Tech:NYC
Tech:NYC is a nonprofit organization that focuses on growth and sustainability of New York’s tech ecosystem. By advocating for policies that support innovation, creating connections among industry leaders, and promoting NYC as a global tech hub, Tech:NYC plays a role in shaping the future of technology in the city.
Service
NFT illustration
For Tech:NYC, I designed the Volunteer 'badge'—a thank-you NFT awarded to 30 core contributors of a Tech:NYC event focused on educating students (ages 16–26) about crypto and NFTs. Their summer program supported 600 students, helping them prepare for careers in the tech industry.
Below are three drafts I explored: the left design symbolizes technology and program completion, the middle draws inspiration from NYC’s iconic grocery bag with its ‘Have a nice day, thank you’ smiley, and the right leans into a badge or patch style, meant to be worn on clothing or accessories. However, none fully captured the essence of New York, technology, and gratitude. So, I went back to the drawing board
When reworking the concept, I drew inspiration from a vintage Apple computer, incorporating colors and geometric patterns from the iconic NYC coffee cup along with it's message of gratitude. For the background, I adapted a design from a previous project; a trending ‘vaporwave’ aesthetic to resonate with the youth-focused nature of this initiative.
The final NFT design was well received, subtly nodding to NYC without feeling kitsch while incorporating a retro aesthetic that resonated with both adult volunteers and students. It was a blast working on this small yet meaningful project.