UX designers are comparing the user experience (UX) of Web3 to driving a manual transmission car. While there is more control, most users find it clunky and complex. The discussion around mainstream adoption of Web3 has always focused on improving the user experience and ease of use. However, Web3 UI/UX designer 0xDesigner argues that certain properties of blockchain make it challenging to build user-friendly applications. One of the main issues is that every action on the blockchain is irreversible, with no “undo” button, making mistakes costly. According to 0xDesigner, “Web2 is like driving an automatic car, straightforward and easy. Web3 is more like driving stick, where you need to understand the gears and constantly monitor the car.”

The uniqueness of Web3, which grants ownership and control to the user, adds complexity to the UX. Thomas Ling, a former user interface (UI) designer for Immutable and Riot Games, explains that Web3 apps need to show all steps to maintain the value proposition of Web3. This poses a challenge for Web3 UI/UX designers when making design decisions. By simplifying the flows, some control is taken away from the user, which goes against the essence of Web3. Additionally, Web3 projects tend to prioritize engineering over the user experience, resulting in more technical solutions.

In order for Web3 to achieve mass adoption, it needs to provide truly useful applications that users find valuable, such as gaming and music. 0xDesigner believes that mass adoption will occur when these applications are powered by Web3 but feel invisible to the user. On the contrary, Messari CEO Ryan Selkis downplays the importance of UX/UI on adoption, stating that the clouding factors are off-chain, social, and regulatory issues.

FAQs

What is Web3?

Web3 refers to the evolution of the internet that incorporates decentralized technologies like blockchain to enable users to have more control and ownership over their data and digital assets.

What is UX?

UX stands for user experience, which refers to the overall experience a user has when interacting with a product or system, such as a website or application.

What is Web2?

Web2 refers to the current generation of the internet, which is characterized by centralized platforms, limited user control, and ownership of data.

What are the challenges of Web3 UX?

Web3 UX faces challenges due to the irreversible nature of actions on the blockchain, lack of an “undo” button, and the need to maintain user ownership and control. Designers often face tradeoffs between simplicity and user control.

What can drive the mass adoption of Web3?

Web3 can achieve mass adoption by providing useful applications that offer value to users, such as gaming and music, and by integrating seamlessly with existing technologies to make the presence of Web3 invisible to the user.

Are there any concerns about Web3 UX?

Yes, there are concerns, such as the prioritization of engineering over user experience in Web3 projects and the complexity of designing user-friendly interfaces due to the unique properties of blockchain and decentralized technologies.

What is the role of UX designers in Web3?

UX designers play a crucial role in improving the user experience of Web3 applications by understanding the unique challenges and tradeoffs of designing for blockchain-based systems and finding innovative solutions that balance simplicity and user control.

This article is based on this Cointelegraph article.