FrequenC
7901 4th St N STE 300
Frequenc X Nxc: Say Hello To The Future Of Entertainment
Client: NextCypher
Category: Strategic Campaigns | Marketing | 304c. Company Branding
About Project
NextCypher (NxC) is a next-gen entertainment company leveraging emerging tech to revolutionize media studios. They are taking us beyond “passive watch” streaming by combining IRL/online community, fantastic design and strong storytelling to bring its sci-fi and fantasy media productions to life.
Jeff Garzik, the visionary behind NxC, approached our agency, FrequenC, at the project’s inception. He wanted a concept and visual identity that could drive his vision to give entertainment the same belonging and nostalgia found in video games and comic books. He knows the power of story and identity to create a movement - he was one of the original pioneers of cryptocurrency, developing what would become known as “Bitcoin Core.”
He had a vision for using emerging technologies in media - and we had a vision for how to translate the video game and comic book aesthetic into a new cultural experience entirely.
As a creative agency for the next internet, we’re intimately familiar with the ups and downs a founder faces launching a web3 project. We jumped into the project and acted as Jeff’s second in command from concept board to studio launch.
Our first mission: develop a one-of-a-kind brand identity for NextCypher. We dove deep into the sci-fi world to distill branding that would 1) resonate with fans and 2) be evergreen enough to use throughout the development and production of the TV series. It needed to not only draw fans in but also communicate the studio’s potential to networks.
To make this happen, we built a completely custom NextCypher alphabet. Fans are immediately drawn into the NxC realm of sci-fi and emerging tech when they see our cyphers in action. Accompanying the alphabet is striking visuals. Merging two vastly different design styles, NextCypher designs integrate sci-fi’s glowing lights with comics’ distinct art style. Website visitors know NxC shows will bring them to different worlds - the visuals are step one.
Step two: build the NxC community. Our approach - deliver the ecosystem’s first NFT to celebrate existing members and onboard new ones. We designed the NFTs to have real-world purpose and strong rollout. We approached potential ambassadors within the gaming, TTRPG, fantasy, and comic spaces to build a roadmap for community growth. By connecting with the boldest and brightest in existing communities, we built a rock-solid foundation for NextCypher.
After the year NFTs have had, one thing is clear: a pretty design is not enough. To stand out in the space, we prioritized utility. Each NFT is a multipass gateway to every single NxC TV show and video universe. NFT holders also unlock incredible perks like graphic novels and private first-look watch parties. We want fans to feel celebrated and rewarded for their dedication to the community and content, and purpose-driven design is how we make this happen. It’s a win for Garzik and his team as well–the NFT buy-in is striking evidence of community support that speaks to the heart of any producer.
We’ve designed NextCypher as a swirling mix of sci-fi and web3, aligning breathtaking visuals with engaged sci-fi communities.
Credits
NextCypher hit the ground running, and we’re thrilled about the results. More than 100,000 people signed up for the mint, with 1,138 passes minted in total. Followers increased by 3200% in the first 3 days of launch. Coming from a team closely following the rises and falls of NFTs, this is a strong outcome, especially in the current crypto winter.
The studio’s success is most apparent in its work, and NxC has a clear path forward with its first two television projects, an action-drama series called Death Lands based on the bestselling book series, and Looking Glass, an original concept from Garzik. Looking Glass premiered as a graphic novel through NextCypher’s subsidiary, Words + Art.
Jeff speaks to the success of our work himself, “As a veteran in the web3 space it is rare to find a team that understands your vision and helps to bring it to life, not just in concept but in reality. The FrequenC team has been pivotal in the development of NextCypher as a brand, from the design to the implementation of all public-facing strategies, they have continued to push the envelope for creative thinking in design and marketing.
This project team included three people from FrequenC: Jules Dudko - CEO and founder; Dustin Helgeson - partner and managing director; and Sienna Ciudad-Real - social media manager, and Jeff Garzik - CEO and founder of NextCypher.
