kateHow Social Media and NFTs Have Affected the Way I View My Art
tldr; they haven't (original article was written on nov 26, 2021)Social media: choose your adventureA question for my fellow artists: when you think of social media, do you view it as a tool or a place for self-expression? I believe the most common response would be using it for both. Expressing ourselves through sharing our art online is so fulfilling; we can connect with the world through what we create. And then, there’s always the potential of an opportunity arising simply by existin...
kateClosing a Chapter and a Lesson on Complacency
original article was written on sept. 7th, 2020Being complacent is kind of like a video game with only side quests. You’re still leveling up, but you’re not actually getting anywhere.I’ve always had one big fear in lifeIn 2017, I quit my job and dropped out of college to pursue a career in web development. While my decision to attend a code bootcamp left me financially unstable (like, living off of credit cards unstable), it wasn’t the uncertainty that scared me. Instead, I feared what would ...
katei'm writing this to hold myself accountable
new beginningsA year ago, I moved into my own place to build the creative environment of my dreams—one I could use to cultivate ideas and rediscover myself. This space (appropriately named Kate HQ) would be the catalyst for focusing on my art, writing, and other endeavors. I had spent the three years prior doing this to some degree, but I was ready to go all in. I wanted the experience to allow me to come fully undone; I was prepared to spend a year of my life focused on what it means to pour...
making web3 look cool ✧ 3D artist ✧ inspired by video games ✧ seeking characters to join my party but, like, in real life🧃
kateHow Social Media and NFTs Have Affected the Way I View My Art
tldr; they haven't (original article was written on nov 26, 2021)Social media: choose your adventureA question for my fellow artists: when you think of social media, do you view it as a tool or a place for self-expression? I believe the most common response would be using it for both. Expressing ourselves through sharing our art online is so fulfilling; we can connect with the world through what we create. And then, there’s always the potential of an opportunity arising simply by existin...
kateClosing a Chapter and a Lesson on Complacency
original article was written on sept. 7th, 2020Being complacent is kind of like a video game with only side quests. You’re still leveling up, but you’re not actually getting anywhere.I’ve always had one big fear in lifeIn 2017, I quit my job and dropped out of college to pursue a career in web development. While my decision to attend a code bootcamp left me financially unstable (like, living off of credit cards unstable), it wasn’t the uncertainty that scared me. Instead, I feared what would ...
katei'm writing this to hold myself accountable
new beginningsA year ago, I moved into my own place to build the creative environment of my dreams—one I could use to cultivate ideas and rediscover myself. This space (appropriately named Kate HQ) would be the catalyst for focusing on my art, writing, and other endeavors. I had spent the three years prior doing this to some degree, but I was ready to go all in. I wanted the experience to allow me to come fully undone; I was prepared to spend a year of my life focused on what it means to pour...
making web3 look cool ✧ 3D artist ✧ inspired by video games ✧ seeking characters to join my party but, like, in real life🧃
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Being onchain means digital freedom just as much as financial freedom.
We’ve entered another bull market, and while all eyes are on DeFi and memecoins, I haven’t stopped thinking about the other untapped potentials.
The very same that would make being onchain fun for everyone.
And I’m talking fun for the sake of fun—not fun in the form of make-number-go-up.
Years ago, many of us creatives were drawn to this new evolution of the internet.
We were promised a space where we’d own what we create onchain and build identities around what we curate.
Finally, we could break free from tech conglomerates; what I create and curate onchain is mine, I can prove it, and you can’t take it away.
This alone was enough of a use case for us.
But then, many of us were pushed out of the new internet because our art wouldn’t grant holders access to a yacht party or whatever.
Suddenly, my “success” onchain was tied to how much my portfolio was worth.
Onchain art was ruined because NFTs were reduced to just another investment.
Most exclusive “communities” just wanted members so their token would go up.
Identity became a word everyone seemed to forget.
The focus became utility.
And with that, many of us left or went quiet.
But we need to speak up now.
These voices have hardly been represented over the last few years. How can we build the future if it’s only built for one archetype?
Today, “crypto” is everywhere.
Today, most people also have no idea that crypto is simply the technology that powers web3 (or now, more commonly known as being onchain).
Crypto ≠ Onchain
Being onchain should be cultural and inclusive of all types of people.
Wanna focus on making as much money as possible?
Cool! Here are some apps for your investing, staking, and trading needs.
Wanna build your onchain identity so you don’t have to rely on Big Tech?
Great! Check out these social apps, games, and platforms for all your creative needs.
Ready to show off that identity?
Nice! Here are some ways to put that identity to good use so your friends can check out what you’ve been doing onchain.
…and there are so many more.
My point is, today, most people are only really aware of the first point: making money.
One could argue that this is “fantasy coded” — that ownership alone has been proven as an ineffective incentive to onboard people, that our industry exists to make money, and that its main draw is so users can make money, too.
But think about it:
What does “onboarding the masses” actually mean?
You can make executing a transaction as fast and seamless as possible, but what does that matter if we’re not giving someone an actual reason to collect something? To be a part of something more significant than just the NFT they minted?
I’ve worked as a designer full-time in this industry for years.
One observation I’ve seen time and again is that people like to blame the lack of adoption on poor UX patterns.
But really, it goes much deeper.
When asked what I’m most excited to solve, I always come back to this problem:
Why should users even mint in the first place if we’re not giving them a chance to realize their full potential of being onchain?
We need to start here.
More apps won’t save us, especially if they’re all clones serving the same persona.
It’s been years since my last article about onchain culture, but my core values as a builder, artist, and user have not changed.
No matter what you’re here to do, you have a voice in shaping the future of this space.
I’ve spent too much time ruminating over what I want from this evolution of the internet.
Ultimately, it comes down to this:
I want it all.
I’ll enjoy DeFi for all it has to offer; I’ll buy memecoins with my friends; I’ll build an onchain identity that is reflective of me as a person; I’ll sell my art as a form of passive income; I’ll collect art for no other reason than “I like it”; I’ll find or build ways to showcase my activity onchain in a way that’s actually fun.
Make onchain culture weird.
And more importantly, make it your own.
Being onchain means digital freedom just as much as financial freedom.
We’ve entered another bull market, and while all eyes are on DeFi and memecoins, I haven’t stopped thinking about the other untapped potentials.
The very same that would make being onchain fun for everyone.
And I’m talking fun for the sake of fun—not fun in the form of make-number-go-up.
Years ago, many of us creatives were drawn to this new evolution of the internet.
We were promised a space where we’d own what we create onchain and build identities around what we curate.
Finally, we could break free from tech conglomerates; what I create and curate onchain is mine, I can prove it, and you can’t take it away.
This alone was enough of a use case for us.
But then, many of us were pushed out of the new internet because our art wouldn’t grant holders access to a yacht party or whatever.
Suddenly, my “success” onchain was tied to how much my portfolio was worth.
Onchain art was ruined because NFTs were reduced to just another investment.
Most exclusive “communities” just wanted members so their token would go up.
Identity became a word everyone seemed to forget.
The focus became utility.
And with that, many of us left or went quiet.
But we need to speak up now.
These voices have hardly been represented over the last few years. How can we build the future if it’s only built for one archetype?
Today, “crypto” is everywhere.
Today, most people also have no idea that crypto is simply the technology that powers web3 (or now, more commonly known as being onchain).
Crypto ≠ Onchain
Being onchain should be cultural and inclusive of all types of people.
Wanna focus on making as much money as possible?
Cool! Here are some apps for your investing, staking, and trading needs.
Wanna build your onchain identity so you don’t have to rely on Big Tech?
Great! Check out these social apps, games, and platforms for all your creative needs.
Ready to show off that identity?
Nice! Here are some ways to put that identity to good use so your friends can check out what you’ve been doing onchain.
…and there are so many more.
My point is, today, most people are only really aware of the first point: making money.
One could argue that this is “fantasy coded” — that ownership alone has been proven as an ineffective incentive to onboard people, that our industry exists to make money, and that its main draw is so users can make money, too.
But think about it:
What does “onboarding the masses” actually mean?
You can make executing a transaction as fast and seamless as possible, but what does that matter if we’re not giving someone an actual reason to collect something? To be a part of something more significant than just the NFT they minted?
I’ve worked as a designer full-time in this industry for years.
One observation I’ve seen time and again is that people like to blame the lack of adoption on poor UX patterns.
But really, it goes much deeper.
When asked what I’m most excited to solve, I always come back to this problem:
Why should users even mint in the first place if we’re not giving them a chance to realize their full potential of being onchain?
We need to start here.
More apps won’t save us, especially if they’re all clones serving the same persona.
It’s been years since my last article about onchain culture, but my core values as a builder, artist, and user have not changed.
No matter what you’re here to do, you have a voice in shaping the future of this space.
I’ve spent too much time ruminating over what I want from this evolution of the internet.
Ultimately, it comes down to this:
I want it all.
I’ll enjoy DeFi for all it has to offer; I’ll buy memecoins with my friends; I’ll build an onchain identity that is reflective of me as a person; I’ll sell my art as a form of passive income; I’ll collect art for no other reason than “I like it”; I’ll find or build ways to showcase my activity onchain in a way that’s actually fun.
Make onchain culture weird.
And more importantly, make it your own.
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