Web1, Web2, Web3: What Does This Mean for Design?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The evolution of the Internet from web1 to web2 and now to web3 has had a profound impact on design practices. Over the years, design and UX were passing through the path of complication, and the problems that could be solved with design became more challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the early days of the Internet, static websites dominated, focusing primarily on delivering information. With the advent of web2, user interaction and participation became the driving force, leading to dynamic and interactive centralized websites. Web3 takes this a step further by leveraging blockchain technology to enable decentralized applications and platforms. This paradigm shift in technology requires a new approach to design, where UX plays a pivotal role. If web2 UX challenges lay mostly in the plane of the visual architecture of multi-user systems, web3 requires both design and a deep understanding of underlying technology to get right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web3 UX is a unique blend of technology and design that demands a multidisciplinary approach. Unlike traditional UX design, which focuses on creating visually pleasing interfaces that are easy to use, web3 UX design requires a deep understanding of blockchain technology and the ability to translate its complexities into an intuitive design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vitalik Buterin<\/a> in his closing speech at ETHDenver mentioned that the two things that keep users using the centralized solutions are fees<\/strong> and user experience<\/strong>. To solve the second one, it\u2019s not only enough to come up with a great design:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes there is a need to implement a solution that is ugly and not sweet. It doesn\u2019t try to be optimal, but instead, it tries to be robust and provide a clear solution even when things fail. It\u2019s important to process the very specific user experience issues that annoy people.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Improving user experience for blockchain applications requires adherence to best Web3 UX design practices and principles since web3 provides completely new interactions with users. These principles focus on simplicity, clarity, security, and ease of use. Previously known UX patterns from web1 and web2 are simply not enough to solve the problems that web3 brings to us. Some key web3 UX principles include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blockchain applications should prioritize clean and minimalist UX that presents enough information to users without overwhelming them. Due to the significant amount of technical information and new data points presented to the user, the main focus should be on helping the user understand the product regardless of their past experience, knowledge, language skills, or concentration level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Catering to all audiences is one of the big challenges in Web3 UX design. If you have to use technical jargon, try to clearly explain what you mean by it. The communication should emphasize the value of the product, rather than using technical language that may confuse users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By designing interfaces that are familiar to web2 users and using the best web2 UX principles, web3 applications can increase accessibility and adoption. This pattern can help users feel more comfortable and confident when interacting with blockchain-based applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Constant education is one of the most important principles of web3 UX. As users interact with decentralized applications, we need to make sure they are guided through the whole journey. As of now, most people don\u2019t understand the processes and functions in the blockchain field, making it crucial to provide information in small, easy-to-understand pieces explaining the specific details and concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a known fact that web3 is hacker\/pirate\/phish\/scam-friendly, and security is a fundamental aspect of blockchain applications. Designing UX with a strong focus on security features ensures that users feel confident and protected while interacting with web3 platforms. Also, crypto apps sometimes make users take irreversible financial decisions without any third party protecting them from fraud or a simple mistake. That\u2019s why being open and communicating about your security measures will likely increase the trust users will have in you and your product \u2014 make sure to let users know what data is handled, how it is handled, where it is stored, and why it is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Achieving a desirable UX in web3 requires a multidisciplinary approach. Here are some suggestions that can help to improve user experience in crypto and blockchain projects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements, UX designers can incorporate new features and functionalities into their designs, enhancing the overall experience for users. Additionally, utilizing the most recent findings and discovering new ways of solving problems will help to create more efficient and effective solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also a huge focus on UX copywriting for web3 user experience design, the practice of writing carefully considered information that addresses people\u2019s contexts, needs, and behaviors. Make sure to explain complex concepts in simple words to let users understand them. For example, the \u201csecret phrase\u201d wording may work better than the \u201cmnemonic phrase\u201d. Using simple and clear messaging and communications is thus essential, especially during any transaction stages where users might face the risk of permanently losing their money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the world of UX and Web3 design, designers need to have a deep understanding of blockchain technology, while developers should be aware of the importance of creating a user-friendly interface. This requires close collaboration between the two disciplines, which can help to ensure that the end product is both technically sound and intuitive to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s worth mentioning that the solutions to many web3 UX problems lie in the development process rather than in design alone. Let\u2019s take the transaction fees as an example. While the UI can make it clear how much a user will be charged for a transaction, it is the development process that determines the fee structure and how it is calculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to improve UX in web3 design? Many web3 are similar to games and only Gen Z people can fully leverage them. While it\u2019s important to create visually appealing interfaces that engage users, it\u2019s equally important to ensure that the interface is intuitive, easy to use, and does not overwhelm users with gamification. UX specialists need to aim at striking a balance between creativity and usability, making it easier for users to interact with blockchain-based products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surprisingly, one of our top tips for web3 UX design is that the greatest web3 experience can often be achieved by reimagining web2 interfaces. The target audience for web3 applications is primarily comprised of web2 users. These users are accustomed to a certain level of usability and functionality. To move forward in the world of web3, we must first go back and understand the needs and expectations of the existing user base. That way, you create a smoother user experience for people that are still new to things like crypto wallets, blockchain technology, NFT marketplaces, etc. Basically, a successful UX design with Web3 is the best web2 UX principles topped up by greater technological expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Web3 promises a future of decentralized finance (DeFi) and user-owned data, the technology feels intimidating for newcomers. By securely reimagining Web2 interfaces, Web3 UX design bridges the gap for users unfamiliar with crypto wallets, blockchain networks, and dApps (decentralized applications). This familiarity fosters trust from users in a new finance ecosystem. Ultimately, a successful Web3 UX design should integrate these powerful tools into an existing understanding of user experience. This helps build a strong brand for your company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We at\u00a0Dexola<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>approached the challenge of building a web3 UX agency with a unique solution. As a starting point, we had our own solid team of blockchain developers and designers, a research and development team<\/a>, and a team of experienced web2 UI\/UX designers in our parent company\u00a0Trinetix<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0who were willing to try themselves in the blockchain field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We mentioned, that the web3 UX problems can\u2019t be solved with the design only, that\u2019s why we came up with a blockchain educational program for web2 design specialists. As a basis, we chose the \u201cCrypto Literacy and Blockchain\u201d course from\u00a0Diia.Osvita<\/a>, which provides a great general overview of the field. After completing the course, we involve these specialists in our R&D unit where we learn the best UX patterns within the scope of each application. Designing for UX in web3 includes developing typical solutions like wallets, exchanges, and NFT marketplaces with strong cross-communication between design and development teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web3 UX is in a way still uncharted territory, and Dexola identified succeeding in it as a specific challenge at another level of complexity. We believe that by leveraging the expertise of web2 designers with over 10 years of experience and providing them with technological education, we can deliver a world-class UX for blockchain products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more about how to create a crypto trading bot<\/a> and smart contracts development<\/a> by Dexola. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While crypto has been around for nearly a decade and is no longer in its infancy, it still falls under the category of emerging tech and is yet to achieve mass adoption. Still, one of the biggest challenges web3 and crypto continue to face is being accessible and easy-to-use at scale. To start with crypto, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":24529,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dexola.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/1_hLS6ntlxlekXoaXALrI6MQ@2x-1024x535.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWeb3 UX: Blending Technology and Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Web3 UX Principles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Simplicity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Communication Using Value, Limiting Technical Jargon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Familiarity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Security and Transparency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Achieve the Desirable UX?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore Technologies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wording Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Collaboration Between Developers and Designers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Search for Solutions in the Development<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Impress with Creativity, but Don\u2019t Distract from Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step Back to Web2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Dexola Overcomes Challenges in Building a Web3 UX Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n