The Origin Mark

The Origin Mark

An Open-Source Verification Framework for Human Authorship in a Post-Generative Landscape

Overview

As generative AI transforms visual culture, the boundary between machine synthesis and authentic human friction is shifting rapidly. The Origin Mark is an open-source trust symbol and physical/digital verification framework developed to evidence, protect, and celebrate human creative labour.

Grounded in 79 hours of empirical studio research - combining Gelli plate printing, physical overwrite techniques, and expert industry witness interviews - this system provides designers, illustrators, artists and practitioners with a tangible methodology to certify human agency within their work.

The Three-Tier Taxonomy

The framework operates across three distinct tiers of production and material evidence:

Type 01: Algorithmic Origin
Digital Base / Generative Output
Identifies assets generated purely via algorithmic tools, machine learning models,
or synthetic prompt pipelines. Sets the baseline prior to physical intervention.
Type 02: Physical Overwrite
Hybrid / Material Intervention
Marks work where digital outputs have undergone deliberate physical manipulation,
hand-transfer, tactile overwriting, or material degradation in the studio.
Type 03: Verified Physical
Pure Human Agency / Physical Artifact
Certifies work created through direct physical processes, empirical studio craft,
and unmediated human handwork.

Verification Diagnostic Roadmap (How it works)

Use the diagnostic flowchart below to determine the appropriate mark for your project. By following the physical-to-digital decision tree, you can accurately classify and certify the level of human agency and studio intervention embedded within your work.

Note on Implementation: Always apply the designated mark at the original export scale or maintain proportional vector dimensions to preserve the structural integrity of the trust symbol across both print and screen environments.

Key Specifications & Open-Source Identity

Primary Palette: Origin Pink (#ea5089) | Signal Black (#000000)
Geometry: Formulated with indestructible geometry designed to sustain high-fidelity digital application through to degraded, physical Tier 2 material transfers.
Licensing: Released under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license. Free for all creative practitioners to adapt, apply, and embed into their work.