WHY?

The Noggles LED Keychain circuit video blew up on Twitter with lots of excitement! This is an opportunity to create a low-cost, yet highly sought after and unique piece of hardware that fits in your pocket and carried daily with you. From conversation starters in person to unboxings and showing off on social media, this device is sleek, a standout, and an instant proliferator.

My speciality is creating exceptional and memorable digital and physical experiences through a variety of mediums (i.e. installations, hardware, web, 3D, etc.) working with notable brands such as my ongoing partnerships with Arduino; building conceptual prototypes, fashion brands such as Christopher Kane and Selfridges, and most recently, creating an exclusive audio-reactive hardware for Zora (under Lychee, Inc - company I cofounded).

With 58k followers across my socials where 90% are avid hardware enthusiasts, there’s an exciting opportunity to introduce and build a new branch of applicability to Nouns via the Noggles LED hardware device and its CC0 files, giving them a new tool to develop firmware, create physical nounish projects and iterate further.

Explorer Grants has led me here and I think there’s a lot more that Nouns and I can do together to create beautiful nounish objects, art pieces, experiences and more! Having a shared vision to build in the public domain; to open source for more creativity, collaboration and innovation – I think by embracing Nouns and my unique pov as an artist, we can produce captivating nounish creations that showcase the best of both our perspectives and amplify our collective creativity. To leave not only lasting impressions, but the foundational blocks to build upon further and allow other people’s creativity to flourish!

TLDR

• Requesting 75Ξ (across 6 months with ~18.5% return if all units sold):
  • Fund the development and production of 600 Artisanal Noggles LED keychains
    • 50 units of Supply to the DAO + 100% Profit / Mint Revenue to the DAO
    • 50 units used for gifting, raffles, etc. → for marketing purposes
    • 500 units available to mint / purchase for 0.025ETH
    • Costs for building hardware, prototypes, designing enclosure, packaging, firmware dev and liaising with manufacturers to source production deals with suppliers
    • Build Website to purchase: front-end & back-end with custom NFT + smart contract
      • include all open-source files and development of the 6 nounish projects I’ve made during Explorer Grants
  • Marketing → via my socials @tigrisli
    • Create TikTok / Reel content with “making of video” and “how to make”
    • High distribution → potential of reaching +100,000 viewers from my socials
    • My audience: 90% hardware enthusiasts and creative engineers (direct marketing + distribution)
      • Show hardware enthusiasts and DIY electronics builders that they can build with Nouns, embody the brand’s identity and fuel their own creativity, with Nouns!
        • Bring new applicability of Nouns to hardware engineers → developing nounish hardware and firmware
    • My Media Kit - Overall Stats:
      • Total Followers: 58k
      • Total Video Views: 10.7M
      • Engagement Rate: 39.9%
  • CC0 everything → code, hardware, schematics will be open-sourced so anyone is able to reproduce the keychain themselves → all files will be available in public domain

Proposal

I was first funded by Explorer Grants (prop 178) and took the opportunity to create 6 experimental hardware pieces: a Nouns Governance Wallet, USB E-Ink Displaying Daily Nouns & Props, Etch-A-Sketch, Noggles LED Keychain, Noggles Speakers, and the Nouns Camera.

One of these objects stood apart from the rest and got a lot of attention on Twitter. The desire to own a unique Noggles LED Keychain led me directly to create this proposal.

Nouns has the opportunity to lead the way in creating unique hardware-based artwork that many people want to own; setting new standards for innovation and creativity, that aren’t only visually stunning by highly coveted by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

With my strong social presence and commitment to open-source content, I believe I can help reinforce the Nouns brand beyond crypto. Directly through my own brand; in addition of building conceptual hardware and art installations I document videos of those builds that reach over 58,000 followers and have amassed a combined total of +10.7 million video views with a 39.9% engagement rate.

Why the Noggles LED Keychain?

• Daily-carry item, it’s an effective means of promoting Nouns and serves as an important signifier and physical representation of the Nouns identity. Its power is in its subtle daily constant that’s unavoidably carried everywhere - making it a strong means of connecting people with the Nouns community.
• Daily signifier → instant proliferator
• Affordability → low costs
  • Estimated purchase price: ~$50 (0.025Ξ)

Hardware Specs:

• Array of 78 RGB LEDs
• Customized pattern animations (firmware)
• Button to alternate between the patterns
• Rechargeable lithium battery via USB-C

Who For?

I have a high niche community of hardware enthusiasts (Instagram + TikTok) and people in Crypto (Twitter) – I think these Noggle LED Keychains will perfectly hit both demographics, especially as it will all be open-source.

• Nouners + Nouns Community
  • this is an artisanal nounish object, a beautifully designed novelty item
  • a tangible semiotic Nouns device that you can carry with you daily and fits in the palm of one’s hand
  • direct symbol and “show” of being part of the Nouns community
• Hardware Enthusiasts
  • Typical RGB LED add-ons for Arduino / Raspberry Pi can cost upwards of $50, but the Noggles LED Keychain offers an affordable alternative with a programmable ATTINY85 chip and x78 compact RGB LEDs
  • Designed with CC0 and for hacking / tinkering, Noggles LEDs provide hardware enthusiasts the opportunity to evolve the code and proliferate Nouns by applying it to their own projects, including larger hardware projects such as IoT and the application of sensors.
    • new applicability of Nouns → developing nounish firmware
  • Show hardware enthusiasts and DIY electronics builders that they can build with Nouns, embody the brand’s identity and fuel their own creativity, with Nouns
  • Hardware builders and creative engineers are well-positioned to explore exciting possibilities of crypto, but haven’t been shown ways of getting involved. I think with the Noggles LED Keychain (and other Nounish hardware) we can bridge this gap and show them what’s possible!
  • 3D Printing Enthusiasts / Product Designers (sub-group typically part of hardware builders)
    • CC0 enclosure files enables engineers and designers to create their own unique versions of the Noggles enclosure with a variety of materials and customizing it to their liking
    • This opens up new opportunities for creative evolution, allowing engineers to physically make their own nounish objects and explore new design possibilities

The proposal includes the development to build, design and prototype the Noggles LED Keychain with a production run of 600 units- working with manufacturers and liaising with suppliers to meet industry standards and construct the PCB circuit from scratch, complete with a custom software and firmware that will be open-sourced, and a designed enclosure with custom packaging - all to go into production with a custom website for purchasing.

To bring the Noggles LED Keychain to market, the project will be divided into 6 stages over a 6 month period, with a total cost of 75Ξ to cover production, design costs, prototyping iterations, hardware components, material costs, material sourcing, labour, etc.

An overview of the steps to build the Noggles LED Keychain

1. PCB Circuit Design: This involves R&D for components, block diagrams, MCUs, preliminary design, schematic design, and PCB layout design. I'll also create multiple prototypes for testing
   • Already in progress, currently on Prototype–V2, will need to iterate and adjust minor circuit design + components; at least 1-3 more prototypes to reach finalized design
2. Software / Firmware: This includes coding the firmware to run the circuit, integrating the firmware with the hardware, and testing and debugging the product
   • 90% complete - tweaking and evolving design patterns
3. Enclosure Design: Create mockup sketches, conduct research and ideation, develop 3D models and CAD designs, and source materials and manufacturers for the enclosure. We'll also create and test three prototypes

   • Resin based material → variety of colours

   • Engraved text → will discuss with Nouners to ensure it accurately reflects the DAO and your values

   • Need to prototype, finish CAD design, create moulds and experiment with resin material and colours

     • Will be handmade by me <3
4. Manufacturers: Liaise with suppliers and vendors to source the necessary components
5. Packaging: Design, prototype, and source packaging materials for the product.
   • Very Early-Stage Packaging Concepts / Mockups (design will evolve with further development and ideation) → thinking about unconventional packaging and a unique experience that accurately reflects Nouns
     • Nouns Tin Can Packaging

       • I want to challenge traditional packaging designs, especially to fit Nouns → make the packaging compelling in of itself and unexpected but embodying the playful and nuanced identity of Nouns

         

6. Website – an Overview of Purchase Strategy (Crypto and Non-Crypto natives)

   • Access open-source files, code, schematics + guides to “hack / tinker” with the Nouns LED Keychain to create custom pattern colours → CC0

   • To purchase a Nounish Hardware

     • Pay with Crypto → crypto consumers → also obtain NFT
     • Pay with Card → non-crypto natives → proliferating meme / Noun
       • mainly thinking about my main audience on TikTok / Reels are not crypto-based but hardware enthusiasts and creative technologists / engineers

   • Mockup Designs(initial ideas → 3 different concepts; to be developed further):

     

Allocate Supply to the DAO (50 units) + Profit to the DAO (100%)

I’m very grateful for the opportunity and support the past few months as I’ve been exploring Nouns, as a thank you I’d like to supply 50 units of the Noggles LED Keychain as NFTs which can be redeemable at a later time.

I’m most keen and excited about getting this hardware to as many hands as possible and proliferate Nouns in a new tangible format, which I wouldn’t be able to do at such a scale without the support of Nouns.

So simply being paid for my time to build, experiment and co-create with Nouns is massively rewarding! With that, I’d like for the DAO to have a return on this project so 100% profit / mint revenue will go to the DAO and my hopes are to continue developing a series of Nounish Hardware and pieces after the completion of this first prop.

• In addition to this, 50 units will be raffled / gifted for marketing purposes
• 500 units in circulation for purchase for 0.025ETH

Breakdown of Costs / Funds Requested – 75 ETH across 6 months with ~18.5% return if all units sold

Manufacturing – 14 ETH

• PCB Circuit Manufacturing: component costs, assembly, setup fees, shipping and customs
  • 600 units + extra 100 units as buffer for quality control (additional units will be available to sell if there are no issues with the supply)
• Enclosures for Circuit Board
  • Material costs, 2-5 prototyping iterations; resin, 3D printing, laser engraving, etc.
  • 700 units in a resin enclosure with engraved text
• Keychain (hook + chain)
  • 700 units (incl. 100 for quality control), high quality → Lever Side Key Ring & 30mm Chain Nickel Plated
• Packaging
  • 700 units (incl. 100 for quality control)
  • Manufacturing sealing; requires unique machinery to seal the tin cans
  • Other materials; foam inserts for protection, paper manual, etc.
• Shipping & Customs Charges

Prototyping — 6.5 ETH

• PCB Circuit
  • 1-2 more prototype iterations (2 prototypes already made)
• Enclosure
  • Material costs, 2-5 prototyping iterations; resin, 3D printing, laser engraving, etc.
• Packaging
  • 2-3 prototype iterations as it is a very unconventional and unique way of packaging and ensure quality of material and design of branding on the tin cans are accurately and beautifully made
• Shipping & Customs Charges for Prototypes

Shipping & Delivery – 6.5 ETH

• Mailer Boxes
• Worldwide delivery (from UK)
• UPS insurance

Labour + Time – 48 ETH across 6 months

• Tigris (hi ! 👋 ) – 8 ETH/month
  • Fully leading creative direction and development for hardware, enclosure, packaging, website design and everything in between !
  • Website design + coding front / back-end, hosting, smart contract integration
    • Setting up website infrastructure for all open-source files of nounish projects I have developed and made (and will continue to make)
  • Custom Circuit Design + iterations + components / supply chain sourcing
  • Enclosure design and development
  • Packaging design and development + sourcing
  • Firmware development
  • Designing the NFT, creating 3D animated asset
  • Liaising with manufacturers for production and sourcing deals with them
  • Handling distribution and assembly
  • Video production, editing for socials (via me / my Tiktok and Instagram – Marketing Influencer Route)
  • Potentially going to Shenzhen, China to work directly with Manufacturers for 3 weeks
    • due to my unique manufacturer connections, I’m able to liaise directly with them to ensure quality checks and production speeds are up to standards and reduce any supply errors
    • also can easily ensure assembly is done correctly, particularly due to the unique packaging and as it is an electronics good → legal paper works and certificates will be associated and complied directly with manufacturers so it will reduce any potential shipping issues with customs

Deliverables

1. Nounish Hardware → 600 Noggles LED Keychains

   • 500 available for purchase at 0.025ETH
   • 50 in supply to the DAO (as NFTs, redeemable at a later time)
   • 50 used for gifting and marketing purposes
   • Custom Designed Circuit Board (PCB)
     • R&D components, supply chain, schematic design, PCB layout design, prototypes → into market-ready product
   • Firmware and Software for hardware
   • Designed UI/UX Interface
   • Custom Designed Enclosure– CAD design, material sourcing + prototypes
   • Unique Packaging Design + prototypes
   • All files ready for manufacturing and production
   • CC0 on all firmware, enclosures, and hardware – open sourced
     • hardware will be “hackable” to customize, expand and elevate code / functionality / hardware experience

2. Website to Purchase Hardware + Access Open Source Files

   • Designed website; front-end & back-end with smart-contracts for NFTs
   • Obtain CC0 open-source files; firmware, enclosure, etc.
   • Ultimately want to create a “hub” for CC0 of beautiful nounish objects that you can physically make or own

3. NFT for Noggles Keychain

   • Likely to be 3D Animated
   • For purchase via crypto
   • NFTs → burn to redeem for the DAO

4. TikTok / Instagram Videos showing the making of:

   • My Media Kit – Overall Stats:
     • Total Followers: 58k
     • Total Video Views: 10.7M
     • Engagement Rate: 39.9%
   • Filming, editing, post-production, etc.
   • Audience: 90% hardware enthusiasts and creative engineers

HEY HI HELLO ! – More about me

https://tigris.li Instagram / TikTok / Twitter – @tigrisli

Born and raised in Montréal, Canada. Tigris is a Creative Technologist and 3D Motion Designer based in London with an experimental approach to the concept of love. Particularly, designing experiences and interactive installations that examine the relationship between humans and technology to foster emotional intelligence.

Formerly a national figure skater turned Minecraft Youtuber with 1 million+ video views at the age of 12. She now shares her practice to millions via Instagram & TikTok to educate and empower the next generation of innovators in electronic engineering and experience design.

In 2022, Tigris released a limited edition book to accompany her exhibition ‘Data Romantics’ at 180 The Strand’s Reference Point on February 14. Data Romantics was an experimental dating lab / exhibition challenging the conventions of modern dating to investigate the concept of love in a society desensitized and infiltrated by digital culture.

After founding Lychee, Inc. in 2022 – a cultural technology company, alongside Eugene Angelo. Tigris is focused on building open experiences in the form of hardware to capture memories, emotions, and moments in time; new cultural primitives.

Selected Features, Talks, & Press Dazed, Vice Media, Samsung Home of Innovation, Tate Britain, Arduino, Zora, 180 Studios, New Currency, Cybr Magazine, Selfridges, BuzzFeed and Sunday Times.