CIRCLES
Project Overview
Circles is a decentralized basic income project that launched in Berlin, leveraging blockchain technology to provide a universal basic income (UBI). The project aims to create a community-driven economy, empowering users through a decentralized, trust-based system.
MY Role
As the Product Director, I was responsible for hiring and coordinating our brand design team, overseeing user experience design and research, facilitating change management, and ensuring seamless collaboration between development and community leads. I led the project from its inception to its successful launch and eventually transitioned to a Product Advisor role.
Problem
The challenge was to create a decentralized basic income platform that was accessible, user-friendly, and scalable from the ground up. This required aligning diverse teams and iterating on the product to meet the needs of both the development community and the end-users.
Research and Insights
Our approach started with extensive user experience research and design. We identified key user pain points and preferences through:
Conducting user interviews and surveys in Berlin.
Engaging with early adopters and community members.
Analyzing feedback from iterative testing phases.
Design Process
Brand Design: Hired and coordinated a brand design team to create a compelling and recognizable identity for Circles.
User Experience Design: Worked hands-on with the UX team to develop prototypes and test them with real users. Gathered feedback to refine the interface.
Development Collaboration: Facilitated close collaboration between the development team and community leads to ensure technical feasibility and community engagement.
Iterative Testing: Conducted multiple iterations of the app, incorporating user feedback and technical improvements at each stage.
Launch Preparation: Coordinated the final preparations for launch, including marketing and community outreach.
Solutions and Deliverables
The final product was a decentralized app that allowed users to receive and exchange a basic income in Circles currency. Key features included:
A user-friendly interface designed from extensive user research.
Integration with both physical and digital marketplaces.
Robust security and scalability to handle rapid growth.
VISUAL REDESIGN
In the years following the Circles launch, I grew in my capacities as a visual designer, while keeping up with the growing feature set in the multifaceted design tool, Figma.
Recently, I decided to reapproach the visual design of Circles, focusing on some key flows, to be more contemporary while more accurately reflecting my skillset. The redesign did not go live, but is featured here, and currently includes:
A sleek new interface with variable-based dark, light, and color themes
A design system that heavily uses component properties alongside test styles, and variants.
Impact and Metrics
Rapid User Growth: The app attracted 100,000 users within a few days of launch.
Community Engagement: Hundreds of participants engaged in the Berlin marketplace, fostering a vibrant community.
Endorsement by Influencers: The project was tweeted by Vitalik Buterin, bringing significant attention and credibility in the Web3 space.
Successful Launch: Transitioned from zero users to a widely adopted platform, validating the product's concept and execution.
CONCLUSION
The Circles project showcased the power of decentralized technology to create impactful social solutions. By leading a collaborative, user-focused design process and ensuring seamless execution, we achieved a successful launch and established Circles as a leading name in decentralized basic income.
PRESS
Here are some articles and resources where Circles has been mentioned:
Frontiers in Blockchain: An in-depth analysis of Circles as an illustrative case study in blockchain-based UBI, discussing its potential to overcome traditional UBI challenges and its innovative approach to trust and credit systems Link.
Circles Official Website: Detailed information about how Circles works, its principles, and its impact on local economies Link
CoinDesk Guide: A comprehensive guide on Circles' implementation, challenges, and early successes, including its innovative trust-based model and community-driven approach Link
Epicenter Podcast: An episode featuring Martin Köppelmann discussing the vision and mechanics behind Circles, its challenges, and its potential impact on global economies Link
These sources provide a wealth of information on the development, implementation, and impact of Circles, highlighting its significance in the Web3 space.
CIRCLES
Project Overview
Circles is a decentralized basic income project that launched in Berlin, leveraging blockchain technology to provide a universal basic income (UBI). The project aims to create a community-driven economy, empowering users through a decentralized, trust-based system.
MY Role
As the Product Director, I was responsible for hiring and coordinating our brand design team, overseeing user experience design and research, facilitating change management, and ensuring seamless collaboration between development and community leads. I led the project from its inception to its successful launch and eventually transitioned to a Product Advisor role.
Problem
The challenge was to create a decentralized basic income platform that was accessible, user-friendly, and scalable from the ground up. This required aligning diverse teams and iterating on the product to meet the needs of both the development community and the end-users.
Research and Insights
Our approach started with extensive user experience research and design. We identified key user pain points and preferences through:
Conducting user interviews and surveys in Berlin.
Engaging with early adopters and community members.
Analyzing feedback from iterative testing phases.
Design Process
Brand Design: Hired and coordinated a brand design team to create a compelling and recognizable identity for Circles.
User Experience Design: Worked hands-on with the UX team to develop prototypes and test them with real users. Gathered feedback to refine the interface.
Development Collaboration: Facilitated close collaboration between the development team and community leads to ensure technical feasibility and community engagement.
Design Process
Brand Design: Hired and coordinated a brand design team to create a compelling and recognizable identity for Circles.
User Experience Design: Worked hands-on with the UX team to develop prototypes and test them with real users. Gathered feedback to refine the interface.
Development Collaboration: Facilitated close collaboration between the development team and community leads to ensure technical feasibility and community engagement.
Iterative Testing: Conducted multiple iterations of the app, incorporating user feedback and technical improvements at each stage.
Launch Preparation: Coordinated the final preparations for launch, including marketing and community outreach.
Solutions and Deliverables
The final product was a decentralized app that allowed users to receive and exchange a basic income in Circles currency. Key features included:
A user-friendly interface designed from extensive user research.
Integration with both physical and digital marketplaces.
Robust security and scalability to handle rapid growth.
Impact and Metrics
Rapid User Growth: The app attracted 100,000 users within a few days of launch.
Community Engagement: Hundreds of participants engaged in the Berlin marketplace, fostering a vibrant community.
Endorsement by Influencers: The project was tweeted by Vitalik Buterin, bringing significant attention and credibility in the Web3 space.
Successful Launch: Transitioned from zero users to a widely adopted platform, validating the product's concept and execution.
CONCLUSION
The Circles project showcased the power of decentralized technology to create impactful social solutions. By leading a collaborative, user-focused design process and ensuring seamless execution, we achieved a successful launch and established Circles as a leading name in decentralized basic income.
PRESS
Here are some articles and resources where Circles has been mentioned:
Frontiers in Blockchain: An in-depth analysis of Circles as an illustrative case study in blockchain-based UBI, discussing its potential to overcome traditional UBI challenges and its innovative approach to trust and credit systems Link.
Circles Official Website: Detailed information about how Circles works, its principles, and its impact on local economies Link
CoinDesk Guide: A comprehensive guide on Circles' implementation, challenges, and early successes, including its innovative trust-based model and community-driven approach Link
Epicenter Podcast: An episode featuring Martin Köppelmann discussing the vision and mechanics behind Circles, its challenges, and its potential impact on global economies Link
These sources provide a wealth of information on the development, implementation, and impact of Circles, highlighting its significance in the Web3 space.
PRESS
Here are some articles and resources where Circles has been mentioned:
Frontiers in Blockchain: An in-depth analysis of Circles as an illustrative case study in blockchain-based UBI, discussing its potential to overcome traditional UBI challenges and its innovative approach to trust and credit systems Link.
Circles Official Website: Detailed information about how Circles works, its principles, and its impact on local economies Link
CoinDesk Guide: A comprehensive guide on Circles' implementation, challenges, and early successes, including its innovative trust-based model and community-driven approach Link
Epicenter Podcast: An episode featuring Martin Köppelmann discussing the vision and mechanics behind Circles, its challenges, and its potential impact on global economies Link
These sources provide a wealth of information on the development, implementation, and impact of Circles, highlighting its significance in the Web3 space.