STEEM PARK FILM : Digital Currency, Real Design [Exploring the Steemit Documentary]
From Mainstream to Main Street
Most people hear about cryptocurrency for the very first time through sound bites and sources like CNN, interviews with familiar figures like John McAfee and so on. Our goal with this introductory sequence was to lure viewers in through the controversial clips they are used to seeing and then pivot the conversation to something much more familiar on a community level.
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Building A Network of Trust
We blogged and assembled stories about every step of the process. Sketches, 3D models, prototypes, stories about park history, community leaders, meetings, missteps and milestones.
For a project like this, we knew our work had to be extraordinarily transparent in order to cultivate a supportive network of people online (Steemit) and on the ground (in Brooklyn). This dynamic of audiences was essential for the project to happen and for it to live on. (It’s because of that network that Steem Park is continuing and that Herbert Von King Park is utilizing this platform to fundraise for future projects.)
Setting the Scene with Steem
"What is Steem?” and ”What can you build with crypto?”
These preliminary questions help set the stage for exploring the potential of the Steem blockchain and what separates it from other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. While these mainstays are especially familiar to a broad audience, Steem is powering up behind the scenes and strengthening real communities all over the globe.
Our big question, was “what can we build?” We ( @voronoi and @hansikhouse ) have a background in architecture, urban design, and public art. The two of us think of problem solving in a visual sense and wanted proof that Steemit could be a disruptive resource for both designers and communities in need. The goal with the STEEM Park project was to create something physical that would engage a community of stakeholders both online (Steemit) and offline (Brooklyn).
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The film begins with Jake Tapper referencing blockchain “no fees”, and moves to John McAfee’s promoting the explosive growth of Bitcoin and shrugging off the “bubble” fears. From there the conversation switches away from the dollar signs and shows @charlieshrem saying “it’s not just money, it’s a whole new infrastructure.” Charlie’s point here is foundational to the blockchain movement. While most are distracted by dollars, the true potential of blockchain technology is a complete rewiring of the world wide web. Cue Steemit CEO @ned talking about the “future of the internet” and @dan speaking about how “cryptocurrency is in it’s infancy.” From there @heiditravels talks about “uniting people from around the world” and suddenly the conversation has pivoted from Bitcoins and bubbles to something more tangible for everyday people. The whole blockchain movement isn’t about dollar signs, it’s about uniting communities in a brand new way. It’s about a local neighborhood being empowered through a global audience. Steem is the people’s crypto. STEEM Park and the documentary film showcases the power of that disruptive dynamic.