Optics is a new protocol for gas-efficient and trust-minimized interoperability¹. Developed by cLabs, a member of the community working on Celo, Optics enables messages to be sent between chains, allowing developers to build cross-chain applications. Communication between multiple networks brings together diverse ecosystems to develop powerful new decentralized applications.
Optics permits the easy deployment of one-to-many channels between blockchains. This means a single message-sending mechanism is used to communicate with them, allowing chains to enter a rich ecosystem of communication between blockchains². Currently, token transfers can be made on Mobius and the Optics app.
As a then partner in design at cLabs, now Celo Foundation, I had the privilege of partnering with the Optics team to create a logo that represents the technical aspects of the protocol.
Defining the Optics identity
To develop a meaningful visual story, our design team explored different design analogies to visualize Optics. A few initial ideas referenced lightwaves and kaleidoscope patterns. Analogies help us understand and make sense of new information — in this case, new technology. In design, it helps tell a story and set a visual direction for a brand.
Bridging chains is like quilting. Optics’ ability to deploy one-to-many channels between chains inspired our design concept of chain piecing. Chain piecing is a technique in quilting where textile blocks are stitched together with one continuous length of thread rather than breaking between pieces. Similar to bridging chains, chain piecing is used to save quilters time by making their sewing more fluid and streamlined.
The lines in the logo represent the thread that connects multiple chains together, creating a network that allows cross-chain communication. Optics is the sewing needle that joins different blockchains together like chain piecing, connecting one-to-many in a simple and efficient method. A more connected blockchain ecosystem means more diverse communities and opportunities in the future.
Story behind the Composition
We explored multiple visual directions, specifically looking for a shape that is unique and represents the Optics system. Our final logo is influenced by our design concept of chain stitching.
The Optics glyph is a hexagonal shape with varying intersection points, made up of four intersecting chevrons. It represents cross-chain communication and diverse ecosystems working together to create something new. It’s unique and simple form communicates the power of cross-chain communications while creating a meaningful visual story.
Each individual chevron within the Optics glyph represents a different blockchain. They are the same shape, not to favour one chain over another. It holds an expansive quality pointing outwards, symbolizing a growing network.
Colour Functionality
In the overlapping area where colours are blended, different chains are communicating as if they are not separate anymore. This ability to communicate and share data is what we call interoperability, a key feature of cross-chain technology.
Colour and Blueprint Variations
There are two Optics logo variations, Colour and Blueprint. The Colour logo is our primary logo, and the Blueprint logo is for technical documentation. The Colour logo highlights interoperability between different chains, and the Blueprint logo highlights the Optics system, designed for people who want to build or integrate with Optics.
Together with the Optics team, we designed a logo that symbolizes what makes Optics a novel cross-chain communication standard in the blockchain space. Maintaining alignment to technical principles helped us make key decisions during our design process. Each part of the logo has a unique purpose and references a technical function that brings together different ecosystems.
[1]: Pranay Mohan. (September 13 2021). Optics is Here https://medium.com/celoorg/optics-is-here-42aa610675ce
[2]: Joe Nyzio. (April 21 2021). Announcing Optics: A Gas-efficient Interoperability Standard for Cross-chain Communication https://medium.com/celoorg/announcing-optics-a-gas-efficient-interoperability-standard-for-cross-chain-communication-e597163b2
Acknowledgements
Big thank you to Barbara Liau, Pranay Mohan and the rest of the Optics team for sharing feedback and helping shape the Optics logo and brand identity. Thank you to Taylor Lahey for providing design feedback. And thank you to Lilly Kofler for your support on creating this blog.
