How to Design User-Friendly UI/UX for Blockchain Applications: Best Practices and Key Challenges

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Introduction to Blockchain Technology

Image Source: Investopedia

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Blockchain technology is enabling safe and decentralized transactions, which is revolutionizing several sectors. Even with blockchain's immense capability, its uptake is mostly determined by the apps' user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). Creating user-friendly interfaces for blockchain applications is essential to expanding the reach of these technologies. Good blockchain UI/UX design makes it possible for users of all skill levels to interact with blockchain applications in a natural way by bridging the gap between complicated technology and user-friendly experiences.

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The best practices for designing UI/UX for blockchain applications will be discussed in this article, with an emphasis on developing user-friendly interfaces that address the particular difficulties presented by blockchain apps. We'll explore the fundamentals of UX design, talk about how crucial it is to comprehend your target market, and show you how to get beyond the learning curve that comes with decentralized systems.

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The Importance of UX in Blockchain Applications

User experience (UX) is crucial for promoting acceptance and engagement in the blockchain space. Complex blockchain transactions may be made simpler with a well-designed user interface, which will help people better comprehend and make use of the technology. On the other hand, a badly designed interface may prevent acceptance and raise obstacles to entrance. Here’s why we need to focus on better UX in blockchain:

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Adaptability

Numerous blockchain applications are fresh iterations of already-existing services (such as social networking, supply chain, or banking). UX makes this shift easier by retaining recognizable components in the function and interface. It facilitates the learning of new tools and boosts client acquisition.

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Reducing the Requirement for Support

User assistance is not as necessary with a well-planned user experience. A product's ability to help consumers locate what they need and finish activities without assistance increases the likelihood that they will use it longer and more deeply.

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Flexibility

Blockchain technology is changing quickly, and a UX/UI design needs to change with it. The adoption of the newest blockchain technology will be accelerated by a design that can readily accommodate additional features.

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Simplifying the Concepts

Tokens, decentralized networks, cryptographic keys, smart contracts, and other topics related to blockchain are difficult for the typical user to understand. These complicated terms are made clear via the use of UX design.

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Error Prevention

In the context of blockchain technology, poor design results in expensive mistakes like the irreversible loss of coins. A well-designed UX helps users navigate these steps and guards against errors.

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Confidence and Trust

Because blockchain transactions are anonymous, users need to have complete faith in the system. Platforms with a well-designed user experience are more predictable and transparent, which fosters user trust.

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An Edge Over Competitors

Given the increasing saturation of the blockchain market, a strong user experience may make a big difference. Blockchain systems with better user experiences will probably draw and keep more users.

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Understanding the Unique Challenges of Blockchain UX Design

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Applications for blockchain are essentially distinct from conventional web and mobile apps. They frequently need users to handle private keys, entail immutable transaction histories, and run on decentralized protocols. Although beneficial, these characteristics provide special difficulties for UX designers.

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Immutability and Decentralization

Because blockchain technology is decentralized and without a central authority to oversee transactions, user interface design is essential for assisting users in navigating through procedures. While transaction history immutability guarantees security, it also necessitates that users comprehend the effects of irreversible acts.

Tricky Terms and Ideas: Blockchain is rife with technical terms such as "distributed ledger," "hashing," and "smart contracts." Reducing the learning curve for new users by translating these words into comprehensible English is a major difficulty in blockchain UI/UX design.

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Complex Jargons

Blockchain is laden with technical jargon like "smart contracts," "hashing," and "distributed ledger." A key challenge in blockchain UI/UX design is translating these terms into understandable language, reducing the learning curve for new users.

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Security and Privacy Concerns

Ensuring that users can interact securely without compromising their privacy is paramount. This requires designing intuitive interfaces that make security features, like private key management, straightforward and non-intimidating.

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Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Regulations and legal standing of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology differ greatly around the globe. UX designers need to be aware of how these variables may affect user expectations and interactions.

When creating user experiences for blockchain apps, UX designers may encounter a number of difficulties. Just like with any new technology, designers have to keep learning and evolving. In order for blockchain technology to become widely used, UX design blockchain must be prioritized.

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Designing for Different Blockchain Applications

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Blockchain Digital Wallet UX Design

Image Source: Metamask

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Here are some general UX patterns followed by digital wallets.

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Simple UI

When someone initially enters the web3 world, one of the items they will utilize is a wallet. Crypto wallets must thus be made with the possibility that their users are novices with little experience in this field in mind.

Wallets may be used for a variety of things, such as transmitting, receiving, and storing cryptocurrency. UI clutter will simply make new users confused. To prevent the user from being "lost" in the process, try to keep everything in one location.

The wallet address is a crucial consideration when using digital wallets. The majority of them are just a random combination of letters and numbers, which has made them somewhat of a barrier in the crypto world.

Digital wallets should thfink of another way to include addresses or simplify the process of finding and sending addresses.

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Safety

Image Source: Metamask

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In the crypto realm, opinions on safety are divided. Although many in the general public are skeptical about not having a bank to turn to, crypto natives view the industry as a safer option. Because of this, it is crucial that every product in the DeFi market conveys the importance of privacy and safety through its user experience.

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We’ll use MetaMask as an excellent example once more. After creating a wallet, MetaMask requires users to reenter their secret backup phrase. The application's architecture purposefully prevents users from copying and pasting the sentence into the input field. By doing this, it is guaranteed that the user has written down their unique recovery phrase, which is needed to open the wallet.

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DeFi UX Design Patterns

Keep in Mind Users are Bound to Make Errors

Image Source: Avark

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Blockchain, Web3, DeFi, etc are all new concepts that are shaping itself on the internet. So be prepared as users will tend to make mistakes and it’s not their fault, but we need to make sure we guide them via proper UX. Consider flows for every situation, not only should users be informed when something goes wrong, but also why it went wrong. DeFi is complicated; a simple "error" validation message won't cut it.

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The above example is of “Launchpad”. The crypto launchpad integrates many blockchains and makes staking easier. The user needed to be informed of the various requirements and the reason why their transaction was failing. When a user uses the incorrect wallet or attempts to stake an excessive amount of tokens, the Launchpool app will alert them to these issues.

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Updating Users on New Terminology

Image Source: Bancor

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Mining, staking, farming, and staking. There are a ton of new terminologies in the DeFi space. It's crucial to keep in mind that a lot of new users won't comprehend all of this jargon.

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Using a straightforward tooltip is an easy method to assist users in understanding the language used in your app.

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Bancor performs this admirably. Instead of utilizing exchanges like Coinbase, users may instantaneously convert tokens thanks to the DeFi protocol. Because of this, the app has a lot of technical words. By hovering over these phrases, Bancor provides users with a definition.

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Multiple Networks

Image Source: Launchpool App

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Apps that support different networks (like ETH and BSC) will need to give their user experience more thought.

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Until cross-chain interoperability is resolved, blockchain-based applications must minimize user experience issues resulting from disparate blockchain networks.

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When developing the Launchpool app, we took the approach of doing the work for the user.

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A user will be informed if they aren't connected to the network that the app requires, and they will just have to provide permission for the network to be added to their MetaMask. By doing this, the user is spared from having to search for new network information that most people are unlikely to be aware of, such as RPC and chain IDs.

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Play to Earn gaming UX Patterns

Durability

In the context of play-to-earn games, giving the user a lasting experience is crucial.

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Blockchain players are more interested in earning possibilities than prior gaming industries, which were more focused on visuals and realism.

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Furthermore, since the number of players is likely to have an impact on the price of gaming NFTs, it is imperative that games provide players with long-term value. 

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Ownership of Assets

Image Source: Avark

Before the play-to-earn concept, players' in-game belongings weren't really theirs. You could own a Call of Duty rifle, Fortnite skin, or FIFA Ultimate Team card, but so did many others. Your advantage wasn't special. Also, it couldn't be sold anywhere other than the game.

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Players are able to fully control their assets as NFTs in P2E games such as Axie Infinity and Sorare. This implies that players may export their in-game objects to generate spin-offs or sell them for actual money. 

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NFT UX Patterns

NFT Home

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Instead of requiring consumers to visit a website like Etherscan or BSC Scan, let them examine their NFTs on your website or app.

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Other networks lack this luxury, however OpenSea and other markets serve as a center for NFTs built on Ethereum. For example, it might be quite troublesome to examine an NFT that you possess on the Binance Smart Chain network.

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One of the most successful NFT initiatives in the world, NBA Top Shot, is a model that NFT platforms should emulate. NFTs may be purchased, sold, collected, and seen on the NBA Top Shot website. 

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The Future of Blockchain UX

The need for well-thought-out, user-friendly blockchain apps will only increase as blockchain technology gains traction. More AI and machine learning integration will probably be included into blockchain UI/UX design in the future, enabling more customized and natural user interfaces. Furthermore, interface design for all users, regardless of technical skill level, will become increasingly important as Web3 and decentralized money gather momentum.

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The move toward more interactive and immersive designs that make advantage of AR and VR technology to produce richer user experiences is one such trend. The growing target audience for blockchain applications will force designers to concentrate even more on lowering the learning curve and optimizing these apps for ease of use.

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Conclusion

Creating user-friendly interfaces for blockchain apps is a difficult but worthwhile task. You can develop blockchain apps that are not only functional but also user-friendly by adhering to best practices, which include emphasizing user-centered design, streamlining the user experience, and utilizing visual signals. Maintaining a competitive edge will depend on making constant improvements and paying attention to customer input as the blockchain field develops.

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The design of UI/UX for blockchain technology is essential to the uptake of decentralized solutions. Adopting these best practices now will help guarantee that blockchain apps continue to be safe, easy to use, and accessible in the future, which will eventually lead to greater acceptance and success on the decentralized web.

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