DISCOVERY & RESEARCH
Overview
Swirge is an all-in-one decentralized platform that brings together social media, commerce, and finance under one roof. Built on blockchain technology, Swirge ensures that users maintain control over their data while enjoying the convenience of a comprehensive ecosystem. Whether they’re connecting with others, shopping online, or managing digital assets, Swirge offers a seamless, decentralized solution. Also, Swirge ensures that users information remains secure and private, empowering you to take charge of your digital footprint.
What is the problem
In the current digital landscape, users have limited control over their data, are often subject to centralized authorities in social media, marketplaces, and financial services, and face privacy concerns. These centralized platforms can restrict freedom, monetize user data without consent, and limit user autonomy. Also, Users’ data are being sold to highest bidders or third parties that need these information to be able to process and share unwanted information to the users.
Example; Facebook has been accused of breaching user’s privacy couple of times.
Solution alignment
Swirge aims to solve this by providing a decentralized platform that combines social media, marketplaces, wallets, and exchanges on the blockchain. This approach empowers users with full control over their data, ensuring privacy, security, and autonomy without the influence of central authorities.
Product goals
- Empowering Users with Full Control Over Their Data
- Provide a Comprehensive Decentralized Ecosystem
- Enhance Security and Trust through Decentralization
- Promote Community Governance and Participation
Design process
Research time
To begin the research, I engaged in a comprehensive research process to understand user needs, align with stakeholder goals, and brainstorm innovative solutions. I began by speaking with stakeholders to grasp their vision for a decentralized platform that prioritizes user control and privacy. Through interviews and surveys, I gathered insights from potential users, focusing on their pain points with current centralized platforms and their desires for security and simplicity.
I then collaborated with the design team, brainstorming ideas that would address user needs while staying true to Swirge’s core values. This included generating “How Might We” questions to explore different aspects of user experience, such as making decentralized technology more accessible and enhancing user engagement through community-driven features.
Additionally, I employed other research methods, such as SWOT analysis, to identify market gaps and opportunities for Swirge to differentiate itself. These insights were synthesized into actionable recommendations that guided the design and development of Swirge, ensuring it met the expectations of both stakeholders and users.
User persona
This user persona was developed to create a user-centered product that effectively meets the needs and addresses the pain points of users.
Insights
To arrive at the insights for Swirge, I started by understanding its core goals, such as decentralization, user control over data, and blockchain-based security. I then considered the needs and challenges of potential users, like their desire for privacy and ease of use. This led to identifying key features like decentralized social media and wallets, brainstorming solutions for usability and community engagement, and formulating “How Might We” questions to drive innovation. I also analyzed the competitive landscape to understand Swirge’s strengths and threats.
EXPERIENCE THE PRODUCT
Content home (Newsfeed)
The content feed serves as the central hub where users can interact with decentralized content in a social media-like environment. Also added as widget to make the newsfeed more fun and interactive for the users are trending, stories, scrolling market price, messages, notifications, wallets… among others.
We focused on creating a clean, intuitive interface that allows users to easily scroll through posts, like, comment, tip, report and share, while maintaining complete control over their data. Users engage with content posted by others in the network, with the confidence that their interactions are private and secure, thanks to the decentralized nature of the platform.
Content feed explained
Below is the details of assets on the homepage;
Swerve (Post)
“Swerve” allows users to create and share posts, similar to tweeting or posting on other social platforms, but with enhanced privacy controls.
We designed the post creation flow to be simple and accessible, with options to customize visibility and data-sharing preferences. Users can quickly create text, image, or video posts, choosing who can see and interact with their content, ensuring a personalized and secure social experience.
Decentralized finance (Wallet)
The DeFi feature enables users to manage and grow their digital assets directly within Swirge, without relying on traditional financial systems. They have a wallet address that they can send and receive from on the swirge protocol inbibed on the platform.
I collaborated with the blockchain team to integrate secure, user-friendly financial tools, ensuring seamless access to decentralized sending and receiving of crypto coins. Users can access DeFi services to manage their cryptocurrencies, all within a secure, decentralized environment.
Decentralized Exchange (Wallet Cont’d)
The decentralized exchange (DEX) allows users to trade cryptocurrencies and NFT assets without intermediaries, offering lower fees and enhanced security.
The interface was designed to be straightforward, mimicking the simplicity of centralized exchanges while retaining the transparency and security of decentralized systems. Users can buy, sell, and trade various cryptocurrencies and NFT assests directly on the platform, with transactions recorded on the blockchain for full transparency.
Polling system
We created a user-friendly polling interface that allows users to create, participate in, and track polls, ensuring that every voice can be heard. Users can vote on platform features, community rules, and other decisions, with results transparently recorded on the blockchain.
Tipping friends
We focused on integrating a seamless tipping mechanism into the content feed, allowing users to send micro-payments with just a few clicks. Users can tip others for valuable content or contributions, using cryptocurrency, promoting a culture of appreciation and decentralized wealth distribution.
Merchant
These features allow users to set up and manage decentralized stores, selling products or services within the Swirge ecosystem.
We developed an intuitive merchant dashboard, providing tools for inventory management, payment processing, and order tracking, all within a decentralized framework. Merchants can list products, process transactions, and manage their stores, all while retaining full control over their data and earnings.
Other designs
Below are other designs in the app like the Landing page and other mobile pages that wasn’t fully discussed but help make the product usable for the users.
CONCLUSION
Learning & Take aways
As a designer at Swirge, I learned the importance of balancing innovation with usability. Designing for decentralization required rethinking traditional UX approaches to ensure that complex blockchain technology was accessible to all users.
I also realized the value of user feedback in refining features, particularly in areas like privacy controls and user governance. Collaboration with cross-functional teams was crucial in aligning the product’s vision with technical feasibility. Lastly, I learned that educating users about new concepts is essential for adoption in emerging technologies.
Key metrics
