solving a problem.
Define the problem
Don't forget to draft a problem statement and brief before starting
On strategy
Strategy is an agreed upon goal, and a set of limitation to achieve that goal. Strategy is about stakeholder management. Setting a goal, and aligning on it.
Satisfaction vs happiness
Happiness are the moments of joy that will not give their original spark as you repeat them. Seek out satisfaction instead
Expense or investment
Expenses are things you must pay regardless, investments is the upgrade that leads to more value. Seperate the two and you make your life a lot easier.
Iterate your way round a problem
I phrase, I architect, I design. Those are three modes of thinking I try and adopt, for basically every problem I want to tackle.
Sparkle of success
Social media thrives on the illusion of seamless success, enticing us with distant and relatable triumphs alike. Nietzsche saw jealousy as a compass, guiding desires. Amid life's chaos, others' victories offer solace and inspiration, yet can also evoke a pang of inadequacy.
Soapy handle
People can be aggressive in imposing opinions. The more aggressively an opinion is forced The higher the insecurity of the person who forces it
Four languages
I describe four language we speak. Not to communicate amongst each other. But to provide the grammar of our thinking
Optimism of perspectives
Conservatives find optimism in proven systems, while progressives seek flaws and alternatives. Their differing worldviews shape how they prioritize problems and solutions, highlighting the importance of understanding values in shaping perceptions of reality.
Good actors and the mirror of our emotions
We admire actors for their ability to transport us into different worlds and to express emotions, offering a reflection of our own humanity and providing guidance on dealing with emotions.
Logos - value of words
Engineers, adept with images and numbers, often overlook the power of words. Yet, to effect change, ideas must be communicated convincingly. Storytelling frames concepts, engaging emotions alongside logic for impactful presentations.
Notes
PHP moment
Inspiring optimism from SpaceX
Adidas and Puma
Europe’s five stages of grief
Mintzberg cycles of organisational change
Amateurs vs experts
Social climate change
Million dollar freelancers
Offshoring agency work
European cloud trend
Building in public momentum
Chaining bots
Disproportionate value of digital companies
Developer target market
AI is a catch-all term
The innovation overshoot in electric vehicle transition
The enduring files and folders paradigm
Dominating from the start
The curious thing about speed
The copilot wars
The illusion of data perfectionism
Product information authorities
Positioning statement
Hero ingredients
Price finding strategy
Co-created brilliance
The web as an OS
Thee Mile Island design
Marketing as a reminder
Service business toolmaking
Remarkably low prices of copilots
Actual valuable work
Speak your clients’ language
The new magic subscription price anchor
The marketing of open source SaaS
The allure of productivity systems
Rebranding safety to manliness
4 stages of career contribution
The AI assisted design sprint
What happened to TED?
Ever higher expectations from our tools
Digital public property
Platform word-inflation
The fox and the hedgehog
Doored room principle
The unintuitiveness of defining problems
Writing is thinking
Flexible rules
Noticing good questions
Optimism shift
Digital escapade
Free forever business model
Acting like an owner
Latent vs blatant problems
Quiet vacationing
Chatbot dip
What’s next for e-commerce
The commodification of e-commerce
Most software is not a tech problem
Excel is a whiteboard
The manufacturing clock mindset
Sentry’s mandatory innovation contract
Barefoot Development
Swedish Tech Wave
How Raycast standardises native Mac design of plugins
Multiple discovery
Paperlike tech
Making incremental sexy
Shiny new toy syndrome
What happened to the jawbone proposition?
The nostalgia harware hop
What is luxury digital?
Stuck app pricing model
SetApps business model
macOS & iPadOS
The downfall of the headless
The market opportunity for selling hardware AI servers
Paying for professional tools
Opportunity for open source companies
The LinkedIn - Mastodon - Twitter vacuum
Mid market valley of death
The search for content business model
Time for a more advanced iPad UI
The IT distrust problem
CSS’ comeback
The year for on-device AI
Programming syntax is beginning
Bard
Carry-ons
My corporation
Brands as political identity
Influence of stories and fake transparency
Topics of interest
Things that should exist
Inspired by things like requests for startups, I try and collect a list of things I would like to see more of in the world. I don't always have a clear idea how, but I feel this would make the world a better and more beautiful place. Problems
The business of software and the internet
Coming soon
Local-first and CRDTs
Coming soon
End-user programming
Coming soon
Value perception
Coming soon
Reinventing computer interaction
Coming soon
European tech
Coming soon
