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1/ Introducing the "Held" Bitcoin node shell.
A few weeks ago I announced my personal brand, and hinted at it "laying the foundation" for something bigger
The first demonstration of that starts with a personally designed node produced by @cryptocloaks
http://danheld.com/shop
A few weeks ago I announced my personal brand, and hinted at it "laying the foundation" for something bigger
The first demonstration of that starts with a personally designed node produced by @cryptocloaks
http://danheld.com/shop
2/ Note that I am still happily employed at Kraken. This project a hobby.
For the first batch of 100, all of the proceeds go to @cryptocloaks who produces them by hand.
For the first batch of 100, all of the proceeds go to @cryptocloaks who produces them by hand.
3/ Why design a Bitcoin full node shell?
A full node is a representation of sovereignty.
And hardware full nodes represent a physical manifestation of a Bitcoiner’s connection directly with the Bitcoin blockchain.
A full node is a representation of sovereignty.
And hardware full nodes represent a physical manifestation of a Bitcoiner’s connection directly with the Bitcoin blockchain.
4/ State of node design today
Full nodes have become easier to use over the years, but the form factor hasn’t changed much. So I decided to see if I could make full nodes feel exciting in the hopes more people would decide to run one.
Full nodes have become easier to use over the years, but the form factor hasn’t changed much. So I decided to see if I could make full nodes feel exciting in the hopes more people would decide to run one.
5/ Currenlty there is an emotional disconnect with a Bitcoiner and their node, which I wanted to capture with the Held node shell.
It should feel futuristic.
it should look revolutionary.
We’re on a mission to give people freedom after all :)
It should feel futuristic.
it should look revolutionary.
We’re on a mission to give people freedom after all :)
6/ I worked with @Cryptocloaks over the last 6 months to design what I think represents those traits.
Note that working on a physical (3D) product, but communicating in 2D was extremely difficult.
Note that working on a physical (3D) product, but communicating in 2D was extremely difficult.
7/ Like with my personal brand, I needed to begin with moodboards (nearly the same as my personal brand mark)
https://www.behance.net/collection/26710917/Personal-Branding
https://www.pinterest.com/danh6734/stasis/
https://www.behance.net/collection/26710917/Personal-Branding
https://www.pinterest.com/danh6734/stasis/
8/ First rounds of sketches
We first iterated via back and forth with pages of sketches in my Rollbahn notebooks. I’ve designed every product I’ve ever worked on in those books including @hoverappio , @zeroblock, @blockchain
Below is from one of those pages
We first iterated via back and forth with pages of sketches in my Rollbahn notebooks. I’ve designed every product I’ve ever worked on in those books including @hoverappio , @zeroblock, @blockchain
Below is from one of those pages
9/ 3D rendering
From there @cryptocloaks took the sketches and began rendering them using his 3D modeling tool.
We tried out several different styles, including giving the ventilation accent colors.
We also considered glow in the dark plastic where you see the white.
From there @cryptocloaks took the sketches and began rendering them using his 3D modeling tool.
We tried out several different styles, including giving the ventilation accent colors.
We also considered glow in the dark plastic where you see the white.
10/ Edges
Here’s where I introduced angled corners to give it a bit more of an edgier feel. Issues we worked through:
- Too narrow of angles for the 3D printer
- Miscommunication w/ 3D > 2D comms
Here’s where I introduced angled corners to give it a bit more of an edgier feel. Issues we worked through:
- Too narrow of angles for the 3D printer
- Miscommunication w/ 3D > 2D comms
11/ “Glowing” edges
We started to play around with having the corners “glowing” and this was one of the few iterations on that. Eventually this style would incorporated.
We started to play around with having the corners “glowing” and this was one of the few iterations on that. Eventually this style would incorporated.
12/ Ventilation Inspiration
Below are graphics I pulled from the moodboards which captured the look and feel of what I wanted from the shell ventilation. However, something was missing.
Below are graphics I pulled from the moodboards which captured the look and feel of what I wanted from the shell ventilation. However, something was missing.
13/ A breakthrough
While I was moving, I found my old Xbox Kinect. It was precisely what I was looking for! The ventilation looked futurist, while also hiding the internals unless you looked at it from exactly the right angle.
While I was moving, I found my old Xbox Kinect. It was precisely what I was looking for! The ventilation looked futurist, while also hiding the internals unless you looked at it from exactly the right angle.
14/ Ports
While they’re normally unsightly, or tucked in via an indentation, we wanted to make these flush with the wall.
While they’re normally unsightly, or tucked in via an indentation, we wanted to make these flush with the wall.
15/ Top panel
I wanted the light to shine through the top panel in order to give the node a “Glowing” feel. Also, we wanted easy access to the interior so Bitcoiners could modify their node at will.
I wanted the light to shine through the top panel in order to give the node a “Glowing” feel. Also, we wanted easy access to the interior so Bitcoiners could modify their node at will.
16/ First iteration on the top, but we had a bit of a miscommunication on the top ventilation and the center design. This would later be changed to the “H” brand mark.
17/ Now it was to design the interior.
We had to strike a balance between form, function, and ease of assembly.
We had to strike a balance between form, function, and ease of assembly.
18/ I was hoping we could do a hollow or latticed structure to allow more light to come out, but alas that would increase costs and time to production (you can see that in the render).
19/ In parallel to designing the node, I had been constructing my personal brand with @portdesignco. This was the final brand mark we landed on, which is the H that is used on the top of the box.
20/ From render to build
This is where we truly start putting the pieces together.
This is where we truly start putting the pieces together.
21/ LED light installation
Now that we had figured out the lid, interior, ventilation, we now needed to install the LED lights!
Now that we had figured out the lid, interior, ventilation, we now needed to install the LED lights!
22/ The final print
After 6 months of work it was incredible to see it all finished!
A true proof of work.
After 6 months of work it was incredible to see it all finished!
A true proof of work.
23/ Did I make running a Bitcoin full node easier? No.
Did I make it a bit more aesthetically pleasing which might entice people to run one? I’d like to think so, but it’s up to the market to decide :)
I encourage everyone to make Bitcoin more beautiful, simple, and easy to use
Did I make it a bit more aesthetically pleasing which might entice people to run one? I’d like to think so, but it’s up to the market to decide :)
I encourage everyone to make Bitcoin more beautiful, simple, and easy to use
24/ A reminder, you can buy this node at http://danheld.com/shop
And don’t forget to sign up to my e-mail newsletter if you’re interested in hearing more about my work and thoughts!
https://danheld.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=menu&simple=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Fdanheld.substack.com%2Fpeople%2F6127327-dan-held
And don’t forget to sign up to my e-mail newsletter if you’re interested in hearing more about my work and thoughts!
https://danheld.substack.com/subscribe?utm_source=menu&simple=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Fdanheld.substack.com%2Fpeople%2F6127327-dan-held
