Web3 will face the same problem with widespread adoption: Is it easy to use? While developers see the potential, consumers might have difficulty understanding and implementing Web3.
It is for this reason that UI/UX design is one of the most critical elements of Web3 growth. Developers face the singular challenge of acclimating generations of online users to a new way of functioning.
Why UI/UX?
Blockchain involves cutting out the middleman, and Web3 is blockchain. End users are responsible for their own transaction management in areas such as finance, healthcare, and even data storage. In the future, Web3 will replace the internet as we know it, so there will be no need to contact customer support or wait for a “tech guy” to complete a task.
In order for Web3 to make sense to the layperson, it must start with the user interface and user experience.
- Most consumers will focus on the experience they have while navigating Web3 during its introduction. They’re more likely to reject the idea if presented with a bunch of buggy, poorly designed, and low-quality apps that aren’t comparable to those they can find in Web2. In fact, 94 percent of first impressions are based on design.
- In order to target the right audience, design must be simple, intuitive, and sleek. User experience should be familiar while still gradually introducing Web3 and its possibilities. Software developers working in Web3 must keep this balance in mind.
- These new apps must be more appealing to consumers than the ones they are currently using. We still need web3 applications to look easier than what users are accustomed to, regardless of crypto regulation or collapsing exchanges.
It takes time to polish dApps to serve the needs of modern online users, and UI/UX is the first step.
Web3 and UI/UX best practices
In order for your dApp vision to become a viable product, there are many steps to take. UI/UX best practices for Web3 platforms can be found here.
- There are some users who may be familiar with Web3 and decentralized applications, but there are others who may not. In order to create a great user experience, it’s imperative that there are helpful tips and hints included. Despite Web3’s technical nature, you can still break it down into more digestible lessons for your audience.
- If you want to convince users to care about Web3, make sure you highlight the benefits. What is your dApp’s approach to data management and how does it benefit your users? What are some of the ways it simplifies or makes e-commerce more secure? By putting transparency at the forefront of the user experience, you can greatly assist your target audience in understanding why they should use your product.
- Your dApp will be updated with some new features, like tipping or using crypto to pay. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t abandon current UI/UX standards and opt for something that is too confusing or too futuristic for a general audience. In order to bridge the familiar and unknown, you should make your user interface similar to other applications.
- Don’t forget to QA and solicit feedback when testing. Don’t rush something to market too quickly by following proven software development process steps. In spite of all the talk about the first-mover advantage, the companies that see long-term success will be those that create products users enjoy, regardless of whether they are the first.
The benefits of Web3 are a welcome conversation as consumer privacy and cybersecurity become more and more important. You must, however, make sure that your content caters to the needs of an online audience. Blockchains with unusable dApps drown out the benefits of Web3, turning people away from the future.