Summary
This proposal establishes the BottoDAO Physicals Program, enabling 1/1 collectors to commission high-quality, DAO-approved physical reproductions of their Botto works. Each piece produced through this program will be authenticated as an Exhibition Copy and come with a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA). The program offers a two-tiered structure—Premium/Bespoke and Standard/Accessible—allowing collectors of varying budgets to participate. The DAO benefits from a cost-neutral to revenue-positive commission model while bringing Botto’s digital works into physical exhibition contexts.
Rationale
Currently, collectors of Botto 1/1s have limited options for professionally displaying their digital works. By creating a structured, DAO-backed program for physical reproductions, BottoDAO ensures:
- Faithful, museum-grade representation of its digital canon.
- A revenue-generating avenue that scales with volume.
- A repeatable framework for future physical initiatives.
Partnering with trusted fabrication studios and categorizing artworks by medium ensures the physical pieces remain true to their digital characteristics, preserving Botto’s artistic integrity while expanding its cultural presence.
Proposal Specification
Two-Tier Offering (collector choice)
Premium / Bespoke:
Custom, high-end reproductions (oil on canvas, custom-fabricated lightboxes)
Full design, proofing, and vendor collaboration
Ideal for works where materiality or illumination is crucial
Standard / Accessible:
More affordable, off-the-shelf fine-art prints suitable for all Botto 1/1s
Streamlined production for collectors on a lower budget
Maintains authenticity through BottoDAO-issued CoA
Process (≈8–12 weeks)
Phase 1 — Brief (≈2 weeks): Intake of collector requests, confirmation of tier, budget, and timeline.
Phase 2 — Production (≈4–8 weeks): Vendor briefing, proofing, milestone updates; overseen by BottoDAO Producer.
Phase 3 — Delivery (≈2 weeks): Coordination of shipping, optional installation, and delivery of CoA.
Artwork Categorization
BottoDAO has worked with its fabrication partners (Make-Ready, Photosynthèse, Sandy Smith Studio, matr.labs) to categorise every Botto 1/1 according to the medium that best suits its characteristics.
Painterly/organic → Oil on canvas
Luminous/high-contrast/photographic → Lightboxes
Most compositions → Fine-art prints
Commission Structure & Producer Oversight
Prints: flat fee $500–$800
Bespoke works $2k+ → 40% commission covering producer time, admin, and contingency
Producer: estimated 15 hours/project (~$450 internal cost)
Budget
- Quarterly projection (sample 14 projects):
- Commission revenue: ~$10.7k
- Internal cost: ~$6.3k
- Net revenue to DAO: ~$4.4k
- Resources: BottoDAO Producer time, vendor partnerships, optional shipping/installation support.
Criteria of Success
Financial
- Commission revenue exceeds production costs.
- Program generates a sustainable revenue stream.
- Successful launch of Premium/Bespoke editions.
Distribution
- Uptake from 1/1 collectors is consistent.
- Expansion into traditional art audiences.
- Strong fabrication studio partnerships.
Cultural
- Strengthened collector engagement and experience.
- Establishment of museum-grade physical reproductions of digital AI works.
- Enhanced presence of Botto in physical art contexts.
Disadvantages
- Production or vendor issues may cause delays or cost overruns.
- Complex bespoke projects require additional oversight.
- Fluctuating material or shipping costs may affect margins.
- Risk of misalignment with external fabricators.
