SEND ME A POSTCARD, DARLING!

Postcards! They were once seen as a romantic request. A handwritten note. A postage stamp. A feeling of remembering. The word also served as the title of a timeless song during an era when postcards represented the medium of long-distance romance. Now imagine telling your younger self, "We no longer send postcards. We send NFTs." We now send NFTs." It may sound unbelievable.

Image Credit: Spotify

For a brief period, NFTs garnered widespread attention globally. From fashion runways to X profiles, digital tokens have emerged as contemporary expressions of affection, unique collectibles, and prominent status symbols. At its height, a single Bored Ape NFT was sold for over $3 million, signifying a remarkable moment in the history of digital assets. The promise? NFTs are poised to revolutionize the way we own, share, and engage with art, design, and culture. This potential for transformation is what we should focus on rather than just past successes. What are the next steps?

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have been widely covered in the media online, from X avatars to global news reports. They are expected to revolutionize ownership, artwork, and creativity. In the cryptocurrency-fueled gold rush, everyone from digital musicians and artists to fashion companies and meme makers got in. A single Bored Ape NFT sold for more than $3 million at its peak, sparking considerable discussion about the future of design and value. The story was shouted out: "Physical art is outdated. A new normal has emerged: NFTs. However, in the year 2025, the topic of discussion has changed. Traders' interest in NFTs has sharply declined. Several sites go down. Why all the fuss? Nearly extinct. The question now is: What remains?

From Flashy Hype to Quiet Evolution

Although the initial excitement has faded, the fundamental optimism remains. NFTs are not just expensive JPEGs but are subtly transforming into intelligent, trackable instruments for verification, digital rights administration, and artistic revenue generation. They have the potential to enhance fashion and storytelling in ways we haven't even imagined. Platforms like Lukso and The Fabricant are exploring this potential, and even Indonesian designers are joining the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and Nike in experimenting with this hybrid value.

What This Means for Future Designers and Artists

Even though NFTs are currently barely in the news, they have sparked a meaningful discussion: In a digital-first world, how will we own, value, and experience creativity? This is the most important thing to remember for upcoming marketers and designers. Nixed NFTs provide a platform to reconsider Web3's ownership, identity, and consumer connection when devoid of hype. The forthcoming wave of NFT applications might be more subtle but more intelligent and could be used for collectibles, deals, or communities.