The Goal: create A simple and Sophisticated Brand that compliments digital art
I recently helped refresh the brand for MakersPlace, an NFT marketplace. They facilitated the historic NFT sale of Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days, for $69 million but struggled to compete afterward. After assembling a skilled design team, we decided got to work and made the decision to shift the brand’s focus back to the artwork.
By scaling back the brand elements and allowing the digital art to take center stage, the brand now exudes a sense of refined elegance, allowing the art pieces to truly shine and captivate the audience. This deliberate shift in the brand's aesthetic has resonated with both long-time fans and newcomers, who are now able to fully immerse themselves in the innovative digital offerings.
the Strategy
Art First
Keeping the artwork and its creator at the forefront, not our brand. Every decision should highlight and uplift their work, so keeping simplicity with the branding was imperative.
Premium Look and Feel
Reflecting the art’s luxury status in everything we do. Staying polished and intentional, appealing to those seeking a premium experience. Through refined visuals and interactions, we emphasize the value of both our offering and the art itself.
Simple
Demystifying Web3 to remove confusion and create an intuitive experience. Prioritizing clarity over complexity, we help more people discover and engage with the art, regardless
Visual Principles
Monochromatic
The brand refresh effectively utilized the monochromatic design principle to create a cohesive and modern visual identity that emphasizes simplicity and sophistication through the use of either black or white.
Geometric
To maintain alignment with the simplified premium brand aesthetic, we focused on the use of basic geometric shapes rather than incorporating embellished brand elements. By prioritizing these clean lines and forms, we effectively communicate the brand’s identity without unnecessary distractions.
High Contrast
We focused on a black and white color scheme, utilizing both light mode and dark mode options. This approach was designed to enhance the visibility of the artwork, ensuring that the colors serve to complement rather than distract from the visual elements.