"Style used to be an interaction between the human soul and tools that were limiting. In the digital era, it will have to come from the soul alone"

This quote by Jaron Lanier speaks to the changing nature of imagination in the digital period. In the past, design was an item of the human soul communicating with tools that were restricted in their capabilities. This implied that imagination was often constrained by the tools available, and the artist had to work within those limits to develop something special. In the digital era, however, the tools readily available are far more powerful and flexible, permitting a much higher variety of innovative expression. As an outcome, style will have to originate from the soul alone, as the tools are no longer limiting the artist's imagination. This suggests that the artist needs to count on their own inner creativity and imagination to develop something truly special and unique.