Case Study: Building "META PYLON," Where You Stick Your NFTs onto a 3D Pylon, Together from Technical Validation Onward

Overview

At the time, one problem with NFTs was that, once purchased, there was little you could do with them other than hold them. WoOLTRAKEY Inc., which creates artistic expression themed on subculture, envisioned a service that would let people stick NFTs from their wallet as stickers onto a pure white 3D traffic cone (pylon) and make a work of art all their own.

We handled everything from planning and design through development and infrastructure setup, and co-developed the NFT art project "META PYLON." After the release, the mechanism for applying images to the 3D pylon was registered as a patent.

Challenges

• No method had yet been found for applying an image so that it follows an uneven 3D curved surface naturally
• The question was how to reconcile a technology with no visible path to realization and the release schedule
• Applying many stickers caused the browser to freeze

What We Did

• Defined the conditions for the service to work as just two points: "it can handle NFTs" and "it can apply them accurately to the pylon"
• Through about two to three months of technical validation, established a calculation method for applying images along a curved surface
• Separated the technical validation from the rest of development, so that trial and error would not affect overall quality
• Shared validation results and next directions with the client in meetings once or twice a week

Results

• Delivered a service where users apply NFTs they own to a 3D pylon and edit them while checking position, tilt and stacking order on the spot
• The technology for applying images to 3D objects was registered as Patent No. 7190785 (rights holder: WoOLTRAKEY Inc.)
• After the release, some sticker collections sold out

Solving Technical Problems with No Known Answer by Working Together

When we started, there was no clear way to apply images cleanly to a 3D curved surface. The technical validation took about two to three months, and the schedule slipped far behind the original plan. We were able to keep going because, at the very start, we had agreed with the client on a policy of "no compromise on quality; adjust the schedule instead." If the service had shipped before its core experience was in place, its value would never have reached users.

When taking on unprecedented technology, what you need is not a setup that builds to specification, but one that searches for the answer together while sharing the risk. The client has also told us that they were able to overcome the difficulties because both sides wanted to make it happen together.

Our Role

• Planning and design
• Validation of the 3D application technology
• Development and testing
• Infrastructure setup

Client

Company Name

WoOLTRAKEY Inc.

Business Overview

• A creative unit (Shibuya, Tokyo) that creates new forms of artistic expression themed on subcultures such as anime, games, tokusatsu and music

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we also commission services that use NFTs or blockchain? Yes. In this case, we developed everything from wallet integration and NFT minting to recording customization results on the blockchain.

Can we consult you about technology that may or may not be feasible? Yes. We first establish the outlook for feasibility through technical validation, and then decide how to proceed together with the client while sharing the results regularly.

If technical validation drags on, how is the schedule adjusted? Before starting, we decide with the client whether quality or schedule takes priority. In this case, we prioritized quality, adjusted the schedule, and saw the project through to release.

Related

• Service development using new technologies such as 3D and blockchain → System development
• Technical validation to confirm feasibility first → PoC/MVP development

Related news

• Release of "META PYLON," a unique NFT service made in Japan

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