Client Name: Merit Circle DAO Industry: Web3 / Crypto Staking Objective: Redesign Merit Circle’s staking platform to make a complex token-locking process simple, transparent, and accessible for both new and experienced users. Scope: UX Research, Product Design, Visual Design (Figma), Design System Integration Duration: 4 weeks

Merit Circle’s v1 staking platform was functional but hard to use. Community members reported:

Limited staking options: Not enough flexibility for different user preferences.

Unclear locking periods & rewards: Users struggled to understand staking duration and reward schedules.

Poor UX and inconsistency: Visual language didn’t align with Merit Circle’s other products; information architecture was confusing.

Lack of transparency: No clear visibility into system status, rewards, or liquidity strategies—critical for trust in a crypto product.

Heuristic gaps: No documentation for newcomers, excessive whitespace, and a clunky, gradient-heavy interface.

The DAO’s governance-driven approach meant design decisions had to respect community feedback, adding another layer of complexity.

Conducted community surveys and interviews to understand real pain points and validate assumptions.

Mapped user journeys to ensure transparency at each step of the staking and rewards experience.

Audited the existing platform using heuristic analysis to uncover usability gaps.

Unified Visual Language: Refreshed UI to align with Merit Circle’s ecosystem for a consistent, trustworthy look.

Streamlined User Flows: Simplified staking, portfolio, and rewards journeys with intuitive navigation.

Progressive Disclosure: Added tooltips, step-by-step guidance, and better system feedback to educate new users without overwhelming them.

Comprehensive Rewards Page: Consolidated locked, unlocked, and claimable tokens into one view with a “Claim All” button and clear progress indicators.

Dashboard + Overview: Gave users a single control center to monitor portfolio performance, staking status, and reward history.

Transparent Staking Options: Clear differentiation between v1 and v2 pools, improved pool discovery, and better liquidity insights.

Worked closely with product and engineering teams to prioritize features and iterate rapidly.

Migrated pools from v1 to v2, balancing technical constraints with community demands.

Delivered responsive, developer-ready Figma files with reusable components to speed up implementation.

The redesigned platform:

Contributed to $100M+ in value staked on Merit Circle.

Supported over 60K active users post-release.

Improved staking efficiency, reducing friction in staking and rewards flows.

Enhanced trust and engagement with clear communication, better data visibility, and a cohesive visual identity.

Key Takeaway: A user-first, transparent, and visually cohesive experience transformed staking from an intimidating process into an accessible and rewarding activity for the Merit Circle community.