US – Decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) platform Metaphor is ditching the dark and moody visuals that dominate the Web3 space to create a more approachable aesthetic. The goal of the platform, which makes it easier to ‘discover, join and participate in DAOs’, is to empower users to enter the Web3 eco-system.
The rebranding uses nostalgic visuals and retro images to make the cutting-edge technology feel more familiar. Designed by creative branding agency Wildish & Co, the visual identity uses images from the public domain to create over 200 background options and 1,000 avatars that can be combined to create various scenes. The studio also applied a 1950s filter over the images to ‘encourage people to be excited about Web3 in a similar way to how people were excited about technology during that period’, explains Sam Fresco, managing director of Wildish & Co.
While DAOs represent the bleeding edge of Alternet Economies, that doesn’t mean that their aesthetics need to be off-putting to the everyday consumer. To help onboard new users, Metaphor is injecting its platform with familiar images and nostalgic visuals.
Strategic opportunity
Technology companies should consider straying from the typical tech tropes to build more tactile and inclusive visual identities