Challenges

CThe application was designed from scratch, and desktop interaction models could not be directly translated to mobile, especially in a high-stakes context such as personal finance. Managing money on a phone required a strong sense of security and trust, both functionally and perceptually.
The product needed to scale from a small number of assets to potentially 50 or more, combining crypto, fiat, different blockchains, and a reference value tied to a default currency. Presenting this amount of information clearly within limited screen space was a core challenge.
In addition, nomenclature and mental models were critical. Introducing traditional banking concepts into a crypto-first environment had to feel natural and familiar, without increasing cognitive load or confusion.

What I Did

A central design decision was to use traditional banking interactions as the primary mental model and align crypto assets as closely as possible to that structure. While blockchain concepts are inherently more complex, emphasizing similarities with known financial patterns made crypto more approachable.
Assets were organized using a clear spatial and interaction logic: fiat assets on the left, crypto assets on the right, and a central overview card aggregating all holdings. This structure helped users understand orientation and context at a glance.
To address real-world security concerns, I introduced a quick phone flip gesture that instantly hid all sensitive information when the device was unlocked, allowing users to protect their data in public or shared environments.
To manage dense information without overwhelming users, interactive widgets were used to progressively reveal details, balancing discoverability with cognitive load.

Outcome

The outcome was a fully designed native mobile fintech application that was released and made available to early beta users before the company closed.
Feedback from beta testers was very positive and led directly to interaction improvements. For example, asset cards initially relied only on swipe gestures for navigation. Based on user feedback, a press-and-hold plus swipe gesture was introduced, enabling faster access and quick search, and improving overall usability.

What I Learned

This project reinforced that the screen itself is not the limit of the design. Beyond layout, aesthetics, and information hierarchy, physical interaction with the device plays a significant role in solving usability and security challenges. Gestures can effectively create more perceived space, reduce friction, and protect sensitive information.
It also confirmed that wireframes are guides rather than final solutions. Design is not a refined wireframe, but a creative problem-solving process where UX and UI converge, enabling solutions that emerge during the act of designing itself.

Additional contributions

• Streamlined the KYC and onboarding flow
• Standardized swap, exchange, and transaction patterns across crypto and fiat
• Defined clear and consistent asset nomenclature
• Standardized transaction receipts for both crypto and fiat
• Designed promotional surfaces for premium benefits
• Defined a mobile-specific visual style, detached from the web app while remaining aligned with the overall brand