XpressionXpress
- 38720 USDC
- Trademark requested
A cross-platform tool to make emoji packs based on your NFT. In a few clicks, holders can generate a set of graphics based on their Moonbird for use in apps they use for daily communications (e.g. WhatsApp) that represents them, and even share them for wider use. This will be initially exclusive and free to use for MB holders, with the intention of opening it up for paid use by other communities.
About the project
A cross-platform tool to make emoji packs based on your NFT. In a few clicks, holders can generate a set of graphics based on their Moonbird for use in apps they use for daily communications (e.g. WhatsApp) that represents them, and even share them for wider use. This will be initially exclusive and free to use for MB holders, with the intention of opening it up for paid use by other communities.
Mission alignment
- Create experiences or products which directly benefit holders
- Promote the Moonbirds and Mythics brand beyond web3
- Elevate Moonbirds and Mythics within the web3 community
Community backers
bricho; dimesdeuce; emmitt_art; gribbz.; nftapas; opl1110; pommesfrites.
What is it?
Our PFPs are us, but often lose relevance in our daily lives outside of web3. Digital self-expressions on daily communications platform are limited to predetermined range of stock image emojis. It takes too much time and effort to create custom graphics and load onto the platforms of choice. But we would be remiss if we didn’t use this powerful way to ingrain brands into culture – emoji/stickers on daily communication platforms.
No available tool allows a one-click generation and easy export of entire sets of emojis/stickers from digital assets. Instead, one would need to create custom graphics, adjust to appropriate formats to each platform and export.
This project will build a browser-based tool to allow unlocking of digital assets for use as expressions across different communication platforms – no editing, coding, or other technical expertise required. It combines the use of algorithms, art and design to generate graphics, and will focus on the EmojiBox. The full vision would include a future second component that is a .gif generation engine, the .gifBox.
EmojiBox: web3 emoji engine
With a click of a button, holders initiate the “unlocking” event to free their birbs from the shackles of only living on the blockchain. This generates the first set of digital emoji/sticker pack (10-15) based on the birb, give a chance to customise (e.g. add text), then be exported to communications apps (e.g. WhatsApp). Subject to the capabilities of the platform, these may be kept exclusive or shared.
Creators can also contribute directly to the library of emojis and possible customisations. We will build the rails to enable creators to contribute to the brand building process, for themselves, for their assets, and for the wider community. As the LS enables the creation of the tool, the EmojiBox will be initially for exclusive use for MBs, with the intention of powering (paid) use for other communities and retaining continued free use and unlocking new graphics for MBs.
How does it benefit the Moonbirds and Mythics holder community?
Call: “seize the memes of production”
Answer: “unlock your jpegs for self-expression”
Brand awareness is crucial for brand-building. This project builds the rails for MBs to spread their brand. This is an action initiated by the holders, sustained through the pervasiveness & virality of the web, while staying true to the north star of celebrating art and creativity. Here, it takes on one of art’s most relatable forms in communication, recognising and allowing all our inner creatives to bloom.
About the team
Project management (a.girl.)
a.girl. has a track record of more than a decade of contributing to the development and management of projects of various sizes (ranging from $100k - $11m+). As a day 0 birb minter and nestooor, a memooor and a prolific emoji-user, a.girl. is also in this space as a believer in the ethos and spirit of “web3” and the potential of blockchain.
Resourcing & advising (Mark Pavlyukovskyy)
Founder and investor, Mark exited his first company, Piper after raising $15m in VC funding from top investors in silicon valley and the world in 2018.
He was invited to go to New Zealand during the pandemic and started a $15m VC fund investing into the local tech ecosystem: https://www.nzvc.co.nz/ To date the fund has backed over 35 innovative companies including 7 crypto ones.
He is also a partner at a blockchain development studio (MCB) where they've developed extensive NFT and crypto projects: https://mycreativitybox.com/
He has a degree from Princeton and dropped out of his Machine Learning PhD at Oxford to pursue his first company. He will be leading the MCB team that will develop this project.
Access to Mark’s team composed of graphic designers, illustrators, and developers (both blockchain-specific and general full-stack devs). This team consist of the necessary skills and experiences needed to execute this project.
Product strategy
Building these will take place in three phases:
Phase 1. Pilot (10-12 weeks)
This phase will be building out the basic technical rails for use in EmojiBox. In this phase, emoji graphics will be prepared by the designer on the team, and this will be used to generate emoji/sticker packs for Moonbirds.
Phase 2. Open for contributions (4-6 weeks)
This phase will provide the ability for creators to directly add to the library of stickers/emojis. Parameters and templates will be provided for creative contributions from the whole community and beyond. Working within these parameters, users can be the creators and suggest ideas on what they want to create and use, and make these available for the rest of the community.
Phase 3. The great unchaining begins (continuous)
This phase will open up the fully built EmojiBox for use to other CC0 projects and those who choose to license their IP. Project owners can request to “unchain” (unlock the use of the assets from just living on the blockchain) their projects for use or community members can request to “unchain” their specific assets for use – at a cost. The cost for this would be used to maintain the tool and continue creating designs for new graphics to use in EmojiBox, including those for the OG community of Moonbirds.
What are the risks?
Demand (for paid use)
Demand from projects or individuals willing to pay for this service will, to a certain extent, correlate to the market conditions.
To try to mitigate this risk, targeted outreach to communities and specific members of communities may help. There are many strong established communities that would be worth a concerted effort for outreach, including outreach to individuals within those communities. Especially because members of these communities have already been establishing their personal brand based on their PFPs. It would only be natural to want to extend this representation and self-expression to daily communication tools.
Use (by moonbirds)
This is intended to be a free service for moonbird holders who are interested in using it. However, the conditions right now may mean that holders might not know about this.
To try and mitigate this risk, in addition to official Lunar Society communications throughout the process, there will also be outreach and communication to various sub-parliaments of holders (where different holders may be more active).
What will the money actually be spent on? Do you expect any other money to come in related to this project, e.g. revenues?
Funding will be used to develop the tool that will enable emoji creation and customisation.
The EmojiBox - an emoji engine for generating sticker/emoji packs across different platforms
For this, the breakdown of funding will go towards:
- Illustrator and graphic designer
- Animator
- Developers (full-stack, blockchain)
- Community outreach
The proposal is for the estimated budget of 10 weeks (400 hours) of senior dev time (at ~$60/h; $24,000), 11 weeks (440 hours) of illustrator/design time (at ~$28/h; $12,320), 2 weeks (80 hours) of animator time (at ~$30/h; $2,400) with voluntary time contributions for project management, community outreach and advising/resourcing for launching the project; totalling at the amount requested of $38,720.
Ongoing costs for maintaining the tool and creating new graphics for EmojiBox will be covered by revenue generated from paid users and communities unlocking the use of their assets through XpressionXpress.