Future Image making in the era of Metaverse: Focus on Non-Fungible Tokens and the Future of Art

The meaning of visual imagery encapsulates the essence of the era's aspirations. This meaning can vary across different cultures, and metaphorical expressions can also differ significantly. Throughout history, the evolution of images has experienced diverse transformations. In the present day, these images continue to undergo digitization, evolving their meanings through various markets and novel formats. As an illustration, the convergence of art, photography, and the implementation of smart contracts in the form of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) has gained momentum alongside virtual currencies like Bitcoin, serving as a digital means of value exchange.Personal experiences contribute to elevating the value of images, and the subjective nature of value assessment criteria has spurred considerable discourse on valuation methods and problem-solving approaches. In a reality lacking precise standards, both significant and minor societal side effects arise. Moreover, challenges to sustainability and environmental threats have also emerged. In the realm of design, endeavors such as design thinking, speculative design envisioning future scenarios, and design futuring have been employed as alternative approaches to address these issues. These novel design attempts have garnered attention as methods for embracing uncertainties about the future and the consequent problem-solving efforts.Against this backdrop, this study aims to pose the question of how metaphoric images, particularly NFTs, will evolve in the future. As a means of seeking answers, the research intends to explore the value inherent in images by investigating prior studies on their meanings across the past, present, and future. Additionally, the metaphorical expressions embedded in these images will be examined for the implied significations they carry. Furthermore, the trajectory of these images from their origins to their current state will be traced, delving into the frequency of use across cultural and societal strata, as well as the utilization of digital imagery following its establishment in the digital realm.This research will not merely focus on the transformation of artists' and designers' creations into NFTs but will also scrutinize how digital images in the new era acquire value and meaning. Ultimately, it aims to comprehensively explore the implications of future metaphoric images, particularly in the context of NFTs and their connection to human culture. Additionally, the study will examine instances where societal institutions impact NFTs' digital images and reciprocally, where these images influence societal norms. This exploration will encompass the analysis of different nations, epochs, and the digital convergence era. In summation, the synthesized findings will categorize the meanings associated with these images and investigate how they can genuinely add value via historical research, or case studies.