Taytems.eth Interview: The Development, Build & Design of ENS

The following is a discussion with @taytemss (AKA Taytems.eth), a developer and designer for the Ethereum Name Service.

When Tate first started down the path of becoming a full–time developer, he had no idea that he would one day end up working on the Ethereum Name Service (ENS). But that‘s exactly what happened in 2019 when he first discovered the protocol and began working with the ENS team.

Since then, Tate has been instrumental in making the ENS system more user–friendly and efficient. In this discussion, we dive into his humble beginnings, his thoughts on design, and the features that are coming soon to ENS.

hi everyone.

today we're releasing the first alpha for the new ENS app (and more)https://t.co/LiouyC6wfK

— taytems.eth (@taytemss) June 24, 2022

The Interview

Cryptoreporter.eth: So Tate, for those who don’t know your story, how did you get your start?

Tate: I don’t have much of a traditional background. I’ve been programming since I was a kid, so I always saw myself making a career out of it. In High School, I dropped out of my final year to pursue a project I was working on, and although that didn’t work out it led to me picking up a lot of different skills and knowledge along the way.

From there I was essentially hopping from project to project, trying to find something that works for me. Eventually, I found myself working on a project that I was really passionate about, and I have been with ENS ever since.

Cryptoreporter.eth: At what point did you begin researching cryptocurrency?

Tate: I was introduced to cryptocurrencies in 2015, when I was just 13 years old. The only problem was that I couldn‘t really buy any at the time, because as a 13–year–old you don‘t tend to have much (if any) income.

There was an app called “SuchFlex“ that launched around 2016 which allowed me to easily mine crypto and get paid in BTC, which I started doing as soon as I had the chance. From there I started researching much more deeply about cryptocurrencies and quickly discovered the Ethereum ecosystem.

Cryptoreporter.eth: How does design play a part in ENS and Web3 identity?

Tate: Design is a crucial part of both ENS and Web3 identity as a whole. If an identity system isn’t intuitive and usable for the average user, then it’s very easy for the system to never gain enough momentum to be globally recognized.

I think through careful decision-making and planning, ENS has crossed the boundary, and we will continually strive for a more user-friendly experience as we go.

Cryptoreporter.eth: Are there any new features or collaborations that you are excited about?

Tate: Version 3 of the ENS app is a big one for us, so there’s quite a lot to be excited about. The biggest one is probably the focus on Web3 profiles, and allowing users to easily customize their own profile.

You’ll be able to easily set your own avatar based on an NFT, or an image, as well as change that image with no gas fees once initially set. Aside from just profile functionality, version 3 is a complete ground-up rewrite of the ENS app. Everything will be faster, easier to use, and more esthetically pleasing.

don’t tell anyone but you can try new alpha app updates on goerli (featuring sick avatar uploader)https://t.co/Ho3iCly60B pic.twitter.com/MyK4gnO5uY

— taytems.eth (@taytemss) October 13, 2022

Cryptoreporter.eth: What does digital identity mean to you, and how does ENS play a part in Web3?

Tate: Digital identity by itself isn’t anything new, but the way ENS has constructed an identity layer that is permissionless and easy to use for both developers and users is super exciting to me.

Never before has there been a naming system with this much transparency.

I think the future applications for ENS are limitless, and we haven’t come close to seeing the coolest things that can be done with it. Given that, I think ENS is a core part of Web3.

There isn’t really any other part of the Web3 ecosystem at this point that touches so many parts of the spectrum. Pretty much every modern Web3 app is using ENS in some way.

Overall I think the future of ENS is bigger than anyone can imagine, and we’re gonna keep on building as fast as we can. As for the changes you’ll be seeing in the future, keep an eye out for the full V3 app launch which is on the horizon and brings really exciting stuff.

Learn more about Taytems

To learn more about Tate and follow his story, follow his Twitter: @taytemss.