Role
Designer
Duration
Sep - Dec 2022
Team
Context
For newcomers, the complexity and volatility of crypto can be overwhelming, often leading to hesitation and mistrust. To address this, my team and I designed an investment platform tailored for beginners that focuses on simplicity, transparency, and approachability.
Problem
One of the biggest barriers to entry in crypto investing is the lack of understanding around what smart contracts are and how they work. It's unrealistic to expect individuals to invest confidently in something they don’t fully grasp.
Outcome
My team and I designed a platform that streamlines Web3 asset management by enabling one-click transactions, supporting multiple blockchains, and integrating educational modules to help users navigate the ecosystem with confidence.
Research
My design partner and I took a two-pronged approach to gather insights ourselves. Since access to competitor platforms were easily accessible, we first conducted a competitive analysis to understand how the market was currently being served, identifying standout features from existing platforms that aligned with our goals. In parallel, we interviewed 4 users to map out a generalized user journey, which helped us uncover key pain points and gaps in their experience. Combining market research with direct user insights gave us a well-rounded foundation to inform and shape our product strategy.
Conducted competitive analysis to see what works well and what doesn't.
Interviewed 4 people to map out their user journey, identify edge cases, and define jobs to be done.
Insights and Features
To identify the features users needed to achieve their goals, we mapped out a core user flow that we expected to be the most frequently used. This flow served as a foundation for uncovering edge cases, enabling us to design and implement additional features that addressed those less common but important scenarios.
The user flow supports the organization’s business goals while thoughtfully balancing the needs of the users.
Drawing from our research insights, the team identified several foundational features aimed at improving the user experience around crypto transactions. Rather than relying on one standout feature to deliver value, we chose to address a collection of smaller, specific problems that users faced. This approach allowed us to build a more practical and well-rounded 0-1 solution.
1
Adding Comparison Charts
Including comparison charts helps users evaluate how a specific asset has performed relative to others over a given period, enabling more informed decision-making.
2
Swap Widget
The swap widget enables users to seamlessly exchange one cryptocurrency for another and is a fundamental feature that’s expected in any crypto trading platform.
3
Gas Widget
Gas fees are the costs required to execute a transaction on a blockchain. Access to real-time gas fee data allows traders to optimize their trade timing, minimize costs, reduce risk, and ultimately maximize their returns.
4
Withdraw Flow
Currency withdrawal is another core feature of any trading platform. We enhanced it by allowing users to withdraw funds and convert their earnings into their preferred digital currency in a single, seamless step.
Feature: Adding Comparison Charts
We noticed users almost always flipped through different screens or opened multiple tabs to try and compare different assets before investing in a token. To reduce the friction required to gain enough confidence to invest in a token, I designed a feature that would allow users to compare asset charts in one location.
Feature: Swap Widget
Swapping tokens is one of the most common actions users take when aiming to generate gains in the crypto space. Recognizing its importance, I designed a swap widget focused on simplicity and education, helping to lower the barrier to entry and make trading more accessible to all users.
Feature: Gas Widget
Gas prices are a crucial aspect of the crypto economy, directly impacting transaction costs and execution speed. To help users make more informed decisions, I designed a component that lets them easily view and compare gas prices across up to three different networks in real time.
Feature: Withdraw Flow
The Withdraw + Convert feature was inspired by insights gathered during user interviews. By tracking user journeys, we observed that many users convert their earnings immediately after withdrawal. To streamline this process, I designed a feature that allows users to withdraw and convert their funds into their preferred currency in a single step.
UI Kit
One key requirement from our stakeholders was the delivery of a UI kit that would serve as a foundation for future growth. To support this, I went beyond core design needs by carefully considering edge cases while designing the platform’s components. This approach resulted in a flexible, scalable UI kit that allows future designers working on the project to confidently expand the platform as it evolves.
Final Design: Handoff
The previously discussed features and components, along with additional elements, were consolidated into the final screen designs. To ensure a seamless developer handoff, detailed annotations and interactive prototypes were created, supplemented by thorough handoff meetings with the development team.
Final Design: Connect Wallet
To reduce friction for new users, we made connecting a crypto wallet optional when exploring some of the platform’s features that didn't require a connected wallet. A demo experience was also included to give users a clear sense of how the platform works. Once users felt ready, connecting their wallet could be done quickly and easily in just a few steps.
Final Design: Deposit
When users are ready to invest, a streamlined deposit flow guides them through each step. The process is designed to be intuitive, with clear explanations of complex terms and concepts readily accessible for those who want to learn more.
Next Steps
The platform was fully developed but it remains unclear whether the stakeholders moved forward with a public launch. After completing my contribution, I was unable to find a live version of the platform available online. If I had the opportunity to continue working on this product, I would have further explored the possibility of leaning more heavily into the education component of the platform or even explored the value of creating a sister platform that is dedicated to educating beginner users on the basics of crypto investing.
