Designing a mainstream-friendly way to buy, sell, swap, send, and receive value across fiat and crypto—without the complexity.
Project Overview
Gold Pocket is a consumer fintech platform that lets people convert between traditional currencies (e.g., USD, EUR, CAD) and digital assets (e.g., BTC, ETH, USDC), hold assets in secure wallets, and move money in and out of the ecosystem. The audience includes crypto-curious newcomers and everyday users—so the experience had to feel as familiar as their bank app, while meeting strict compliance and security standards.
My Role
Design Lead
Aug 2025 – Oct 2025
As UX/UI Lead (2025) I owned the end-to-end product design: discovery, information architecture, interaction design, visual language, design system, prototyping, and usability testing. I partnered closely with product, compliance, engineering, and operations to deliver a V1 that is both beginner-friendly and enterprise-grade.
THE PROBLEM
Crypto products often designed for experts. I needed to expose the details at the right time, and make the journey simple for beginners.
THE TEAM
I worked directly with the CEO and other members of the team including engineering and compliance stakeholders.
MY METHODS
Stakeholder interviews, task & flow audits, competitive heuristics, rapid prototyping, moderated, design, accessibility reviews.
THE RESULT
V1 of web based responsive app for on/off ramp, crypto-to-crypto swaps, in-app wallets, referrals , notifications, and receipts.
Final Design Direction
The final experience feels familiar on purpose. At a glance you see what you own, what you’ve done, and what you can do next. When you act, the product slows down at the right moments—locking quotes, clarifying fees, confirming networks—so users speed up with confidence.
Design System
I built a component-based system unifying dozens of entities
(profiles, wallets, projects, contracts) into one consistent framework
Exploration & Discovery
I started by listening—mapping jobs-to-be-done, reading through prior assumptions, and watching users try to accomplish simple goals. The story that emerged was consistent: people aren’t scared of money—they’re scared of mistakes. Every design decision flowed from minimizing doubt and maximizing clarity.
Jobs to be Done:
“I want to buy my first crypto safely,” “I need to get paid and cash out to my bank,” “I’m swapping assets and want predictability,” “I need reliable records for taxes.”
Flow & Risk Mapping
Mapped happy paths and edge cases (expired quotes, failed KYC, payment declines, network congestion) and defined graceful recovery patterns.
Heuristic Review
Analyzed competitors to pinpoint confusion sources: hidden fees, unclear limits, ambiguous network steps, and unhelpful error states.
Constraint Alignment
Paired with compliance/risk to turn regulatory obligations into clear, reassuring UI rather than roadblocks.
UX Design Process
With the risks and moments of doubt understood, I translated insights into a set of repeatable patterns. The process was iterative by design: prototype, test, refine—keeping the language plain, the structure predictable, and the visuals calm.
Information Architecture
I used a bank-like model grouping actions by intent (Buy, Sell, Swap, Send, Receive), supported by Wallet/Activity/Help/Profile, with “learn as you go” tips at key decisions.
Task Flows & Prototypes
Each transaction uses a clear stepper (Review → Verify → Confirm → Receipt) with a quote timer and one-tap requote, upfront fee/rate transparency, and tucked-away advanced controls.
Content & Microcopy
The interface uses plain language with protective cues, teaching empty states, and recovery-focused errors that show exactly how to fix issues.
Trust, Safety & Compliance UX
Progressive KYC appears only when needed with clear status; limits/holds get plain rationale, and sensitive actions use two-factor plus device and last-login details.
Design System & Visual Language
Design tokens and a robust component set deliver a premium-but-calm look anchored in dark neutrals, subtle gold accents, and restrained motion.
Loading, States & Feedback
Skeleton loaders and honest progress cues frame distinct states (pending, confirming, settled, failed, reversed, disputed) and end with instant, shareable receipts.
Impact & Results
By the end of V1, the product felt both powerful and calm. Early pilots showed users moving through flows with fewer questions and more certainty – proof that clear structure and language can turn complexity into momentum.
Clarity & Confidence
Early tests showed fewer “What is this?” questions and faster time-to-quote in flows.
Reduced Errors
Safety checks (network, address, rate expiry) cut avoidable missteps in pilot sessions.
Scale-Ready System
A robust design system accelerates new assets, locales, and payment methods without re-inventing flows.