The journey of a UX designer is often one of discovery and intersection, where design principles meet business + user needs, and creativity merges with technology.
I observed an industry maturation this year toward simplification and humanization for better user experience and adoption barriers after announcements of ERC-4337.
That's when I knew: UX design in web3 is where I need to be.
As a Devconnect Istanbul Scholar, I embraced a role that went beyond passive learning; I became a contributor, bringing fresh insights back to my community. The goal was simple: explore innovations helping remove barriers to the financial and creative ownership.
How can we make blockchain technology more financially accessible to marginalized groups through intentional design choices and UX?
But why Istanbul? Turkey represents an example of how cryptocurrency can co-exist in a nation's economy, especially in response to economic challenges.
In this post, you’ll learn that:
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Personalized experiences show’s web3’s potential to empower communities
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Shift from asset ownership to participation via equitable transactions
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Embedding utilities where people already gather by design
Personalized Crypto Experiences for Communities
There were many panels at Devconnect, particularly “Blockchain Identity and Wallet as the Entrance to Real-World Connection,” showcased the potential of localized integrations in blockchain. This talk highlighted how tailored crypto utilities, when aligned with existing community behaviors, can grant users greater influence and participation.
That’s where I learned about "Cosmo: The Gate," a South Korean app blending K-pop with blockchain. Fans engage with their favorite idols in a novel way by collecting digital cards, known as 'Objekts'. These aren't just collectibles; they represent a deeper level of fan engagement through 'Gravity' events, where fans use COMO, a special currency earned from these digital collectibles, to make key decisions about their favorite idol groups.
What makes "Cosmo: The Gate" a compelling case study is its seamless integration of blockchain technology into an activity that fans already love – trading idol photo cards. Each Objekt, essentially a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) stored on the Polygon network, offers verifiable ownership and transactional security. This approach not only authenticates each collectible but also empowers fans with purchase power over entertainment decisions, effectively embedding value directly into activities that the youth already enjoy.
By aligning blockchain with existing behaviors and passions, it becomes more approachable and understandable, turning what might be perceived as a cold technology into a warm, engaging experience.
From Ownership to Active Participation
“Blockchain is supposed to protect people even when they don’t know it”
- Dan Finlay (Co-founder of MetaMask), quoting Dani Osorio (Near Founder)
I witnessed a shift from mere asset ownership to active participation through transactions. This shift emphasizes the role of verified data as a facilitator of user-centric interactions, where engagement and decision-making hold more value than mere asset holding.
The series of talks at Hyperlink painted a picture of a future where web3 tools are not only accessible but also designed with the user’s experience at the forefront. This future is one where transactional capabilities enable users to participate meaningfully in ecosystems, backed by secure and reliable trust and reputation mechanisms. Eric Annan's vision of empowering a million web3 builders in Africa, and Yoseph Ayele's emphasis on simple financial applications for the masses, further shows the importance of creating value-driven transactions that resonate with real-world needs.
Layer 2 solutions also came into focus, promising enhanced scalability and cost-effectiveness, although their potential in fully addressing blockchain's challenges sparked debate. An interesting concept was of user-controlled transaction customization, as introduced by Dan Finlay. This concept, augmented by AI, adds a layer of customization and trust to on-chain interactions, allowing users to tailor their transactions to their specific needs and preferences, thus enhancing their control and experience within the blockchain.
Panels like “Supercharging Wallet Collaboration” further went into protocols that offer control and flexibility in transactions, offering customized user experiences. This includes leveraging Africa’s developer talent and using reputation algorithms that allow for selective sharing of information, making blockchain utilities more immediately useful to everyone. A perspective that places users, not assets, at the heart of web3's future.
Meeting Users Half Way
The insights from Abstract Istanbul, the Web3 UX Unconference, and my own experience leading a panel at the Wallet Unconference collectively point towards a pivotal shift in blockchain development: the transition to a user-centric approach. This shift is not just about integrating account abstraction and Layer 2 solutions, but also about ensuring these innovations align with real-world user needs and experiences.
"The main flow for blockchain is not having to download anything"
The discussions about making blockchain interactions more intuitive and forgiving reflect a growing recognition of the need to demystify this technology. It's about making blockchain accessible not only in terms of technology but also in understanding and engagement. This approach is crucial, especially when considering communities that have historically been marginalized in the tech space. By embedding blockchain into everyday applications and emphasizing accessible design standards, we make strides towards a blockchain ecosystem that is inclusive, secure, and user-friendly.
Companies like Ambire, Argent, Clave, Safe, and Ledger are pioneering this approach, emphasizing daily wallets, mobile-first interfaces, modular smart accounts, and robust security without compromising user experience. The goal is to start with familiar access methods, such as email/password logins, and then progressively introduce more advanced features, thereby aligning with the concept of progressive security.
Moreover, the emphasis on localization and cultural relevance in content and application design highlights an important direction for blockchain development. It’s about acknowledging and embracing the diversity of blockchain users, ensuring that the technology is adaptable and relevant across different cultural and linguistic contexts. Making Ethereum and blockchain terms accessible to non-English speakers and adapting content to local cultures and contexts are crucial steps towards the inclusive vision discussed in "Abstract Istanbul." The use of analogies, images, and infographics to make blockchain concepts more digestible aligns with the goal of creating a more human blockchain.
My panel experience, coupled with the discussions at the Web3 UX Unconference, reinforces the idea that blockchain's future lies in its ability to be user-centric, secure, and inclusive. The German digital ID system serves as a prime example of how privacy and user convenience can coexist within this technology.
As we continue to explore and innovate, the focus must remain on creating an ecosystem that is not only technologically robust but also deeply grounded in enhancing user experience and accessibility. This approach will not only drive wider adoption but also ensure that blockchain technology can be a tool for empowerment and inclusion, bridging the gap between complex digital systems and the diverse needs of global communities.
Cyberpunk Cautionary Tales
Prior to Devconnect, I talked with community leaders like Temante Leary (Founder of BITE-CON) and Melonie Boatswain (Blacks in Technology, Atlanta President) that revealed current gaps in education, experience design, business use cases, and public policy inclusion. The instant perception of blockchain to a user outside of the space is correlated to negative experiences from perception (media) and loss of money.
The strategies shared at Devconnect - from localized experiences to embedded offerings - can only reach their potential through intentional, intersectional commitment to equitable design.
Cyberpunk fiction often provides stark warnings in this regard. Anime series like “Psycho Pass” depict advanced systems that assess worthiness to participate, leaving many behind. The risk of blockchain literacy filters creating digital haves and have-nots cones without human-centric development.
“Ghost in the Shell’s” double-tier networked future resulting from inaccessible complexity presents a cautionary tale. Building user experiences, interactions and utilities that speak to marginalized groups first makes it more likely emerging technologies progress rather than stagnate.
Let’s Wrap this up…
What's clear to me that web3 isn't merely about owning digital assets; it's about creating meaningful interactions and transactions within ecosystems.
But there are still questions to be answered, challenges to overcome, and opportunities to explore.
How is blockchain technology being utilized across different continents, from Argentina to India to various African nations, and what can these diverse applications teach us about wallet design and user engagement? What external factors, such as cultural norms or regulatory environments, shape the features and usability of blockchain products in different regions?
Also, how can we integrate a mindset shift towards inclusivity and accessibility? What existing behaviors in various cultures can blockchain and AI potentially enhance or replace to become a seamless part of daily life? Understanding these nuances requires a holistic view, one that encompasses diverse global perspectives and fosters collaborative approaches.
With so many question, I plan to review the talks I couldn't attend in person, particularly those focusing on user intentions, identity, and privacy.
Need More?
Music fuels my creativity, so I’m ending this with a song from my playlist. 🎧✨
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