Make Cardano look great: Design as a Service Web3 Agency for Projects

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Nikita Melentjevs

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

295000

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will establish a web3 agency to offer design-as-a-service for UI/UX design, development, branding, and marketing. This will help projects achieve a strong visual identity and improve onboarding.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The project cannot be open-source by definition, as it's a service

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our agency will address Cardano projects' design, branding, and marketing challenges by providing these services:

1. UI/UX Design: Designing engaging, user-friendly interfaces tailored to the project's audience.
2. Branding & Identity: Creating distinctive logos, color schemes, and branding guidelines for consistent visual identity.
3. Development: Implementing the designs in seamless web interfaces.
4. Marketing Strategy: Develop targeted marketing strategies to increase the reach of the projects.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The agency will positively impact the Cardano ecosystem by enabling projects to deliver high-quality designs, branding, and marketing strategies. Expected outcomes include:

• Enhanced Design Quality: Projects will offer attractive, intuitive interfaces, resulting in better user engagement.
• Unified Branding Standards: Cohesive branding will establish a recognizable identity for Cardano projects.
• Marketing Success: Projects will reach a broader audience through effective marketing campaigns.

Measuring Impact:

• Engagement Metrics: Track the engagement of Cardano projects with the agency's services and monitor user satisfaction trends.
• Brand Recognition: Conduct surveys and analyses to evaluate brand recognizability and market reach.
• Marketing Performance: Assess the effectiveness of marketing strategies via KPIs like user acquisition and retention.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Team Expertise:

• Nikita Melentjevs: Project Lead, overseeing agency operations, client relationships, and strategic direction.
• Igors Koneckis: Senior UI/UX Designer, leading the design team to create functional, user-centric designs.
• Nikita Zadvornijs: Designer with seven years of production application experience
• Additional Members: Partner development agency

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Initial Platform Design (1-2 months):

Goal: Create the agency's platform design, including wireframes, branding, and visual guidelines.

Deliverables:

• Wireframes and prototypes for the main pages
• Comprehensive branding guidelines (logo, color scheme, typography)

Platform Development (1-2 months):

Goal: Develop and launch the agency's website, showcasing services and previous work.

Deliverables:

• A fully functional website with straightforward navigation and a comprehensive service catalog
• An integrated project subscription service with fiat and crypto payments and appointment scheduling

Service Launch (3 months from the start):

Goal: Begin delivering services to Cardano projects, focusing on UI/UX design, branding, and marketing.

Deliverables:

• Signed contracts with significant projects
• Deliver branding, design, and marketing strategies to initial clients

Runway for 12 Months:

Goal: Sustain agency operations, legal compliance, and marketing efforts while scaling client onboarding.

Deliverables:

• Continuous marketing campaigns and client onboarding
• Legal compliance, including contracts and documentation

Final Milestone - Project Close-out Report and Video:

Goal: Summarize the agency's impact on the Cardano community through a detailed report and video.

Deliverables:

• A comprehensive report summarizing achievements, challenges, and overall impact
• A video showcasing successful design projects

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Nikita Melentjevs: Project Lead, overseeing agency operations, client relationships, and strategic direction. He brings extensive experience in project management and business development, ensuring smooth coordination among various teams.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-melentjevs/

Igors Koneckis: Senior UI/UX Designer leads the design team in creating functional, user-centric designs. His expertise lies in developing intuitive user interfaces that cater to clients' requirements and improve user experience.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/igor-konecky/

Nikita Zadvornijs: Designer with seven years of production application experience, contributing to the agency with his deep understanding of modern design trends and technical knowledge. He specializes in creating visually appealing yet efficient designs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikita-zadvornijs/

Additional Members: A partner development agency will provide technical and marketing expertise, ensuring seamless implementation of web development projects and marketing strategies. They will complement the team's skills with their development, branding, and outreach proficiency.

Recruitment Plans:

The team may recruit additional members as required to expand capacity. Future recruits should have marketing, content strategy, or front-end development skills and contribute to marketing campaigns, social media engagement, or technical implementation.

The agency will ensure that all new hires are fully briefed on project goals and align with the team's vision.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget & Costs

Total Budget: 295,000 ADA

Platform Design & Development: 60,000 ADA

• Platform design (wireframes, prototypes, branding): 20,000 ADA
• Web development (frontend, backend, and deployment): 40,000 ADA

Marketing & Branding: 80,000 ADA

• Marketing strategy and campaigns: 40,000 ADA
• Logo and branding materials: 25,000 ADA
• Outreach and networking events: 15,000 ADA

Runway for 12 Months: 140,000 ADA

• Salaries (designers, developers, marketers): 120,000 ADA
• Legal costs and compliance: 20,000 ADA

Project Close-out Report & Video: 5,000 ADA

• Report compilation and editing: 2,500 ADA
• Video production for case studies: 2,500 ADA

Contingency Fund: 10,000 ADA

• To cover unexpected expenses during project execution

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The total cost of 295,00 ADA is a worthwhile investment in the Cardano ecosystem, as great branding and design will make projects more appealing and recognizable. Professional-looking products foster confidence and trust, drawing more people into the ecosystem. By offering comprehensive services like UI/UX design, development, and branding, the agency will help projects create polished, cohesive products that can compete visually with other ecosystems. This will lead to a unified identity across the Cardano community, strengthening its brand and attracting more users. Sustaining the agency for 12 months will allow projects to consistently access quality services, helping Cardano projects shine and ultimately build a more robust, recognizable ecosystem.