Project

Project

Project

Isoko

Isoko

Isoko

Role

Role

Product designer

Product designer

Scope

Scope

End to end design

End to end design

© 2024

© 2024

© 2024

Role

Product designer

Scope

End to end design

00.

00.

00.

KEY RESULT

KEY RESULT

KEY RESULT

Helping users trade 8x more volume in less time

Helping users trade 8x more volume in less time

Helping users trade 8x more volume in less time

01.

01.

01.

CONTEXT

CONTEXT

CONTEXT

Why building Isoko matters

Why building Isoko matters

Why building Isoko matters

People are explicitly asking for a safe place to trade and interact with their NFTs.


Within the Kadena ecosystem, there are people pushing new ideas, new art, new games, new things every day.


No marketplaces on Kadena meet the needs of both NFT creators and collectors.


We want to provide platform for creators and their communities.

People are explicitly asking for a safe place to trade and interact with their NFTs.


Within the Kadena ecosystem, there are people pushing new ideas, new art, new games, new things every day.


No marketplaces on Kadena meet the needs of both NFT creators and collectors.


We want to provide platform for creators and their communities.

People are explicitly asking for a safe place to trade and interact with their NFTs.


Within the Kadena ecosystem, there are people pushing new ideas, new art, new games, new things every day.


No marketplaces on Kadena meet the needs of both NFT creators and collectors.


We want to provide platform for creators and their communities.

02.

02.

02.

RESEARCH METHODS

RESEARCH METHODS

RESEARCH METHODS

How do we know what to solve?

How do we know what to solve?

How do we know what to solve?

Surveys

Surveys

Surveys

  • Cheap & scalable

  • Understand high level what people want from a product and what they think of what’s already out there

  • Offers lots of insight on competitors you may not have known about.

  • Function as a great filter for interviews.

  • Cheap & scalable

  • Understand high level what people want from a product and what they think of what’s already out there

  • Offers lots of insight on competitors you may not have known about.

  • Function as a great filter for interviews.

User interviews

User interviews

User interviews

  • Understand their expectations and why they expect what they expect

  • Understand the motives behind engaging with tools like this in the first place

  • Know who you’re designing for

  • Build healthy rapport with people who might use your product.

  • Understand their expectations and why they expect what they expect

  • Understand the motives behind engaging with tools like this in the first place

  • Know who you’re designing for

  • Build healthy rapport with people who might use your product.

Competitive analysis

Competitive analysis

Competitive analysis

  • Find out what the competition is missing, and what they do well

  • Understand the basic requirements of products

  • Understanding how we can be different, and better

  • Find out what the competition is missing, and what they do well

  • Understand the basic requirements of products

  • Understanding how we can be different, and better

03.

03.

03.

KEY CHALLENGES

KEY CHALLENGES

KEY CHALLENGES

What we are solving for

What we are solving for

What we are solving for

Low transaction success rate

Low transaction success rate

Low transaction success rate

On the existing Kadena marketplaces, users complained that everything worked up until they tried to pay for something. They usually could not determine why.

On the existing Kadena marketplaces, users complained that everything worked up until they tried to pay for something. They usually could not determine why.

On the existing Kadena marketplaces, users complained that everything worked up until they tried to pay for something. They usually could not determine why.

Key problem

Key problem

Key problem

01

01

01

Self correction

Self correction

Self correction

During key user journeys (buy & sell), users who ran into problems were rarely provided signifiers to self correct. This was frustrating.

During key user journeys (buy & sell), users who ran into problems were rarely provided signifiers to self correct. This was frustrating.

During key user journeys (buy & sell), users who ran into problems were rarely provided signifiers to self correct. This was frustrating.

Key problem

Key problem

Key problem

02

02

02

Landmines

Landmines

Crypto and blockchain is an unforgiving space.

We need to make sure people are informed about what kind of transactions they making.

Crypto and blockchain is an unforgiving space.

We need to make sure people are informed about what kind of transactions they making.

Crypto and blockchain is an unforgiving space.

We need to make sure people are informed about what kind of transactions they making.

Key problem

Key problem

Key problem

03

03

03

04.

04.

04.

CONSTRAINTS

CONSTRAINTS

CONSTRAINTS

What could limit our output?

What could limit our output?

What could limit our output?

Small team

Small team

Small team

A team of three devs and one designer.

A team of three devs and one designer.

A team of three devs and one designer.

Constraint

Constraint

Constraint

01

01

01

Technology

Technology

Technology

Some features unviable as they required frequent and costly interactions with smart contracts.

Some features unviable as they required frequent and costly interactions with smart contracts.

Some features unviable as they required frequent and costly interactions with smart contracts.

Constraint

Constraint

Constraint

02

02

02

Time

Time

Time

We had to get the product out and functional in 6 weeks.

We had to get the product out and functional in 6 weeks.

We had to get the product out and functional in 6 weeks.

Constraint

Constraint

Constraint

03

03

03

05.

05.

05.

Competitive analysis

Competitive analysis

Competitive analysis

Who we’re up against

Who we’re up against

Since we’re building from scratch, we decided to use the Kano model to help us understand the layers of the product and where we could add value to our users.

Since we’re building from scratch, we decided to use the Kano model to help us understand the layers of the product and where we could add value to our users.

Since we’re building from scratch, we decided to use the Kano model to help us understand the layers of the product and where we could add value to our users.

Kano competitor feature analysis

Kano competitor feature analysis

HYPERCENT

HYPERCENT

ARKADE

ARKADE

MUST HAVE

MUST HAVE

Buy NFT

Buy NFT

BAD

BAD

BAD

BAD

Sell NFT

Sell NFT

OKAY

OKAY

GOOD

GOOD

Mint NFT

Mint NFT

BAD

BAD

BAD

BAD

PERFORMANCE BENEFIT

PERFORMANCE BENEFIT

Number of collections

# of collections

OKAY

OKAY

GOOD

GOOD

Fees

Fees

OKAY

OKAY

BAD

BAD

ATTRACTIVE

ATTRACTIVE

Can play games on site?

Games on site?

GOOD

GOOD

User interface

User interface

GOOD

GOOD

OKAY

OKAY

Cross chain facilitation

Cross chain

BAD

BAD

BAD

BAD

Navigation

Navigation

OKAY

OKAY

OKAY

OKAY

User feedback systems

feedback systems

BAD

BAD

OKAY

OKAY

Error messaging

Error messaging

BAD

BAD

BAD

BAD

Sweep the floor

Sweep the floor

GOOD

GOOD

BAD

BAD

Kano competitive analysis

Kano competitive analysis

Kano competitive analysis

User experiences ranked: Good, Okay, Bad

User experiences ranked: Good, Okay, Bad

User experiences ranked: Good, Okay, Bad

Based on user interviews, we plotted key features on an Importance v satisfaction matrix

Based on user interviews, we plotted key features on an Importance v satisfaction matrix

Based on user interviews, we plotted key features on an Importance v satisfaction matrix

Features of existing marketplaces ranked on importance vs satisfaction matrix to see market sentiment on current solutions

Importance/Satisfaction matrix

Importance/Satisfaction matrix

Importance/Satisfaction matrix

On a scale of 1-7, users ranked the importance and satisfaction for each feature.

On a scale of 1-7, users ranked the importance and satisfaction for each feature.

On a scale of 1-7, users ranked the importance and satisfaction for each feature.

06.

06.

06.

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS

What the research said

What the research said

What the research said

78% of users unhappy

78% of users unhappy

78% of users unhappy

Majority of survey respondents said the experiences trading on Kadena fall short of what they are used to on other blockchains.

This due to poor interaction and feedback.

Majority of survey respondents said the experiences trading on Kadena fall short of what they are used to on other blockchains.

This due to poor interaction and feedback.

Majority of survey respondents said the experiences trading on Kadena fall short of what they are used to on other blockchains.

This due to poor interaction and feedback.

Insight

Insight

Insight

01

01

01

Users feel unsafe

Users feel unsafe

Users feel unsafe

One of the founders of an NFT collection and community said they felt there were too many landmines in crypto and that because people are already skeptical, “Having some transparency could go a long way”

One of the founders of an NFT collection and community said they felt there were too many landmines in crypto and that because people are already skeptical, “Having some transparency could go a long way”

One of the founders of an NFT collection and community said they felt there were too many landmines in crypto and that because people are already skeptical, “Having some transparency could go a long way”

Insight

Insight

Insight

02

02

02

Users want transparency

Users want transparency

Users want transparency

Users are not able to understand what they need to do to self correct when they run into issues.


Users also want to give feedback to the projects and collections

Users are not able to understand what they need to do to self correct when they run into issues.


Users also want to give feedback to the projects and collections

Users are not able to understand what they need to do to self correct when they run into issues.


Users also want to give feedback to the projects and collections

Insight

Insight

Insight

03

03

03

07.

07.

07.

IDEATION

IDEATION

IDEATION

So how might we create value?

So how might we create value?

Hypothesis

Hypothesis

Hypothesis

If we focus our efforts on making a marketplace that feels safer and easier to use; while providing transparency, we can gain marketshare, and increase user satisfaction

If we focus our efforts on making a marketplace that feels safer and easier to use; while providing transparency, we can gain marketshare, and increase user satisfaction

If we focus our efforts on making a marketplace that feels safer and easier to use; while providing transparency, we can gain marketshare, and increase user satisfaction

08.

08.

08.

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

Creating order

Creating order

Creating order

09.

09.

09.

VERSION 1 RELEASE

VERSION 1 RELEASE

VERSION 1 RELEASE

Testing the boat in the ocean

Testing the boat in the ocean

Testing the boat in the ocean

With the aim of getting real world feedback of how people felt about and used the product, we built and released version 1 of Isoko ASAP

With the aim of getting real world feedback of how people felt about and used the product, we built and released version 1 of Isoko ASAP

With the aim of getting real world feedback of how people felt about and used the product, we built and released version 1 of Isoko ASAP

Below are some screen from version 1

Below are some screen from version 1

Below are some screen from version 1

10.

10.

10.

ITERATION

ITERATION

ITERATION

Building with and for your users

Building with and for your users

Building with and for your users

After releasing the product, we managed to collect all sorts of data.

We learned how people were using it in different from we intended, some of their fears, some of their desires, what they hated, and what they loved.

After releasing the product, we managed to collect all sorts of data.

We learned how people were using it in different from we intended, some of their fears, some of their desires, what they hated, and what they loved.

After releasing the product, we managed to collect all sorts of data.

We learned how people were using it in different from we intended, some of their fears, some of their desires, what they hated, and what they loved.

Our research stack:

Our research stack:

Our research stack:

We used Hotjar to see heat-maps, get direct customer feedback, and to view user session recordings to observe first hand how users interacted with the platform

We used Hotjar to see heat-maps, get direct customer feedback, and to view user session recordings to observe first hand how users interacted with the platform

We used Hotjar to see heat-maps, get direct customer feedback, and to view user session recordings to observe first hand how users interacted with the platform

We used google forms to send out surveys and get feedback on what people (dis)liked about what we had made. We also used it as a filter for user interviews.

We used google forms to send out surveys and get feedback on what people (dis)liked about what we had made. We also used it as a filter for user interviews.

We used google forms to send out surveys and get feedback on what people (dis)liked about what we had made. We also used it as a filter for user interviews.

We used Discord to engage in direct conversation with users about challenges they were facing with out product, either through direct messages or in a dedicated channel where users would often offer constructive feedback

We used Discord to engage in direct conversation with users about challenges they were facing with out product, either through direct messages or in a dedicated channel where users would often offer constructive feedback

We used Discord to engage in direct conversation with users about challenges they were facing with out product, either through direct messages or in a dedicated channel where users would often offer constructive feedback

We used Google meet to have user interviews. It’s familiar, free, and easy to use.

We used Google meet to have user interviews. It’s familiar, free, and easy to use.

We used Google meet to have user interviews. It’s familiar, free, and easy to use.

11.

11.

11.

USER PERSONAS

USER PERSONAS

USER PERSONAS

Who actually uses the product??

Who actually uses the product??

Who actually uses the product??

12.

12.

12.

NEW IDEAS

NEW IDEAS

NEW IDEAS

New ideas based on observation and feedback

New ideas based on observation and feedback

New ideas based on observation and feedback

More utility, less noise

More utility, less noise

Idea 01

Idea 01

Before

Before

  1. Navigation menu overcrowded

  2. Top section too large and not useful

  3. Results is not needed

  4. Filters don’t give any information

  5. No way to buy multiple NFTs at once (not marked on image)

  1. Navigation menu overcrowded

  2. Top section too large and not useful

  3. Results is not needed

  4. Filters don’t give any information

  5. No way to buy multiple NFTs at once (not marked on image)

  1. Navigation menu overcrowded

  2. Top section too large and not useful

  3. Results is not needed

  4. Filters don’t give any information

  5. No way to buy multiple NFTs at once (not marked on image)

After

After

  1. Reduced clutter in navigation

  2. Effective use of space for key info

  3. Filters are scannable

  4. Added bulk buy feature to let users buy more than 1 NFT in a single click

  5. Everything above the fold. Only scrollable section is the list of items.

  1. Reduced clutter in navigation

  2. Effective use of space for key info

  3. Filters are scannable

  4. Added bulk buy feature to let users buy more than 1 NFT in a single click

  5. Everything above the fold. Only scrollable section is the list of items.

  1. Reduced clutter in navigation

  2. Effective use of space for key info

  3. Filters are scannable

  4. Added bulk buy feature to let users buy more than 1 NFT in a single click

  5. Everything above the fold. Only scrollable section is the list of items.

Transaction transparency and control

Transaction transparency and control

Transaction transparency

Idea 02

Idea 02

Before

Before

  1. No clear feedback from system during transaction (So users stay stagnant waiting for confirmation)

  2. After transaction, user only gets popup shown in screenshot

  3. If transaction failed, there was no action user could take

  4. Popup could be obtrusive

  1. No clear feedback from system during transaction (So users stay stagnant waiting for confirmation)

  2. After transaction, user only gets popup shown in screenshot

  3. If transaction failed, there was no action user could take

  4. Popup could be obtrusive

  1. No clear feedback from system during transaction (So users stay stagnant waiting for confirmation)

  2. After transaction, user only gets popup shown in screenshot

  3. If transaction failed, there was no action user could take

  4. Popup could be obtrusive

After

After

  1. Collapsable transaction tracker (non obtrusive)

  2. Able to track multiple transactions at once (In progress, successful, and failed)

  3. Users can easily retry transaction if failed

  1. Collapsable transaction tracker (non obtrusive)

  2. Able to track multiple transactions at once (In progress, successful, and failed)

  3. Users can easily retry transaction if failed

  1. Collapsable transaction tracker (non obtrusive)

  2. Able to track multiple transactions at once (In progress, successful, and failed)

  3. Users can easily retry transaction if failed

Better NFT interaction

Better NFT interaction

Idea 03

Idea 03

Before

Before

  1. The NFT interaction page was its own page

  2. Users not able to view other NFTs without going back then clicking separate NFT

  3. Key action was at bottom of the page

  1. The NFT interaction page was its own page

  2. Users not able to view other NFTs without going back then clicking separate NFT

  3. Key action was at bottom of the page

  1. The NFT interaction page was its own page

  2. Users not able to view other NFTs without going back then clicking separate NFT

  3. Key action was at bottom of the page

After

After

  1. Changed from page to overlay to give smoother navigation

  2. CTA moved to top so users don’t have to scroll to see it

  3. Ability to use as carrousel and view other NFTs

  1. Changed from page to overlay to give smoother navigation

  2. CTA moved to top so users don’t have to scroll to see it

  3. Ability to use as carrousel and view other NFTs

  1. Changed from page to overlay to give smoother navigation

  2. CTA moved to top so users don’t have to scroll to see it

  3. Ability to use as carrousel and view other NFTs

13.

RESULTS

RESULTS

RESULTS

What was the outcome of all this work?

What was the outcome of all this work?

What was the outcome of all this work?

Users were able to transact 8x the volume in the same amount of time

Users were able to transact 8x the volume in the same amount of time

Users were able to transact 8x the volume in the same amount of time

Compared to Version 1 and competing marketplaces

Compared to Version 1 and competing marketplaces

Compared to Version 1 and competing marketplaces

29% increase in NPS from V1 to V2

29% increase in NPS from V1 to V2

29% increase in NPS from V1 to V2

The net promoter score increased 29% from 4.9/10 to 7.7/10

The net promoter score increased 29% from 4.9/10 to 7.7/10

The net promoter score increased 29% from 4.9/10 to 7.7/10

14.

14.

14.

VISUAL DESIGN

VISUAL DESIGN

VISUAL DESIGN

Creating a consistent look and feel

Creating a consistent look and feel

Creating a consistent look and feel

15.

15.

15.

DESIGN SYSTEM

DESIGN SYSTEM

DESIGN SYSTEM

Consistent at scale

Consistent at scale

Consistent at scale

16.

16.

16.

User interface

User interface

User interface

Some screens from Isoko’s interface

Some screens from Isoko’s interface

Some screens from Isoko’s interface

17.

17.

17.

REFINEMENT, LEARNINGS, REMARKS

REFINEMENT, LEARNINGS, REMARKS

REFINEMENT, LEARNINGS, REMARKS

A recap of the experience and what I’d do next

A recap of the experience and what I’d do next

A recap of the experience and what I’d do next

Learnings

Learnings

Learnings

I learned a lot about the consequences and fears of poor user experiences.

Working with users who had their money on the line during all key user journeys helped me understand how interaction design and transparency can help build a strong sense of trust between the users and the tools they use.

I learned a lot about the consequences and fears of poor user experiences.

Working with users who had their money on the line during all key user journeys helped me understand how interaction design and transparency can help build a strong sense of trust between the users and the tools they use.

I learned a lot about the consequences and fears of poor user experiences.

Working with users who had their money on the line during all key user journeys helped me understand how interaction design and transparency can help build a strong sense of trust between the users and the tools they use.

Moving forward

Moving forward

Moving forward

I would focus on acquisition, activation, and retention. I think there are 3 things isoko should focus on in their next steps.

I would focus on acquisition, activation, and retention. I think there are 3 things isoko should focus on in their next steps.

I would focus on acquisition, activation, and retention. I think there are 3 things isoko should focus on in their next steps.

Acquisition: Focusing on collection creators

Acquisition: Focusing on collection creators

Acquisition: Focusing on collection creators

Focusing on the collection creator and their needs and building that into Isoko.
One collection creator can drive thousands of users to your platform if they feel your product is better for them and their users.

Focusing on the collection creator and their needs and building that into Isoko.
One collection creator can drive thousands of users to your platform if they feel your product is better for them and their users.

Focusing on the collection creator and their needs and building that into Isoko.
One collection creator can drive thousands of users to your platform if they feel your product is better for them and their users.

Focus

Focus

01

01

Activation: Offer feature

Activation: Offer feature

Activation: Offer feature

An offer feature, letting users make offers on items which have not been listed (since blockchain data is public), having an offer feature would allow users to be proactive in creating transactions.

An offer feature, letting users make offers on items which have not been listed (since blockchain data is public), having an offer feature would allow users to be proactive in creating transactions.

An offer feature, letting users make offers on items which have not been listed (since blockchain data is public), having an offer feature would allow users to be proactive in creating transactions.

Focus

Focus

02

02

Retention: Notifications

Retention: Notifications

Retention: Notifications

Allowing notifications on responses for offers sent, offers received, transactions completed, fees reduction and so on, may help with user retention.

Allowing notifications on responses for offers sent, offers received, transactions completed, fees reduction and so on, may help with user retention.

Allowing notifications on responses for offers sent, offers received, transactions completed, fees reduction and so on, may help with user retention.

Focus

Focus

03

03

Closing this off, I would like to acknowledge the fantastic team at Isoko. Their resolve, brilliance, and candour allowed us to collectively breathe life into Isoko. I am grateful for them.

Closing this off, I would like to acknowledge the fantastic team at Isoko. Their resolve, brilliance, and candour allowed us to collectively breathe life into Isoko. I am grateful for them.

Closing this off, I would like to acknowledge the fantastic team at Isoko. Their resolve, brilliance, and candour allowed us to collectively breathe life into Isoko. I am grateful for them.

IMANI MUREITHI

PRODUCT DESIGNER

IMANI MUREITHI

PRODUCT DESIGNER

IMANI MUREITHI

PRODUCT DESIGNER