2022
Enhancing user control and security in Coinbase
Improving information visibility and implementing stronger security measures to provide better control and a more personalized experience for users
Role
UX/UI Designer and UXR
Client
Coinbase (Personal Project)
Year
2022
Project overview
Coinbase is a leading platform for buying, selling, transferring, and storing digital currency securely. To understand what sets Coinbase apart and how users interact with its mobile app, I conducted user and market research. This research aimed to identify friction points and opportunities to enhance user experience and achieve business goals.
The problem
Asset view
Users find profit/loss and average price more helpful than just seeing their account balance. Currently, the Coinbase 'Assets' view lacks these details, forcing users to click multiple times or calculate manually to see their overall gains or losses.
Sign in process
One interviewee pointed out the lack of a mandatory PIN or Face ID for signing into Coinbase, despite the app's connection to bank information and digital wallets. After investigating, I found the option hidden in settings. When asked, all users agreed that PIN/Face ID login should be required for better security.
Objectives
User: Ensure users have full control over app permissions and the information they receive.
Business: Deliver a more secure and personalized experience.
Product: Enhance the existing functionality with improved UX and UI.
Proposed features
• Using PIN / Face ID login setting switch to be on as default
• 'Home', 'Assets', 'Trade', and 'Settings' screens redesign
• Adding 'i' buttons to remove potential friction
• Grid and auto layout system
• Customizable notification settings
Design process
Home screen
Current 'Home' screen shows your balance and watchlist that is populated by Coinbase. To remove one extra step to view user's assets and a personalized watchlist, I have moved the 'Assets' screen to home screen.
Trade screen
The new 'Trade' screen enables users to look up the coin, select action and quantity and review the order. While the current 'Trade' screen shows the list of coins that is quite similar to current 'Home' screen, the new 'Trade' screen simply encourages the users to do the action and complete the transaction.
New screens - markets, more and notification settings
'Markets' screen is sort of a combined view of the current 'Home' and 'Trade' screens. Users can search the coins and see live price updates and top movers, etc.
'More' tab button will bring the users to a screen where they can manage coin related tasks. Business can offer users with useful information they can leverage (current 'Home' screen shows resources and articles but this feature is something that users didn't often use based on the research - which made me think, as a user what would I look for when using the app like this?) What users want are tangible answers and supports which business can provide by showing the users different types of supports provided and what the app can do to help users complete their tasks.
'Hamburger' menu bar is changed to 'My Account' icon to clearly show that this is where they go to edit personal related information and settings.
New 'Notification settings' let users can choose to receive notifications depending on what and when they want to be notified.
New look and features walkthrough
Simple and easy way to introduce and educate users what has changed and been updated.
New sign in and setting up PIN/Face ID user flow
Final thoughts
First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone who agreed to do the interviews with me! As this was only my personal passion project, it really meant a lot to me who have taken the part to bring this case study come to life. I absolutely enjoyed every single part of this project and it made me realize, again, how much I love being a UX designer!
As I will continue working on this project, my next steps would be to test the prototype and find out what are the best and most intuitive way to approach to current users with new features, how I'll go about having the PIN / Face ID being the default mode while they are still logged in the account. Would I log them out or do I allow users to do so themselves with a deadline? (email newsletter mockup below)
Another thing that wasn't mentioned in this summary, is that users quite often encounter transaction errors and/or bugs which I thought that clickable 'i' could potentially help the users troubleshoot on their end - transactions being denied but couldn't figure out why, receiving an error message that the purchase didn't go through but find out it did, ended up double purchasing - these problems should be fixed as some of these purchases could involve vast amount of money.
Lastly, a lot of the interviewees showed their excitement and interests\ in the new Coinbase NFT product, which I am also thrilled about. I can't wait to see the impact it will have over the current NFT platforms! in a good way! :)
