Redesigning The Telcoin App
Andrew Kallemeyn
0xbD1D
April 22nd, 2023

My perspective on how the Telcoin app could be simpler and easier to use.

Telcoin lets people send remittances to family and friends at a fraction of the cost of competitors like Western Union.

  1. 🌎 Someone can send money to a loved one in another country.

  2. 💰 They can cash it out to their local currency with a “mobile money provider”.

  3. 📲 Their phone can be used as their wallet, all without needing a bank.

Credit: Image from Telcoin’s App Website
Credit: Image from Telcoin’s App Website

To do this, Telcoin uses cryptocurrency (like USDC, a digital version of the US Dollar), which can be faster than more traditional ways of sending money. However, the technical complexity of cryptocurrency is part of what makes their product complicated.

“How do we move these great ideas from an enthusiastic [crypto] community to the average person?” Paul Neuner, CEO of Telcoin (May 2022)

I believe Telcoin has a great value proposition and a better design could make it less technical and similar to other money-sending apps like Venmo or PayPal.

The home screen is lifeless and has confusing icons.

It doesn’t matter how much someone has used Telcoin, this screen is always the same. It feels lifeless (1) and the icons (2) are confusing. The app uses a "hamburger menu" (3), which is a common pattern but has been proven not very effective.
It doesn’t matter how much someone has used Telcoin, this screen is always the same. It feels lifeless (1) and the icons (2) are confusing. The app uses a "hamburger menu" (3), which is a common pattern but has been proven not very effective.

The main menu has too many similar options.

Some of these terms are so similar it’s hard to know what to pick.
Some of these terms are so similar it’s hard to know what to pick.

Sending money feels complicated.

Sending money feels like filling out a form while other apps, like Venmo, lead by showing a contact list.
Sending money feels like filling out a form while other apps, like Venmo, lead by showing a contact list.

There’s too much “crypto jargon”.

Depositing money should feel normal, yet this screen is so focused on explaining USDC it distracts from the purpose of this screen. If that’s not enough, the “Polygon wallet” tab makes this whole experience feel even more foreign and strange.
Depositing money should feel normal, yet this screen is so focused on explaining USDC it distracts from the purpose of this screen. If that’s not enough, the “Polygon wallet” tab makes this whole experience feel even more foreign and strange.

How I Would Redesign The Telcoin App

A more dynamic home screen and simplified navigation.
A more dynamic home screen and simplified navigation.
A simpler way to send money with a contact list and terms (like USD) that are understandable.
A simpler way to send money with a contact list and terms (like USD) that are understandable.
A new "Wallet" screen that simplifies terms like “Deposit” and “Withdraw” to “Add Money” and “Transfer to Bank”.
A new "Wallet" screen that simplifies terms like “Deposit” and “Withdraw” to “Add Money” and “Transfer to Bank”.

Final Prototype: Try It Yourself ✨

This prototype isn’t complete, but I think it does a better job showing how these screens connect together than the screenshots above.

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