The problem
For prints, originals and collectables, the certificate is often worth as much as the item. But paper certificates are easy to fake, and a simple NFC sticker can be cloned with a phone app in seconds.
What I built
- Secure tags: each certificate uses a chip that signs every tap with a fresh code, so a copied link stops working.
- Tap to verify: any iPhone or Android phone opens a verification page. No app needed, thanks to an App Clip on iPhone.
- Ownership: owners can claim an item, transfer it to a buyer with a one-time code, and report it stolen.
- Certificates: a downloadable PDF certificate and a public check page for each item.
- Admin app: sets up each chip in-house, so keys never leave Archii.
How it fits together
Secure chipsigns each tap
→Phoneopens the link
→Serverchecks signature + counter
→Resultgenuine or not
What I learned
- Security lives on the server. The phone just relays messages; all keys and checks stay on the server.
- Design for a half-finished set-up. If a phone moves mid-way, set-up must be safe to run again.
- Plain language matters. “Genuine” and “Not verified” beat any technical explanation for a buyer at an art fair.