NFTs are meant to be shown off like the overpriced art pieces that they are, so this concept tries to do so in a way that is also useful, even if you don’t have any NFTs to your name.

NFTs, short for the almost indecipherable “non-fungible tokens,” are currently controversial within the art and designer communities. Setting those debates aside, these digital artifacts have always been envisioned to create an experience similar to owning an exclusive piece of art. That, of course, means that it comes with some sort of bragging right that goes beyond just saying you own an NFT. You have to flaunt it as well, and what better way to do that than by putting it on a pedestal along with your other tokens of wealth or affluence, like jewelry, watches, and even rare toys.

Designers: Jiwon Seo, Juwon Kim, Hannah Kim, Anna Kim

At its most basic, an NFT is proof of ownership of an exclusive, one-of-a-kind, or limited edition digital artifact, which often means a piece of digital art or a virtual equivalent of a physical object. This makes NFTs more appropriate to be displayed in ways that other people can see them as proof and boast of ownership. There have been a few concepts created in the past years on how NFTs should be displayed, ranging from futuristic holographic cubes to wall panels mimicking physical framed art.

The Meta’O concept stands somewhere in between, envisioning something that is both obviously technological but can also be at home in the living room, sort of like a smart speaker today. It actually comes in two independent parts, both of which are made from unpainted recycled materials. This gives the object a unique visual identity while also affording a sense of relief that there won’t be any paint that will peel off over time.

The part that actually displays an NFT is a circular screen that sits on top of a magnetic ball. On its own, it can safely sit on a flat surface without rolling off. Nested inside the tray, however, the ball allows the owner to position the screen at any angle while also being charged wirelessly.

That tray is imagined to be a place for other proofs of your social status. Your NFT can be displayed alongside your gold-plated watch and bracelets, or the entire tray can be filled with other trinkets on top. This dual-purpose design would allow the owner to save up on space or display trays and have more money to spend on buying more NFTs.