Conceived by Sebastian Errazuriz studio, CollectAR is designed as a premiere NFT marketplace platform specifically focused on augmented reality-based artwork. My task was to create a mobile first design for this platform concept.
Tasks
My focus points for this project were:
A) Create a Wireframe for the CollectAR B) Style the application
C) Provide a viable mockup for investors D) Easy interface and straight forward purchasing process
What is an NFT?
An NFT represents digital assets such as art, collectibles, and other media. It is encrypted with a unique signature, similar to how cryptocurrency coins have unique identities on the blockchain. This unique code makes it possible to authenticate ownership of a digital asset, thereby increasing its rarity and scarcity.
Viability Of CollectAR
While designing out CollectAR, Sebastion (Studio Director & Founder) wanted an online auction house platform that incorporated the elements of a normal NFT website but focused on a subsect of art mainly focused on augmented reality-based work. Being a Designer, who works in the field of augmented reality, Sebastian wanted a platform for this subsect of artists that provided the capabilities for the art to be previewed in a three-dimensional space on mobile instead of just a flat image on a phone screen, something currently not being provided in the NFT marketplace. Aesthetic-wise, the platform was akin to Instagram's personal feed that simulates a polaroid photo style feed, something that doesn't take away from the work itself and is easily organized.
Wireframing & Capabilities
CollectAR’s focus is on Augmented Reality NFTs and the artists that created them, from this starting point the application branches out to Artist profiles, market boards and collections of patrons who are able to resell their purchases if they so choose to. The platform itself deals with money through extensions in which wallets can be connected to their owner’s browsers, and through this they may purchase work and pay artists. From this point the platform is managed in the sense of curation of artwork added, for at the beginning focus would be heavily placed on developing the CollectAR brand. Management would also select artists for interviews, promotions, and campaigns to build a strong foundation for future interactions, and at a certain point the marketplace would be more accessible and open to newer artists. Functionality that would seperate CollectAR from competing marketplaces would be the Augmented Reality capabilites of the platform so patrons are able to view the work on their device or connected headset.
Afterthought
An aspect very different from normal online market places is the way in which accounts are designed. Unlike normal accounts, those that use the capabilities of cryptocurrency generally are using a decentralized system in which to purchase and sell products and that hinders certain capabilities, while expanding others. One such aspect is the lose of an account, if this was to occur, the platform itself would not be able to retrieve the data back, through smart contracts and such, digital products and such are handed off and the platform is safe and attentive when handling the product but after the handoff, CollectAR is not able to do anything further if something were to occur to the product or account it is currently linked to after sale, and such. I bring this up as a design hurdle because of how it affects User Experience, for what do you do when you can’t do anything for a patron that has lost access to their account? Generally it would be a password reset or talking to a customer representative, but that isn’t really viable when its a decentralized system that is more horizontal in structure than vertical. At most, a designer can implement warnings, tips at sign-up, a waiver for non-liabilities, emails discussing the subject and lastly, a very in-depth guide that is promoted. Through these small developments, the patron/artist is provided some form of precautionary safety net and support in this form of marketplace.