Topia

2021Metaverse Platform

Oct 1

What I loved about this project:

Topia was never created to replace in-person experiences. It was created to allow large numbers of people anywhere in the world to connect in a meaningful way, that transcended the limitations of platforms like Zoom. It provided new opportunities for how we could play safely and naturally in a digital context.
Topia stood out to me in the metaverse space due to its accessibility (browser based), privacy (peer-to-peer RTC connections), ease-of-use (drag and drop interface), interoperability (embeds & integrations), potential to support independent creators (creator ecosystem) and the meaning it provided to participants (profound human connection, online).
Collaborating with the founders and team, whom I have co-created with since 2018 on numerous projects.
Being a part of Topia’s journey from idea to realization. Helped facilitate the platform’s emergence through advising leadership team and providing a container and inspiration for its first use (Immersiverse 2.0).
Inventing at the cutting-edge of what was possible in the metaverse.

Highlights:

Held the role of Experience Design Director and Creative Director.
Led the design process from original prototype platform to robust rebuild, across user experience and user interface design.
Worked directly with Topia’s lead investor (Seven Seven Six, founded by Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit) to design an experience that told their investment story. This took the form of three custom Topia worlds (see Quest for Greatness for that story).
Provided a concept for the Topia brand (including the name!) that both provided foundational brand assets and outlined the possibility for Topia’s role in initiating creator culture in the metaverse.
Developed an artist-in-residence program and created the first collection (see Ocean to learn more).
As one of the leaders, developed foundational internal systems and operational infrastructure.
Developed core platform assets in collaboration with a team of artists and created case studies to demonstrate their potential for use in practical use cases.
Lead advisor for new customers and partners who wanted to explore what was possible on the platform.
Helping Topia become industry-first in supporting NFTs within the platform.
Contributed to though leadership on the concept of creator economies, metaverse experiences and confluencer culture.