NoGood

# Loops have been the overarching theme in the last two months of my work.

You see, my book project is incredibly exciting, and whenever I have a large project like this—_a beast_—I have a tendency to become somewhat obsessive, (subconsciously) dedicating every waking hour to feeding it.

I forced myself to step away from it for a bit, working on other projects while letting the book slumber in the back of my head. When I picked the project back up again, I could feel the diﬀerent pieces it consists of had clicked into place. It always surprises me to see how taking time _away from a project_ can contribute to seeing things more clearly _on the project_.

## A new website for NoGood
During this brief hiatus I found myself digging deeper into the indie & open web. I read articles by people who have been active proponents of an open web—as opposed to the walled gardens we’ve gotten accustomed to tracking us whichever way we surf—and I discovered the concept of tending to a ‘digital garden’. I saw a side of the web I was less exposed to before that aligned perfectly with my values.

As a result, I overhauled the NoGood website. This new version of the website is simple, eﬀective, and static: there is no tracking whatsoever, and it makes no requests to external resources. It only uses system fonts, serves optimised images, and because of that it’s blazing fast. I built it using _11ty_, and you can read more about it [in last month’s blogpost](https://nogood.studio/posts/update/new-website/). Within weeks, NoGood got featured on [DeadSimpleSites](http://deadsimplesites.com), a gallery full of similar websites, which is a welcome bit of recognition.

![](https://m.stacker.news/79728)

## Rewarding dialogues
The book’s sections ([_Work_, _Process_, _Context_, _Items_](https://nogood.studio/posts/book/announcement)) are set. The _Context_ section is meant to—well, do what it says on the tin: paint a picture of the context in which my own work was created and construct conversations between my work and that which came before it.

To do so, I’ll carve out space for articles—published under the _Creative Commons_ or share-alike license—that inspired me along the way. I’ll illustrate each article myself, in black and white.

I’ve asked a few people for their permission to publish their articles and have received positive responses from [Cory Doctorow](https://craphound.com/), Jack Dorsey, [Lyn Alden](https://www.lynalden.com/) and [DerGigi](https://dergigi.com/), for which I’m incredibly grateful. Just the ability to have dialogues with these people whose work I’ve admired is a rewarding outcome of me pursuing this project, feeding back into my desire to create a great publication.

In order to do right by the _Creative Commons_ license, I’ll make the _Context_ section available on the NoGood website, too. I may even turn it into a printable zine—more on that later.

## Editing and designing the NoGood book
I primarily work on the book from my studio space, which I share with two other creatives, [Timo](http://timokuilder.com) and [Daniël](http://daniel.pizza).

Daniël designs and builds open-source software for [Ghost](http://ghost.org), writes, and publishes a literary magazine called [_TRANSCRIPT_](http://transcriptmag.store). We share similar values, he knows a thing or two about the open web, and it made perfect sense for us to work together. I’ve hired him to act as an editor for the book, and he now edits my writing (in fact, he edited this update, too!). We’ve had some dialogues about the articles I’m including as well as others I could add, too, and we’ll continue our conversations throughout the design process.

Commissioning him to take on this work has been a relief. It freed up precious headspace, and I’ve started designing the first spreads of the book. Some sections already are very clear, while others still need time to crystallise. Fortunately, clarity comes as a result of chipping away at the work ahead, so I keep at it with renewed energy—updates will now follow more regularly.

![](https://m.stacker.news/79733)
![](https://m.stacker.news/79730)

## Crowdfunding & production
I have a complete picture of the production costs of the book and I’ve ironed out the logistics. I know which printer will be printing it, and my budget estimates were correct. The current number of [pre-orders](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook) (53) covers roughly 70% of the production costs, which means I can safely produce the NoGood book—it’s going to print this summer!

200 copies will roll oﬀ the press, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Thank you for reading. More soon,

Thomas.

---
#### Previous updates
[The NoGood art book announcement](https://stacker.news/items/736947)
[Update 01 – Humble beginnings](https://stacker.news/items/744898)
[Update 02 – Throwback](https://stacker.news/items/762791)

#### Pre-order a book
The NoGood art book is available [as a pre-order on Geyser](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook).


NoGood book update – 03 – Loops

NoGood book update – Week 03 – Throwback

I've never been much of a singer ;) though I loved making mixtapes and did the same thing with music videos on VCR tapes. 

I imagine using newspaper-like paper for the first section. Printed using only a single color. Thicker and more matte-gloss or silk paper for the portfolio section. Printed in full color and an extra fluor accent color if budget allows. Sketches could be printed on colored paper. Maybe yellow or light gray or blue.

The challenge is to find different kinds of paper that work well together ;)

![](https://m.stacker.news/62080)

When I was a teenager I used to record songs from the radio on cassette tapes. I patiently listened to the radio until a specific song came on, at which point I ran to my stereo and pressed the play and record button simultaneously. A couple of seconds late every time. Later I’d torrent Japanese pop records on Napster. I learned about bitrates, open ports and file types and figured out which search filters worked best. Though I never knew what file I’d end up with.

I modded my Playstation so I could play a region-locked copy of Winning Eleven, a Japanese soccer game. I screwed open the console and replaced the chip, feeling like a true hacker doing something very illegal. If it worked I'd spent the next hours trying to make sense of Japanese in-game menus.

I've come to realise that NoGood is essentially a throwback my teenage years, the late 90's en early 00's. To physical media, floppy disks and game cartridges. To Casio watches and replaceable batteries and Playstations. To messing around with hardware and sometimes breaking it. To the beginnings of the internet when it was new and exciting. And weird.

The book’s design, layout and production should somehow reflect this.  

![Inspiration](https://nogood.studio/geyser/posts/NoGood_Book_02.GIF)

I gave this introduction to both printers last week when they asked what [my book](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook) will be about. I’m not sure if they understood exactly what I was talking about. Especially when it came to open protocols and decentralised networks. They showed me a lot of examples and beautifully designed books all the same, which in turn sparked a lot of new ideas.

Some of them, like cardboard sleeves and Pantone colors, are relatively expensive to produce and will probably be scrapped. Others, like using a variety of paper stock and weights, barely move the price.

One idea that I had from the start has remained. I want to split up the book in distinctive sections, each with a different theme and printed on different paper. Here’s what I came up with so far.

**Context** This section is all about providing context about the bitcoin community. It will feature an introduction of NoGood (written by yours truly) followed by various articles by people from the space whose work I admire. [I go more in depth in my previous post.](https://stacker.news/items/744898)

**Work** The NoGood portfolio containing all of the work I've produced in the last five years, made up of commercial projects as well as illustrations I made as part of the NoGood universe.

**Process** The third section is a sketchbook showcasing my process and snippets from various stages of my illustration process.

**Items** The final section is a catalogue of all physical products I’ve created, such as t-shirts, stickers, prints and zines.

![Inspiration](https://blossom.nogood.studio/c19747b984a538348ac25699e5af85ea4dd4e7e6cb002e5de28e2a47e571af4b.gif)

#### Next steps
Going to bookstores has become an obsession. I've found that books about cooking and photography provide a lot of inspiration. I'll start creating the first rough designs in the upcoming weeks and I'm also still asking around to see if people can share written content for the book.

Keep you posted.

Thomas
[nogood.studio](https://nogood.studio)

---
#### Previous updates
[The NoGood art book announcement](https://stacker.news/items/736947)
[NoGood book update – Week 01 – Humble beginnings](https://stacker.news/items/744898)

#### Pre-order a book
The NoGood art book is available [as a pre-order on Geyser](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook).


NoGood book update – Week 01 – Humble beginnings

Exactly! I'm hoping the texts and images combined will provide some background to readers who don't know anything about bitcoin or open-source projects. And at the same time it provides some context for the illustrations.

So the book wil open with a general introduction and bio, followed by the collected articles and texts. After that, the illustration section. Then the sketches and process section. All printed on different paper and using different printing techniques (one color, full color, pantones etc).

Thanks! I'd love to illustrate the articles and blog posts but I'm afraid it will be too much work. For now I'm planning to use photos from the studio and events where my work was displayed. I could also use images provided by the authors.

![Header](https://nogood.studio/geyser/posts/NG_Blog_001.jpg)

A couple of days ago I launched [a Geyser campaign](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook) to cover some of the production costs of self-publishing an art book. For some background on the book [see the announcement post](https://stacker.news/items/736947). Saying I was excited to launch the campaign is an understatement. Producing an art book has been a vaguely defined idea that simmered in the back of my brain for years. With the a press of a button it became very real.

Being excited wasn't the only emotion I felt. Knowing there was no way back hit me hard and I've been feeling the pressure since the start of the campaign. What if there's no interest in a bitcoin themed art book or the production costs are higher than I expected? Do I have enough content to fill a book? How do you make a book anyway? It was a mix of imposter syndrome and being way out of my comfort zone.

Turns out, I didn't need to worry. The first week of [the campaign](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook) has been quite a success with over 20 pre-orders and roughly 25% of the production costs covered. __A huge thank you to everyone who has supported the book so far!__

![Shot from the studio ](https://nogood.studio/geyser/posts/NG_Studio.jpg)

Last week I visited some bookshops in Amsterdam. To clear my head and to get inspired. I quickly discovered there's a recurring theme in the books that catch my eye. I call them 'zines without a budget' – books that have a more modest look, yet are beautifully designed and use various printing techniques in a more subtle way. The opposite of the large, glossy and colourful publications that scream for attention. 

My trip to the bookstores also sparked some new insights. In order for the book to become more than an illustration portfolio I need to provide context about the world my illustrations inhabit. I want to tell the reader about bitcoin and the greater open-source space. About NOSTR, zaps, the V4V model, online privacy, decentralised tech and open protocols.

Written content. Unfortunately I'm a terrible writer. The solution? Asking prominent figures in the space and people whose work I find inspiring to contribute. Ideally something written specifically for the book, though I'm well aware that's a lot to ask. It could also be a repurposed article or blog post or a snippet of one. It could be podcast transcript.

So far I’ve reached out to a small group of people and was pleasantly surprised when some of them agreed to help out! I’m not used to bluntly ask for favours so this was a big step to take.

![NoGood Radio Promo](https://nogood.studio/geyser/posts/NG_Radio_Promo.jpg)

#### Next steps
This week I'll visit two printers that specialise in producing art books. Their initial quotes were in line with my expectations and I'm looking forward to discuss options, get their input and see a lot of beautiful books. After this the fun begins and I'll start working on my first designs. I'll also create a post about books I found that inspire me, and go into more detail about my plans for the NoGood art book.

I'll keep you posted.

Thomas
[nogood.studio](https://nogood.studio)

NoGood Art Book

Got it, thanks for explaining! I'm aiming to regularly post updates about the book and t he production process on SN / the art territory. Not used to posting about my process or writing in general, but want to give it a try :)

@NoGood's bio

TY Darthcoin, aiming to post more often on SN :)

TY! I've known about Stacker News for a while and actually posted a couple of times using a different account. I forgot the login details I used for that one, hence the new account.

I hope to regularly post updates about the [NoGood Art Book campaign](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook/) on SN going forward

I'm Thomas, an illustrator inspired by retro tech and fuelled by the greater open-source movement.

I run [NoGood Radio](https://zap.stream/naddr1qqjxxdt9vd3kvdpc95uxxce5956x2dty95ukxd3k94nxzvfcvejxxvpcvejxyqgewaehxw309aex2mrp0yh8xmn0wf6zuum0vd5kzmp0qgsv73dxhgfk8tt76gf6q788zrfyz9dwwgwfk3aar6l5gk82a76v9fgrqsqqqan8jugckd) and am currently working on a NoGood art book, which is available as a pre-order on [Geyser](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook).

You can check out my work at [nogood.studio](https://nogood.studio) where you'll also find my humble [bitcoin-only shop](https://nogood.studio/shop). Finally, I'm up to NoGood on [NOSTR](https://primal.net/nogood) ✌️

Yeah I was hoping that the art territory would be the right place for it :) Also love Geyser!

I was wondering, do posts in the art territory show up in the 'general' home feed?

Thanks! I hope to make it something special :)

![Cover](https://storage.googleapis.com/geyser-images-distribution-prod-us/c973361e-245b-45b6-bf00-004307d5dc59_NoGood_Book_Reward/image_large.webp)

I'm Thomas, an illustrator going by the pseudonym NoGood. It's been a longtime dream of mine to create an art book. It will showcase roughly five years worth of projects and illustrations as well as many sketches and a look behind the scenes from my studio in Amsterdam.

I want the book to be more than an illustration portfolio. It should also be an object that can exist outside of the bitcoin bubble. I'm currently gathering articles, texts and podcast transcripts from prominent figures in the community, in order to provide more context about the space we involve ourselves in daily.

The entire project will be an adventure. Creating a book is a first for me and there will probably be bumps along the way. Self-publishing also gets expensive quickly. That's why I set up [a Geyser campaign](https://geyser.fund/project/nogoodartbook) – to help cover part of the production costs.

![The NoGood studio](https://nogood.studio/geyser/NoGood_Studio.gif)

As a humble thank you for supporting the project there are various Geyser-exclusive rewards available, such as art prints, NOSTR badges or a mention on [NoGood Radio](https://zap.stream/naddr1qqjxxdt9vd3kvdpc95uxxce5956x2dty95ukxd3k94nxzvfcvejxxvpcvejxyqgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctczyr85tf46zd366lkjzws83ecs6fq3ttnjrjd500g7haz936h0knp22qcyqqq8veczeh3sv). I'll also create a special page in the book that lists the (nick)names of all supporters of this campaign.

THANK YOU to anyone who supports the campaign or who has supported my work in the past. I couldn't create the book without support from the community.

Thomas
[nogood.studio](https://nogood.studio)