Metallicus

We had 8+ products (Consumer vs. Pro / Web vs. Mobile). Without a strong system, they risked looking like 8 different companies.

Web3 is inherently complex (keys, gas fees) and Metallicus is heavily regulated (KYC/AML). The UX had to hide the blockchain complexity while highlighting the compliance safety.

To encourage mass adoption, the interface couldn't look like a cyberpunk tool. It needed the polish and reliability of a neobank (like Revolut or N26) combined with the power of DeFi.

The goal was to "Facilitate Web3 adoption by removing the friction of fear.

Instead of forcing one visual style on everyone, created a Unified Core System that allowed for distinct personalities:

- MetalPay: Designed for the Consumer. Friendly, colorful, rounded, and simple. Focused on "fun" and social payments.

- Proton Dex/Loan: Designed for the Trader. Dark modes, high data density, technical charts and precision. Focused on speed and information.

Key UX Wins:
.1 - Human-Readable Identity: We replaced complex wallet addresses (0x7e2...) with simple @names (e.g., @celio), making the ecosystem feel social and safe.

.2 - Identity (WebAuth): Designed a seamless SSO (Single Sign-On) experience where one digital identity allows access to every product in the ecosystem.

As Lead Designer, my brain had to shift constantly from pixels to people and processes.

.1 - Discovery & Research: I led the team in mapping user personas, differentiating between the "Crypto Curious" (MetalPay users) and the "DeFi Degens" (Proton users) to tailor interfaces for each.

.2 - Design Ops: I established the workflows that allowed us to adhere to ambitious timelines. This included weekly design crits, developer hand-off protocols and unified tooling (Figma).

.3 - Strategy: Worked directly with the C-Suite to define how new products (like Proton Loan) would fit into the existing navigation and ecosystem without causing bloat.

MetalPay (Mobile App):
- Feature: Recurring Buys. A "Set and Forget" flow allowing users to automate investment.
- Feature: Social Payments. Sending crypto to friends as easily as sending a text message.

Proton Dex (Web App):
- Feature: Professional Trading Interface. A high-density dashboard featuring real-time Order Books, Depth Charts, and Trading History.

WebAuth (Identity):
- Feature: Biometric Signing. Replacing password fatigue with FaceID/TouchID for blockchain transactions.

The architecture is built on a Hub and Spoke model:

The Hub (WebAuth): The user's Identity and Private Keys. This is the passport to the ecosystem.

The Spokes (The Apps):
MetalPay: The Fiat On-Ramp (Bank $ → Crypto).
Proton Swap/Dex: The Exchange (Crypto → Crypto).
Proton Loan: The Bank (Lending/Borrowing).

Managing 8+ Products with One Core

To manage this scale, I oversaw the creation of a Multi-Brand Design System.

The "Core" Library: A shared repository of functional atoms (Inputs, Buttons, Toggles, Modals) that ensured interaction consistency. If you knew how to use MetalPay, you intuitively knew how to use Proton Loan.

The "Theme" Layer:
Metal Brand: Vibrant gradients, soft shadows, rounded typography (Circular/Geometric).
Proton Brand: Technical aesthetic, deep purples/blacks, monospaced data fonts, sharp edges.

Component scalability: We designed components to be "responsive by default" to handle the transition from complex desktop trading views to mobile wallet views.

Metallicus was a masterclass in complexity management.

We successfully launched and maintained 8+ products using a unified design team and system. We helped transition users from traditional banking to Web3 by hiding the technology behind a beautiful, compliant interface.

I left behind a mature design culture and a robust design system that allows the company to continue shipping features at speed.