Marieke Dekker is Head of Strategy at SuperHeroes, an independent, international creative agency “on a mission to save the world from boring advertising”. Here, Dekker names the individual who has inspired her the most in the world of digital media…
Who is your digital hero?
Neri Oxman, founder of OXMAN Studios and former tenured professor at MIT.
She’s known for work that fuses biology, technology and art in order to reinvent everyday objects, for the benefit of both humanity and nature. If you don’t know her yet, check out the episode about her on Netflix’s Abstract: The Art of Design.
What have they done to win hero status in your eyes?
She’s a visionary in merging digital technologies with nature-inspired processes.
I find it incredibly inspiring how she gets her inspiration from nature’s forms and systems. And then treats digital technology as a collaborative partner to produce solutions that are not only innovative but also sustainable.
Her work shows what’s possible when our digital tools and human imagination collaborate with the intelligence of nature, instead of fighting against it. It’s truly inspiring.
How has their heroism helped drive digital?
Her work and vision inspire digital professionals to see technology as a collaborator, not just a tool to be optimized or feared.
And she reminds us that the ‘magic’ happens when we look beyond screens and code for innovation – drawing lessons and inspiration from nature and life itself.
What are the biggest challenges in digital we need another hero to solve?
AI slop. It harms users, the environment, creators, and the credibility of AI output.
What is your most heroic personal achievement so far in digital?
At SuperHeroes, we’ve successfully founded two creator collectives in the past two years.
JIMMY brings together some of the world’s best CGI and AI artists to create truly thumb‑stopping work that sparks curiosity and makes people wonder. LOIS unites exceptional visual storytellers who help brands share stories that feel true, powerful, and unforgettable.
Together, these collectives produce earned‑first work that has generated hundreds of millions of earned views. It shows that quality work thrives – even in a time of AI slop.
