If good UX is like driving an auto, Web3 is the ‘driving stick’ – UX Designer

According to many UX designers, the current state of the web3 user experience is akin to driving a manual transmission car – there’s more control, but most users will find it unnecessarily cluttered.

Over the past few years, discussions of Web3 mainstream adoption have focused on the need to improve the user experience and “ease of use” of crypto.

However, on July 12 on Twitter PostWeb3 UI/UX designer “0xDesigner” argued that certain properties of blockchain make it challenging to create easy-to-use Web2-like applications.

Web2 vs Web3 UX

I was asked by a reporter of a crypto publication about the disparity between Web2 and Web3 UX. This is a worthwhile line of asking questions that has not been adequately covered. So I’m going to share some half-baked thoughts in the hopes that this will spark more discussion.

Why…

– 0xDesigner (@0xDesigner) 12 July 2023

According to 0XDesigner, one of the main issues with cryptocurrency applications is that every action is “irreversible” – there is no “undo button” on the blockchain and mistakes are costly. he adds:

“Think of it this way: Web2 is like driving an automatic car. It’s straightforward; You get in, push the pedals and away you go. Web3, on the other hand, is more like a driving stick.

“You have to understand the gears, the clutch and constantly monitor the tachometer otherwise you will damage the transmission or stall the car,” he added.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, 0xDesigner argued that most of the “broad population” may not even care about the sovereignty (control and ownership) that blockchain provides.

Web3 UX Paradox

Thomas Ling, a former UI designer at blockchain tech firm Immutable and Web2 gaming studio Riot Games, told Cointelegraph that the UI in Web2 is generally more simple because, as with Web3, ownership and control is vested with the user.

Although this makes Web3 unique, it also adds more complexities on the backend, explained Ling:

“Where a Web2 app may only need to show 1 of 5 steps, a Web3 app needs to show all 5 to get an action to the user and maintain Web3’s value proposition.”

Because of this, Ling explained, Web3 UI/UX designers are “limited” in how they can “magic” create easy-to-use applications.

oh and gm, got me thinking about UX/UI in crypto pic.twitter.com/ayEIbWQPDg

— Irena (@irena_clarke) 4 July 2023

Ling said this is especially challenging when product teams are faced with making design decisions with tradeoffs:

“It’s a bit of a paradox – by simplifying the Web3 flow, we have to remove some control from the user, which starts to take away from the point of Web3.”

Another problem 0xDesigner believes is the lack of priority given to user experience in Web3 projects.

“From what I’ve seen, most product teams are engineering driven. Designer to developer ratio is lower than web2. This usually results in a more technical solution.”

This may be due to the high stakes in Web3, especially with regard to financial applications, which means more staff will focus on security and error prevention.

Connected: This platform improves UX by providing ENS name to CEX users

0xDesigner believes that Web3 will be widely adopted when it has a truly useful application, such as gaming and music.

“The problem with adoption is utility first, not applicability. It needs to be a good game or good music. I don’t think it will matter that it’s Web3.”

He added that crypto applications should also “feel invisible”.

“I think the next crypto cycle will be driven by consumer apps that are powered by crypto, but users won’t know it’s crypto unless they look closely.”

In a contrary view, Messari CEO Ryan Selkis downplay UX/UI problem when adopted during July 11th Twitter Space.

Less than 1 hour till our next trip #mainnet2023 Blank space! Add @twobitidiot, @bloomberg_seth , @mickeykramer as they take an in-depth look at current crypto product solutions and their utility.

pic.twitter.com/DzS8Vuxasg

— Messari (@MessariCrypto) 11 July 2023

“Wallets are fine, of course there are some things to be desired (…) but it’s really a lot of off-chain, social and regulatory things that affect long-term adoption.

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