The Evolution of Design in Crypto

It’s no secret that the crypto world has been notoriously complicated to navigate in the past. Unless you’ve been apart of the space from its infancy, it can be a minefield to understand and use. As crypto, web3 and blockchain become more mainstream, people are slowly starting to realise its potential and want to be part of the action.

As the market is maturing there has been an evolution of design in crypto, which is helping to shape the visual identity of some of the top companies and lead the way for the development of the technology.

This evolution has seen an influx of companies putting the user experience at the forefront of design, making it easier for people to access and get involved.

Crypto’s design in the early days

Back in its infancy, when crypto technology wasn’t quite as developed as it is now, crypto’s interfaces were seen as complex and uninviting.

Think clunky wallets and awkward trading interfaces that made the whole user experience overly complicated.

This is to be expected in the early days of any new product or technology, as we’ve seen with Web2 over the years. But now that the crypto community has expanded, so has the importance of design – highlighting the need for UX, UI and product designers.

There is a large recognition that the crypto space needs to create more user-friendly experiences in order to expand the user base and create a place where it’s easy to understand and partake in crypto.

How has design changed the user experience

Web3 and crypto is here to transform the internet and financial infrastructure but without a good user experience, this is unlikely to happen. As new users enter the market, the interface needs to be sleek, clean, and easy to navigate.

DeFi

Designers were faced with presenting complex financial mechanisms in a digestible manner. The idea is to ensure there are not many blockers for new users, so they are able to navigate the product easily, without confusion.

The easier the experience, the more users you’ll gain and keep.

To achieve this, designers have created clear visualisations, interactive dashboards and user-friendly tutorials, meaning that users can use the interface with confidence.

Companies like Aave and Loopring are great examples of how design as completely transformed their product and business.

Mobile Apps

The development of crypto apps has meant that products have become more accessible and convenient for users by giving them easy access at their fingertips.

Designers took complex concepts, such as private keys, blockchain technology and simplified them through clean layouts, streamlined processes and visual cues.

In general, designers tend to lean towards darker backgrounds with bold colours and graphics – a visual staple in the crypto/web3 space.

What is next for design in crypto?

As the crypto and web3 space continues to evolve, the future of design in crypto has great promise and will be at the forefront of innovation for more advanced businesses.

Designers will continue to make crypto more accessible, engaging and inclusive for everyday users by ensuring the user experience is always at the centre of product development, ensuring that UX and UI is taken seriously.

Over a short period of time, we have seen constant iterations and improvements in design for the crypto space, redefining how we interact with digital assets and financial systems. As the crypto space continues to develop, so will the role of design where blockchain will seamlessly integrate into our daily lives.

My predictions for the future?

Although still early on, I predict that AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) will continue to carve a space for immersive and interactive experiences in web3 – bridging the gap between physical and digital worlds.

By Jay Stiles, Consultant.

For more information on our services and how we can help with your hiring, contact jay.stiles@plexusrs.com