Introducing Zero Brand

My introduction to the world of CC0 was through CrypToadz. From there, I found the Nouns Dao, and the idea of permissionless creation triggered something in me — similar to the feeling I had when I found sampling, hip-hop, and remix culture. Except with CC0, you didn't have to pay royalties or attribute the artist. It's one of those things you can't unsee once you see it.

The ideas began to flow from there, and I proudly embraced the permissionless Nouns meme. It wasn't long before I created more and more — following the CC0 playbook and throwing copyright to the wind.

• I designed backgrounds, wallpapers, and graphics for the community.
• I created the now famous Nounicode ⌐◨-◨ which took off like wildfire on Twitter and Discord.
• I made an NFT collection that pays tribute to the artists before me that have shaped CC0 culture.
• I even started a shop with clothing, prints, and accessories, mixing existing CC0 works while adding my spin based on the projects that have inspired me.

All of that permissionless building has led me to where I am now — on the verge of a new creation I'm calling Zero Brand.

Introducing Zero Brand

Zero Brand takes all of the ethos and mindset of CC0 and infuses it into a new way of thinking about the web, fashion, and brands. The tagline says it all:

The future of the web is permissionless.
The future of brands is CC0.
The future is here.

So as of today, I'm in the process of shutting down the CC0/Nounish shop on mattdowney.co, and will replace it with the new Zero Brand shop.

Don't worry — you'll still be able to find all of your favorite Nounish pieces on Zero Brand. But in addition, you'll have access to all of the designs I create and feature on garments, prints, and accessories. Everything will be available to download and in the public domain. You'll be able to use the art however you like.

It's a grand experiment with CC0 at the center. Fashion and clothing are just the beginning. I have big ideas for Zero Brand, and the shop is the tip of the iceberg.