# Ai16z Creative Workgroup Q1 Planning
*Maintaining ai16z's Talent Pool of 3D Artists
This document primarily discusses the objectives, plan, and budget of the ai16z art workgroup for Q1 of 2025.*

After more than a month of operation, the ai16z artist workgroup has provided the DAO with core media and marketing production capabilities, made possible by a team of expert talent. The workgroup successfully earned the trust of non-crypto-native artists, onboarded them to Dework, and acquainted them with the core technologies we use at M3. I aim to outline some of the key challenges we have faced and addressed, our achievements, and areas for improvement.

The artist workgroup was originally proposed to Jin as a means for us, the M3 members, to transfer our accumulated knowledge and experience to a new generation of talent, while core members of M3 and the ai16z DAO addressed scaling issues within the organization. A critical aspect of scaling the ai16z DAO involved recruiting competent 3D artists to assist with content production and be readily available to address urgent modeling and marketing requests as we engaged with partners and prepared content for events.

**Building Connections and Trust:**

The initial challenge for the artist workgroup was to identify the right talent for our team and to determine the systems and protocols needed to establish a functioning cohort. Our strategy during the first week of operations involved assigning small modeling tasks to artists to assess their skills and to identify their strengths, thus maximizing their potential by assigning roles and tasks best suited to them. Many of the initial tasks involved simple character modeling. Some artists quickly found their niche: J_ flawlessly executed the task of creating ai16z-branded signage. Clnzpm rapidly produced characters in iClone that faithfully represented real-world figures, turning them into "AI" versions used in animated videos. Matii also performed excellently by modeling some Oekakiconnect characters; however, the models were delivered unrigged.

A later-identified shortcoming was that some artists delivered 3D models unrigged and improperly textured, creating bottlenecks. I, as the Dework manager, had to manually edit and test models, and in some cases, I spent several days writing in-depth notes and documentation on the fundamentals of 3D modeling and Blender usage. Occasionally, I also had to texture models from scratch. This was an oversight. We concluded that all artists must be responsible for their own quality assurance and must be competent in exporting finished models to target platforms. The DAO ultimately pays for a finished and functional model. While we can assist artists to an extent, our focus must shift towards professional artists who complete work efficiently and independently. I believe some of these training responsibilities could be delegated to willing senior artists where feasible.

**Core Members Establish Themselves:**

Several members of the workgroup consistently excelled and showed initiative in completing assigned Dework tasks. Unfortunately, some hired artists became unavailable, and some initiatives, such as the "Lain AI" themed videos and environments, did not engage the artists and writers as expected. This lack of interest might have been mitigated with more focused attention; however, our focus was required elsewhere. Additionally, I invested significant time in training a new artist who ultimately was not ready to contribute as a 3D modeler. Fortunately, these missteps were minor and highlighted the importance of working with professional artists capable of solving emerging challenges. This situation is likely to recur whenever we are seeking artists within budget constraints.

 
 

## The Core team:

* **Alsara2k** manages and oversees the 3D artist workgroup, transforming the objectives of the DAO, Shaw, Jin, and other stakeholders into actionable tasks for artists.

***The following artists have shown initiative and have stuck around and are eager to take on more work for the dao:***

* **Completeboomer** is an expert character modeler who has demonstrated skill and initiative in addressing complex modeling challenges within the group. Boomer is recommended to serve as a senior technical artist, coordinating other artists on character modeling tasks and assisting with troubleshooting.

* **Clnzpm** is a skilled iClone user, excelling at creating realistic 3D characters and animations. Clone works independently and has shown an aptitude for learning and implementing systems and pipelines autonomously. Clone is recommended to serve as a senior technical artist, coordinating other artists in character modeling and animation tasks.

* **Ginger** is a character modeler who has previously assisted us, notably with clothing designs for Anatas.

* **J_** is a 3D modeler who has produced excellent work in designing and creating signage and environmental props. They are recommended to serve as a lead environment designer and coordinator.

* **Meow** is a 3D modeler for Oekaki Connect, specializing in character modeling. Meow is currently learning Marvelous Designer and the VRM format.

* **Matii** is Alsara2k’s 3D assistant, known for creating cute 3D models in a naive, kawaii style.

***Potential Freelancers We Can Hire and Eventually Bring Onto the Core Team:***

* **Zemsta** - An expert character modeler and rigger.

* **Belicure** - Has produced the $MOG vrm character and also the Yakub 3D model.

* **Lyighyt** - Has produced the Sproto Gremlin models and is proficient with VRM.

 
 

## Strategic Pipelines & Planning
The following is a list of objectives our workgroup aims to tackle over the next three months. Clnzpm, Completeboomer, and J_ will be given responsibility and oversight over these three key pipelines within our workgroup. All three will learn how to receive requests from stakeholders and stay attuned to the organization's needs. This will enable them to make independent decisions on which projects to pursue and how to convert tasks into actionable items for the Dework board.

**Animation**
Clnzpm has demonstrated exceptional initiative in developing an animation pipeline and workflow for us. They are an indispensable member of our workgroup, and I believe they will excel at producing 3D animations for the DAO. I have shifted my focus from traditional video animation to leveraging AI tools, which has significantly sped up my output and allowed me more time to manage other critical workgroup operations. These AI-created videos have been highly effective in enhancing our social media content.

**Sets, Props, and Environments**
We need a dedicated member of the workgroup to manage all aspects related to props, environmental assets, 3D model catalogs, and the scheduling of environment construction. This role involves testing environments in Hyperfy and Unreal and addressing any related queries from artists within the workgroup. J_, with their excellent organizational skills and thorough documentation, is well-suited for this role and will likely accelerate our capability to source and utilize environments for animations and other needs.

**Character Modeling**
Completeboomer has proven to be an exceptionally skilled character modeler, capable of resolving issues that stump myself and Jin and creating high-quality models to our specifications. I believe Boomer would excel as a senior technical artist, capable of training and managing character artists, assigning them tasks, and conducting quality assurance on their work. For our upcoming VRM collection, he will be introduced to and trained on VRM generator tools within Blender, as well as our experiences using Character Studio for the Anata VRM collection. Positioning him as an expert and critical lead on everything involving Character Studio and character creation is a strategic move we should consider.

**Operations**
To enhance coordination and efficiency, we will schedule a weekly meeting among all senior artists to recap the activities of the past week and outline actionable items for the upcoming week. The ai16z artist workgroup will introduce a ticketing system that the senior artists will be trained to use. They are expected to take initiative in taking tickets and assigning tasks to themselves or to subordinate artists, which they will oversee and manage.

I believe that if the senior artists demonstrate excellence in their duties by independently running and managing artist teams, and by actively pursuing and completing tickets with subordinate artists, they should be considered for monthly stipends. These stipends will serve as additional security and reward once they have proven themselves to be reliable contributors.

 
 

## Goals
By empowering more artists with initiative and providing the right resources, we aim to enhance the effectiveness of our roles and better serve the DAO. This empowerment will allow for quick tackling of work, unlocking new opportunities with partners, and fostering a culture of coordination, long-term planning, and automation. Senior artists will be entrusted to make decisions and test their competence with the additional responsibilities assigned to them. Success in these roles will benefit the workgroup, while any setbacks will provide valuable learning opportunities and a chance to refine our strategies. This approach is especially crucial as we undertake significant projects, such as creating a VRM collection or collaborating with partners like Hyperfy to develop 3D worlds and experiences for the DAO and its partners.

 
 

## Funding
Stable funding is essential for the continuous operation of the workgroup. Each artist needs assurance that their investment of time and effort is secure, fostering a trust-based relationship. We propose that core members of the workgroup, Clnzpm, Completeboomer, and J_, be guaranteed a minimum of 2,000 USD worth of tasks each month, with the potential for more if they are willing. This setup establishes a baseline monthly operating cost of 6,000 USD. However, if I withdraw ETH from the multisig, the minimum operating cost would increase to approximately 10,000 USD. This conservative estimate does not account for expenses such as purchasing art assets, investing in new artists to test their skills, and assigning tasks to other artists when the core group is occupied.

To facilitate learning through trial and error for senior artists managing and assigning tasks to subordinate artists, an additional "safety blanket" of 10,000 USD per month would be prudent. This buffer ensures that we have sufficient funds to maintain operations without the risk of depletion, allowing me to manage the workgroup effectively while Jin attends to other responsibilities. Overall, while the artist treasury may not exceed a 20,000 USD burn rate each month, it should be maintained at this level to ensure uninterrupted operations.

On a personal note. Because the artist treasury tends to usually sit at a level between 8 - 12k, I get anxious withdrawing any eth because the total ETH withdrawable typically amounts to 30% or a quarter of the entire treasury each month. This makes it so I feel like I shouldn't be withdrawing anything from the treasury so that artists can get paid instead. Jin and everyone else are usually preoccupied with other maters and I don't want to annoy them over the treasury, or i don't know how to bring it up. The eth from the treasury is what I declare as my income, so it would be nice to use it for that purpose, however with additional guidance and discussion it could probably be addressed. My personal wish would be to have the artist treasury topped up to 20k each month just so that, if a few weeks go by into a month without a top up, the chances of it continuing to operate would be higher. It would be a good idea to have a scheduled top up on a set date each month, say the first of the month and I do think that there should also be a monthly audit, where a list of expenses are compiled into a document to present to the DAO, so that we're held accountable.

 
 

## Feedback and Review Mechanisms
*(Written by ChatGPT, Reviewed and approved by Alsara2k)*

**Objective**
To establish a robust system for collecting and analyzing feedback from both team members and stakeholders to continually refine our workflows, enhance creativity, and ensure alignment with the DAO's strategic objectives, with responsibility over implementation falling on Alsara2k.

**Methods**

* Regular Surveys: Deploy monthly surveys to gather structured feedback from all artists and stakeholders. These surveys will focus on satisfaction, challenges faced, and suggestions for improvement. Key areas such as project management, resource allocation, and team dynamics will be regularly assessed.

* Quarterly Reviews: Conduct comprehensive reviews at the end of each quarter. These sessions will involve detailed discussions with each team member and stakeholder to evaluate the workgroup’s performance against set goals and objectives. This will also include a review of the progress on strategic pipelines and the effectiveness of new initiatives.

* Feedback Channels: Implement open channels for feedback, such as a dedicated discord channel or a simple digital suggestion box. This will encourage ongoing communication and allow team members to share ideas and concerns as they arise, fostering a culture of openness and continuous improvement.

* Stakeholder Meetings: Schedule regular meetings with key stakeholders, including Jin and Shaw, to discuss the workgroup’s direction, gather their perspectives, and align on future activities. These meetings will also serve to address any strategic changes or resource needs.

**Review Process**

* Initial Feedback Collection: Gather initial reactions and thoughts through surveys and informal check-ins immediately following major project completions or events.
* Analysis Session: Conduct analysis sessions with senior artists and project managers to delve into feedback, looking for patterns and actionable insights.
* Action Plan Development: Develop action plans based on feedback analysis to address identified issues.
* Implementation and Monitoring: Implement the action plans and monitor their effectiveness in subsequent projects and through ongoing feedback mechanisms.
* Adjustment and Iteration: Adjust strategies and processes based on the results from monitoring. This cycle of feedback, review, and adjustment will be an ongoing process, ensuring that the workgroup remains dynamic and responsive to both internal and external changes.
Outcome

By institutionalizing these feedback and review mechanisms, the ai16z Creative Workgroup aims to foster a proactive, responsive, and adaptive environment that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of the DAO and its partners. This continuous loop of feedback and improvement will be crucial for maintaining high standards of creativity and productivity while adapting to the evolving needs of the blockchain and DAO ecosystems.