Basics of Smart Contracts; A Design Approach.

1. First things first...
What's a smart contract all about?

Picture this:

It's a piece of code that operates on the blockchain. It streamlines agreements—no need for a middleman involved.

“If X occurs, then execute Y.”
But it all happens on-chain. For everyone to see. And it's here to stay.


2. How does this compare to something familiar?

Think of a vending machine.

You insert a coin, and out pops a snack. No cashier required. No waiting around. Just straightforward rules leading to results.

Smart contracts operate in a similar way… but they’re designed for tokens, NFTs, DAOs, and much more.


3. So, why does this matter for designers?

Because while users may not see the smart contracts, they certainly engage with them.

There's the wallet prompt. The approval phase. The gas fee. The anticipation for confirmation.

That’s the user interface. That’s the user experience.


4. Great design builds trust where smart contracts establish logic.

Consider these questions:

– Are users fully informed before they give their consent?
– Do they understand what they’re agreeing to?
– Is the experience something they can undo, or at the very least, is it transparent?
– Are you minimizing friction… or adding to it?


5. A lot of the frustration in Web3 stems from poor user experience, not faulty coding.

It's not the smart contract that's the problem; it's all about how we showcase it.

Our aim should be to design with an understanding of risk and anxiety—fostering clarity, providing feedback, and building confidence.


6. Here are some real-world examples of smart contracts and their user experiences:

🖼 Purchasing an NFT on OpenSea
💸 Swapping tokens on Uniswap
🏦 Staking on a DAO platform
🎟️ Minting from a drop site

In each case, the true action occurs within the smart contract. However, the user's experience unfolds through the interface.


7. So, what should you prioritize as a designer?

– Use straightforward language to explain actions
– Incorporate visual feedback: loading indicators, confirmations
– Alleviate the fear of mistakes
– Always remember, don't assume users “know how this works”

Think of your role as a translator—from the realm of logic to human understanding.


8. In a nutshell...

smart contracts may be invisible, but their influence is significant. Design is what envelops the code with care, transforming uncertainty into a smooth experience. It’s what makes Web3 feel less like a rigid machine and more like an inviting platform that people genuinely want to engage with.


Check out this thread 🧵
https://x.com/Xander_753/status/1934383736704979358