NFTs and Blockchain Technology Applied to Product Design

This thesis explores the transformative potential of blockchain technology and NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens) in product design emphasizing how blockchain’s decentralized, immutable framework and NFT’s unique digital assets can enhance transparency, security, and consumer engagement. Together, they reduce reliance on intermediaries, build trust, and create tamper proof records that lower costs and simplify verification processes. Using these features, blockchain and NFTs can potentially drive efficiency across industries, with a primary focus on product design. This study explores blockchain’s evolution from its early applications in cryptocurrency to advanced implementation in Blockchain 4.0, which integrates IoT (internet of things) and AI (artificial intelligence) within frameworks like Web 3.0 and Industry 4.0. Emphasizing the role of smart contracts in automating agreements and interactions, and NFTs in establishing digital ownership, this thesis shows how these technologies create new possibilities for product design, from ensuring verifiable authenticity to enabling dynamic consumer interactions. These advancements can potentially support trackable product lifecycles, customizable experiences, and seamless phygital interactions, allowing designers to merge physical and digital elements in new and innovative ways.