Nouns Head Trait Design Competition

We’re launching a Nouns DAO Head Trait Design competition, where the highest-voted submissions will win prizes. The Nouns GG team may agree to submit some of the winners for official Nouns DAO adoption.

Nouns: A Living Art Project

Nouns is a continuous, evolving art project where a new piece of generative pixel art is created every day forever. The project allows for traits and features to evolve over time, meaning that new contributions have the potential to become part of the ever-growing Nouns collection. By participating, artists are helping shape the future of Nouns while embracing the open, CC0 philosophy that defines it.

Easiest Way to Create Nouns Traits

An easy way to design and submit Nouns traits is by using the Noundry Studio. This tool simplifies the process of creating Nouns-compatible pixel art while ensuring your design meets the necessary specifications.

Competition Overview

This round is focused on designing new Nouns heads, staying true to the Nouns aesthetic while bringing fresh and creative ideas to the collection.

We seek gaming-inspired designs while ensuring all artwork follows CC0 (public domain) principle. Art should align with the established Nouns aesthetic, which draws inspiration from Gremplin’s style and maintains a simple, bold, and iconic visual identity. Note: Gremplin is a multidisplinary artist, the best strategy to understand what makes a good Nouns head is to study the existing collection. You can find his full gallery here.

The Nouns art style was collaboratively developed by a group of artists, including Gremplin, with contributions from artists such as Eboy, Timpers, Facu, 4156, Krel, and Goldy, among others. While each artist has their own approach, the core Nouns aesthetic remains closest to Gremplin’s work, making it the best reference point for submissions.

Submission Guidelines

Technical Requirements:

• Size: 32x32 pixels
• Format: PNG with transparency
• Colors: Use only the official Nouns color palette

Design Guidelines:

• Aesthetic Consistency: Must follow the Nouns art style (see existing traits)
• Originality: No direct copying of existing heads or recognizable IP (e.g., no direct Mario, Zelda, or Halo references). However, subtle inspiration is acceptable. For example, the Console Handheld head clearly references the Game Boy but maintains an original, CC0-friendly design. Similarly, the CRT BSOD head resonates with the Smash Bros. Melee community, as CRTs are integral to their gameplay for latency and nostalgia, despite not being strictly gaming-related.
• Clarity: The design should be recognizable and effective at small sizes
• Creativity: The goal is not just to recreate an object in pixel form, but to design something that fits organically into the Nouns collection. For reference, bat and bonsai are great examples of heads that integrate well.

Color Guidelines:

• Use only colors from the official Nouns palette for accessories.
• Body and noggle colors should be distinct but harmonious with existing Nouns colors.
• Avoid excessive shading or gradients. Nouns traits rely on flat, bold colors.
• Traits should be vibrant and readable at small sizes. High contrast is encouraged where necessary.

Content Guidelines:

• Family-Friendly: No inappropriate content. While the Nouns collection has included traits like the weed head, the overall aesthetic and themes should remain broadly accessible.
• No Hate Speech: No discriminatory, offensive, or hateful content
• No Copyrighted or Trademarked Content: Only submit CC0-compliant designs
• Waiver of Rights:
• • Anyone submitting art to Nouns will be expected to sign a waiver of their rights, such as the following:
  • I, [insert name here], hereby waive all copyright and related or neighboring rights together with all associated claims and causes of action with respect to this work to the extent possible under the law.
  • I have read and understand the terms and intended legal effect of the Nouns Art Contribution Agreement and hereby voluntarily elect to apply it to this contribution.

Prizes

A total of 400 USDC will be awarded. Prizes will be distributed as follows:

• 1st Place: 100 USDC
• 2nd Place: 75 USDC
• 3rd Place: 60 USDC
• 4th Place: 50 USDC
• 5th Place: 40 USDC
• 6th-10th Place: 15 USDC each

*Bonus Rewards may be considered for submissions submitted to Nouns.*

Suggested Judging Criteria

• Alignment with Nouns Aesthetic: How well does the design fit within existing Nouns traits?
• Originality: Is the trait unique while staying within the CC0 framework?
• Clarity at Small Scale: Does the trait work well in the 32x32 format?
• Creativity & Execution: Is the concept compelling and visually appealing?

Note: For this round, all submissions must also be uploaded to the Noundry.

This is your chance to leave a lasting mark on Nouns DAO! Submit your designs, vote for your favorites, and help shape the future of Nouns.