Life wasn’t the best for my family.

My dad left my mom after my last sibling was born.

She strived daily to put food on the table while we were growing up.

My mum was getting old and things only got worse when she was diagnosed with kidney disease.

She needed to be placed on dialysis weekly.

It felt like my whole world was crashing into a tree.

We had barely eaten and now hospital bills?

Not a situation anyone would wish to be.

At 25, all the responsibilities were left in my hand as the first born.

I had 5 other siblings to take care of.

So I started petty trading and was also learning photography to pay the bills at home.

From the money I got from trading I was able to pay for photography classes.

The 5k-gigs I got from freelance photography wasn’t enough to pay for my mum’s dialysis.

Every night for me became “a night of wandering thoughts”.

Not until I met Laolu-Senbanjo in 2022.

While filming at an art exhibition,

His eyes lingered on my filming process.

It was obvious that he admired the way I studied each artwork with reverence.

We exchanged pleasantries

And he said he would love to see my works and collaborate with me if he’s impressed.

With a promise to reach out, he left the exhibition.

As I got home that day, reality came crashing down.

In my excitement, I forgot to exchange contact with him.

Unknowing to me, he was determined to work with me because he was truly impressed.

He scoured social media.

And when he found me, he reached out.

It was a creative journey that changed my life!

Our collaboration yielded breathtaking masterpieces.

My Cinderella story unfolded before my eyes.

I could finally afford my mum’s weekly dialysis

And take care of my siblings.

After this eye opening encounter, I Amina, realized that I’m not just an ordinary girl on the streets of Nigeria.

I knew that I could be more

And I promised myself to be just that!

As you know, democracy is a form of government where decision making power lies in the hands of the people.

Which is good because of course we get to choose who represents us.

But something even more amazing has emerged- FUTARCHY

In democracy, the people get to make decisions of who represents them.

But the downside is… the outcome of these decisions may or may not be good for them.

Because they only got to make decisions of who represents them and not determine the actions of the people they put to represent them.

Democracy faces the problem of transparency and responsibility, diversity and openness.

And this is what FUTARCHY is here to solve!

In FUTARCHY, decisions are in the hands of the people too

So it is safe to say it takes after democracy

Only that FUTARCHY solves the problem of transparency and responsibility, diversity and openness.

It thrives to make the outcome of the decisions made “good for the people”

And this is because FUTARCHY depends on MARKET PRINCIPLES in decision making.

I’ll break it down for you in a moment but let’s get to how futarchy came about

FUTARCHY was founded by Robin Hanson.

His aim was to fix the problem of democracy by using betting markets to choose which policy will be implemented.

It uses both traditional democracy and betting markets;

We still vote on what we want but we let the markets decide how to get there.

To understand better, let me show you how this works in real life.

First, Futarchy starts with a voting phase.

Although the system depends a lot on prediction markets to find the best way to achieve a certain target, that target itself must still be chosen democratically.

But in this case, instead of just voting on a way to an end as we usually do, we’re voting on what that ‘end’ is.

This target is picked democratically through a voting process.

Then, Predictions markets will now take over to select the actual policies that will be followed to achieve it.

After voting, the next step would then be for a policy proposal (to achieve that target) to be published and markets to be opened on choices.

Let’s take for example;

An institution (a university)wants to set a target for the year.

Different decisions are placed alongside each other.

The individuals are allowed to vote democratically on the target to be set.

And after the whole voting process, The target: “increase the average CGPA of students by 0.5 before the end of 2024” gets the highest vote.

Then the market principles come in after the voting process has been done.

The policy that will be implemented in achieving the target is now determined by market principles.

And how is it done?

Prediction markets are created where participants can bet on the likelihood of different proposals or strategies for achieving the established target.

These proposals are people’s suggested ways of achieving the end goal.

After a set period, the effectiveness of each proposal is evaluated based on objective measures tied to the established goals.

The proposal that receives the highest level of confidence from the prediction markets is implemented.

If someone correctly bets on a policy that leads to a positive outcome for the organization, they would likely receive a financial reward based on their initial investment in the prediction market.

This encourages participants to conduct thorough analysis and make informed predictions, as they have the potential to profit from their insights.

Why is Futarchy better than other forms of government?

You’ve figured that out by reading all I’ve told you above

But I insist on making it clear so you don’t miss out on the benefits of this form of governance.

Now,

• Since decisions are based on market predictions rather than individual votes or influence, futarchy may be less susceptible to manipulation or lobbying by special interests. This can help promote fairness and integrity in governance.
• Futarchy allows for quick adjustments and course corrections based on real-time market feedback. This adaptability enables organizations to respond more effectively to changing circumstances and optimize their strategies over time.
• By relying on prediction markets to guide decision-making, futarchy can potentially lead to more efficient allocation of resources and better outcomes, as decisions are based on the collective wisdom of participants.

How is FUTARCHY integrated into DAO’s?

DAO as said earlier means Decentralized Autonomous Organization.

And it is an organization governed by code and run by its members, usually using blockchain technology.

It operates without a central authority, and decisions are made collectively by token holders through voting mechanisms.

In the context of a DAO, futarchy can be integrated by allowing token holders to vote on proposals based on their predicted impact on certain metrics, such as the organization’s revenue or token price.

Once proposals are voted on, smart contracts can automatically execute the proposals that have the most support from the prediction markets,

As they are considered to have the highest likelihood of success based on the collective wisdom of the participants.

Note: Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code.

Futarchy in a DAO means using predictions from markets to help make decisions about what actions the organization should take,

and then automatically carrying out those actions based on the predictions that are most trusted by the participants.

Because the Futarchy method of governance promotes accountability, transparency, and openness, it enables DAOs to function well without sacrificing the “decentralization” that served as their foundation.

In 2008, Futarchy was named the buzzword of the year and it has been introduced into the context of blockchain and the DAO.

This has brought it closer to an actual implementation leading to a project like Meta-DAO.

What is Meta DAO?

The Meta-DAO is a new kind of organization;

Founded in November 2023.

It uses futarchy, a system where markets make decisions.

As such, it sidesteps existing challenges with governance such as voter apathy and political capture.

Meta DAO aims to create a transparent, decentralized, and adaptive decision-making framework.

Thereby empowering its community members to actively participate in shaping the organization’s direction and priorities.

You don’t want to miss out on the numerous benefits this new form of government holds.

You can participate in FUTARCHY by joining the META DAO project.

For more information check out:

https://x.com/metadaoproject?s=21

And for an in-depth understanding of the Meta DAO project, read this:

https://blog.themetadao.org/a-futards-guide-to-the-meta-dao-7a6b8d66443a

Have you ever thought about why college students like watching videos instead of reading textbooks? It’s simply because pictures and videos are more interesting to young minds.

Dr. Lynell Burmark, an education expert, explains that our short-term memory can only remember about seven pieces of information from words, but images go directly into our long-term memory and stay there.

What is Visual Storytelling?

Visual storytelling involves using pictures, videos, or other visuals to tell a story. It can be in the form of illustrations, videos, memes, graphs, and more. Whether it’s graphs, videos, or images, visuals make stories more alive and easier to understand. They create connections that raw data can’t, making complex things simpler. Visuals grab people’s attention and transport them into different worlds.

Humans use narratives to interact with the world. We often “fill in the blanks” subconsciously to have a better understanding of context, situation, etc. And visual narratives make the understanding process seamless.

What are the benefits of incorporating visual storytelling into UI/UX design?

Yes, functionality and usability matter, but guess what? A lot of people don’t fully grasp how impactful visual storytelling is in designing user interfaces. Unfortunately, its benefits often go unnoticed. I want to make sure you understand the incredible advantages of combining Visual Storytelling with UI design. Let me show you a glimpse of what this powerful combination can achieve.

• Imagine I take a picture of a big rock in the desert. You might not get much meaning from it. Now, put a child waving beside the rock, and suddenly it could tell the story of a family on vacation. If the child looks unhappy, the story changes to a not-so-happy family trip. But if the child is on top of the rock with arms raised, now it becomes a story of a kid triumphantly climbing a giant rock. This shows that visual storytelling EVOKES EMOTIONS. Stories that make you feel emotions help you connect more deeply with a product or service.
• News websites can be dull to read, so news outlets use interactive web stories with text, pictures, and videos to tell the news in an exciting way. Readers can scroll, click on things, and watch videos, making it an interesting experience that GRABS THEIR ATTENTION. Stories that look good and are engaging help to keep people interested in the product or service.
• Trust is super important in business, and good videos can help a lot. When a company makes high-quality videos, it shows they care about quality and details. This care extends to what they sell, making the company seem more trustworthy. Sharing behind-the-scenes looks, success stories, and expert tips in videos HELPS CREATE A STRONG BRAND IDENTITY AND MAKES THINGS FEEL REAL.

A Storytelling framework that works every single time

Of course, not all stories capture attention, but the ones that do are where the magic happens.

Kurt Vonnegut’s Shapes of Stories gives us a timeless framework for Storytelling that works across different types of stories.

In “Palm Sunday,” Vonnegut suggests a simple way to graph a story. Imagine two axes: the horizontal (X) axis represents the story’s timeline from beginning (B) to end (E). And the vertical (Y) axis represents the protagonist’s fortune from good (G) to ill (I). By plotting how your character’s fortune changes over time (from B to E), you get a visual story shape. It’s like creating a graph to see the ups and downs in your character’s journey.

If you map out several stories using Vonnegut’s method, you’ll observe something interesting: certain shapes tend to repeat. All of Kurt Vonnegut’s story shapes share a common feature: a noticeable pattern of highs and lows. Showing how the main character’s fortunes change throughout the story. From, “Man In Hole” to “Boy Meets Girl” to “Cinderella” to “New Testament” and many others.

Visual storytelling, inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s Shapes of Stories, adds a touch of magic to narratives that truly grab our attention.

Take the classic Cinderella story as an example. Not all stories have that special allure, but when they do, and we represent them visually, something enchanting happens.

Picture Cinderella’s journey, from her humble start to meeting her fairy God mother;

Her transformation into a damsel to attending the ball;

The devastating moment of the clock ticking and losing her slippers;

And finally, the captivating moment of the glass slipper fitting perfectly.

Now, translate those moments into visuals, and you’ve got an immersive experience.

. Kurt Vonnegut’s representation of Cinderella’s Story

This blend of a compelling narrative with captivating visuals isn’t just about telling a story — it’s about creating an experience.

It’s like turning the pages of a storybook and being transported into a world where every image enhances the tale.

Applying Vonnegut’s storytelling shapes to visuals makes the user experience not only engaging but also something people will remember long after the story unfolds.

Visual Storytelling has proved its adequacy time and time again

In the world of visual storytelling and design, cool success stories happen. Let’s look at The Tasty Burger app, for example.

By tubik… Making your burger special can be tricky when you’re ordering on your phone, right? This smart idea for the Tasty Burger app makes it easier. Instead of showing a huge list of every kind of cheese, meat, or bun, you just click on the type you want (like cheese), and then you pick the specific kind (like gouda or comte).

The app uses pictures to show all the ingredients for your special burger. Everything is set up to make it super easy to use, and the pictures are a big part of making it simple.

Finally,

Diverse content formats work with UI/UX design to tell stories visually.

Including: Scrolling Narratives, Video Walkthroughs, Micro interactions, User persona visualizations, story boarding, etc

Scrolling narratives guide users through a story at their own pace.

Video walkthroughs make videos to show the user journey. It uses design elements to visually tell the story and share the overall experience. And many other content formats you can explore with their unique features.

Always remember that:

Words should be simple to understand and should communicate the right amount of information to the user (too much detail can overwhelm, while too little information can cause confusion).

And Visual representations, like images, typography, and icons, should supplement the words to communicate information to the user.

Back in Web1, people mainly used the internet to read and look at things, a bit like reading a book with pictures.

With Web2, things got more interactive and social. We could create content and communicate with others. However, a single entity still controlled most of the important parts.

Web3 is the latest version, and it introduces new concepts like decentralization and digital money. On Web3, things are spread out across different places instead of being controlled by just one group.

Web 3 applications either run on blockchains or decentralized networks of many peer to peer nodes.

The key idea in Web3 is “decentralization.”

Decentralization means sharing responsibilities. Imagine a team where, not just the boss makes decisions, but everyone gets to have a say. In Web3 technology, like with blockchain, decentralization means no single person owns everything. Unlike the traditional (centralized) way where one central authority controlled everything, Web3 lets more people participate and have a say. This fosters innovation, motivation, and responsiveness.

Why is the Decentralized Web3 system more efficient?

Privacy Boost: Web3 offers better privacy. It uses special codes to hide information, so only authorized people can access it.

Enhanced Security: Web3 is more secure because it uses a special technology called blockchain. And the. blockchain ledger is very difficult to tamper with. This makes it really tough for anyone to change or mess with information.

You’re the Boss: Web3 allows individuals to own their digital stuff and control their online identity. It’s like having control over your possessions and how they’re used.

Supply Chain and Web3: In the context of supply chains, Web3 brings a transformative advantage through its decentralized nature. The benefit of Web3 for supply chains lies in its ability to eliminate the need for intermediaries. Thereby reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. By utilizing blockchain technology, Web3 establishes tamper-proof records that cannot be altered or deleted. This creates an unchangeable history of every transaction and event within the supply chain. Boosting transparency and traceability.

Web3 is in its early stages. It has the power to change how many things work, kind of like a superhero for different jobs. This cool new technology would make the internet better and fairer for everyone. It works to help more people use the internet easily. Also to make things more equal, and keep everything safe.