SUMMARY:
This proposal details the formation of the Creative Services Group as a subgroup within the Product Workstream. The purpose of the Creative Services Group is to make creative content in alignment with the ShapeShift brand.
ABSTRACT:
This group is proposed to be a new squad within the Product Workstream, resulting in a slight expansion of the responsibilities handled by Products to encompass design services for other workstreams. My proposed role is to be Director of Creative Services, as a new full-time member of the Product Workstream, and squad leader of Creative Services Group.
MOTIVATION:
Companies in the crypto space are highly brand-focused: SushiSwap, Olympus, Maker DAO, etc. Sustaining ShapeShift’s strong aesthetic and branding guideline is essential in pushing forward as an industry leader.
The mission of Creative Services is to provide design-oriented and brand-focused creative support, guidelines, and guardrails to the myriad of projects the DAO will take on. This includes internal projects from workstream members, bountied designers, and content creators from the community.
SPECIFICATIONS:
The focus of this squad is to help all ShapeShift workstreams communicate effectively, supported by engaging content that is aligned with the brand of ShapeShift DAO. This support can come in the form of:
Product marketing management
Product launch process management
Graphic design services
2D/3D animation
GIF / Sticker creation for Discord / GIPHY / Tenor
Video production
Creative writing
Producer services:
Story visualization
Script services
Video translation production
Closed / Open Captioning
Talent coordination and management
Instructional design
Creative project management
NFT creation & sales
It is anticipated that the production needs will be handled by myself for these first 6 months, and by bounties when additional production support is needed. I will serve as a project manager and designer, also function as a group manager to coordinate and curate design talent for future projects, as we look toward expansion.
Hoff remains the ShapeShift brand director and Diggy will continue to serve as the Director of the Product Workstream, to whom the Creative Services Group will report.
BENEFITS
An all-encompassing design group allows ShapeShift to be competitive within the crypto ecosystem, projecting a polished, professional image in all that we DAO. Every product we make should have a compelling story and visual identity that resonates with the community.
As a part of Product Workstream, we can provide product launch services to effectively inform and delight customers as new products come to fruition. As we move further into decentralization and open-source, the community will continue to drive so much more of our future. It is imperative to take charge of our image, establishing boundaries for new designers that want to be ShapeShift DAO contributors.
A Creative Services Group allows me to do what I’ve been doing for the last few months: design, animation, video, and much more. However, I get to do this unfettered from the burden of holding two jobs simultaneously, or without having to budget bounties for every small job.
BUDGET
NOTE: This proposal is for a “vote of confidence” in launching the group in 2022, and for the creation of the role. The budget will be approved with the renewal of the Product Workstream.
The budget for this squad will add $122,000 to the Product & Design Workstream over the next 6 months, covering some initial equipment costs, salary, utilities, stock elements, and additional expenses such as bountied design services, trade shows/conferences, and benefits. I anticipate the first two months being a phase-out of my previous job, overlapping one full month and a perhaps second month of contracting with my previous employer. Details will be disclosed in the Product and Design Workstream proposal.
Non-salary items that go unused (stock elements, bounties, conferences) will go back to the DAO.
DRAWBACKS
The only drawback I see is cost. I think we have some opportunity to offset with revenue-positive projects such as YAT integration, OpenSea integration, NFT creation, and possibly even creative production services for other DAOs.
VOTE:
A vote “Yes” means: you support the creation of the Creative Services group within the Product workstream, and approve me (@Graymachine) to be the Creative Services Director.
A vote of “No” means to reject the Create Services group and the full-time role of Creative Services Director.
