The first social crypto app on the market

The first social crypto app on the market

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Duration

2022

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responsibilites
Design lead
design system
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team size
18 people
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Download
app store
google play
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About

HUSL is a comprehensive social crypto trading platform designed to cater to the needs of crypto enthusiasts who currently rely on multiple apps for trading, swapping, monitoring, and learning about cryptocurrency. By consolidating these features into a single platform, HUSL empowers users to trade confidently and efficiently.

This was my first project at Monstarlab, where I joined as a mid-level designer.


Given my passion for cryptocurrency, I was thrilled to work on a platform I would personally love to use. The project not only allowed me to grow significantly as a designer but also earned me a promotion to Senior Designer within seven months of joining the company.

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USER FLOWS

I began by creating two most important user flows on the platform – onboarding and buying crypto for the first time. I used materials from my competitor analysis and combined them with tech and compliance requirements.

Onboarding

Buy flow

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wireframes

In the wireframes, HUSL consists of 5 main sections: Home, Account, News, and Trading hub. In the Home section, the user can quickly find the essential information on the platform - total Account value and price of the coins that the user holds.

The Account section houses more granular details about the user's balance. The app allows users to keep multiple portfolios to focus on different investment strategies.

The news section offers the user the latest news in the crypto world.

Finally, the Social section is the main unique selling point of the platform. The user can find successful traders, copy their portfolios, or share their portfolios and receive rewards for each follower they get.

HUSL consists of 5 main sections: Home, Account, News, and Trading hub. In the Home section, the user can quickly find the essential information on the platform - total Account value and price of the coins that the user holds.

The Account section houses more granular details about the user's balance. The app allows users to keep multiple portfolios to focus on different investment strategies.

The news section offers the user the latest news in the crypto world.

Finally, the Social section is the main unique selling point of the platform. The user can find successful traders, copy their portfolios, or share their portfolios and receive rewards for each follower they get.

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mid-fi prototype

To test our assumptions and validate our vision for the platform, I, with the help of two other colleagues, designed core features of the platform to create the prototype that complies with all the essential flows – from onboarding, making the first trade, to copying a portfolio from another user, to withdrawing funds to the bank account.

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Usability testing

We tested our prototype with 9 users with representatives from various levels of knowledge of the crypto world – from noobs to crypto experts. We chose a qualitative moderated interview model to really get into details and get as many insights as possible.

KEY QUOTES HIGHLIGHT
“This app has much more functionalities than the average trading app. Because of these functionalities, there are more opportunities to earn money.”
“I would use it for sure. By far this is the best app I've seen. I don't know a lot of good trading apps.”
“It looks business like but very serious, instead of fresh and positive. It could be more accessible in way of colouring. There's more possible compared to bitvavo and looks more professional.”
“I really like the design. I would like to give it a 7-8. Though some features really need to be simplified. It is really complicated in the flows.”
“I would say it is quite complex and would take me some time to explore it. The good thing is that there was explanation for everything. I think the flows could be easier.”
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MVP scope

After getting valuable feedback from the users, we started setting the MVP's scope. We decided to remove features such as copy portfolio, as the users could potentially face risks of unreasonably high fees. Instead, the new approach will focus much more on the social aspect of crypto trading. We aim to incentivize crypto experts by rewards into sharing their trades on our platform, so the less experienced users can find a trusted source for their decisions without understanding the technologies and the market.

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onboarding

Designing the onboarding process required balancing an intuitive user experience with the strict compliance requirements essential for financial products. The flow included introductory explanation screens, account creation, and a KYC questionnaire, seamlessly integrated with ShuftiPro for identity verification.

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HOME

The Home section serves as a central hub, providing users with key financial insights and a quick market overview. Balancing the display of extensive information, particularly in the markets section, was challenging. However, usability testing confirmed that adhering to industry standards was the most effective approach.

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social

The Social section is the core unique selling point of the platform, designed to foster collaboration within the trading community. Newer traders can follow and replicate the strategies of experienced investors, making it easier for them to navigate the market. In turn, seasoned traders benefit by earning affiliate fees when their trades are copied. This creates a mutually beneficial ecosystem that supports both novice and expert users.

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trading

The trading flow is a critical component of any crypto platform. Drawing inspiration from industry best practices, I incorporated advanced functionalities tailored for experienced traders. Clarity around transaction fees was a top priority to ensure transparency. In addition to the standard buying and selling options, users can also swap coins, with this feature visually differentiated using distinct color treatments for easy recognition.

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sharing a trade

Sharing trades is a key feature and one of the platform’s main USPs. After completing a trade, users can choose to share it with the community, enabling them to earn additional income by actively participating as a valued member of the ecosystem.

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Afterthoughts

Working on HUSL provided a pivotal opportunity to manage client relationships, challenging me to refine my communication skills and articulate design decisions clearly. Preparing for meetings and presenting to clients taught me the importance of concise, confident communication, which I’ve since honed through practice and continued learning.


The project also underscored the value of rigorous user testing. Structured usability sessions revealed insights I hadn’t anticipated, highlighting how essential real-world validation is to creating effective, user-centered designs. These lessons continue to shape my approach to collaboration and product development.

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testimonial
"Overall, working with Daniil is a true pleasure. He is an excellent communicator, very strong at translating client and user feedback into UI design, and is always focussed on delivering value. I felt very confident in having Daniil in front of our clients to lead design presentations, as well as having him in front of the team to do internal feedback rounds. On top of that, he is a great colleague and someone I consider a friend, also outside of work. He is kind, emphatic with a great sense of humor and a true asset to any team."

Sven de Brouwer, Delivery Director

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Prague
Zurich
// 2024
// contact
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Prague
Zurich
// 2024
// contact
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Prague
Zurich
// 2024
// contact
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Prague
Zurich
// 2024