Considering Web3 is a new landscape for many people, the design will be an integral part of education and developing trust with new users.
Key Takeaways:
- The differences between Web2 and Web3
- Why designing Web3 with the user in mind is imperative
- Why Web3 UI/UX needs to be fluid for widespread adoption
- How to educate end users through thoughtful design choices
Most people are familiar with the features and capabilities of Web2 – the primary version used all over the world. Regarded as a revolutionary turn of events for the web, Web2 is the source of many of the capabilities the web is known for today.
This version of the web offers a level of simplicity that makes it easy for people to generate, share and collect a significant amount of data with ease. A few years after Web2 became active, users quickly started reaping the benefits and became accustomed to everything it was capable of.
Now we’re entering a new technological era, which is why Web3 has been gaining so much attention over the last few years. Although plenty of trendy buzzwords can be found online, most people still don’t understand exactly what Web3 means and the changes that come along with it. Nevertheless, before people can grasp what Web3 has to offer, they will need the help of fluid, effective, and educational Web3 design.
The differences between Web2 and Web3
With many similarities and a few core differences, it’s relatively easy to understand how Web2 and Web3 differentiate from each other. Web2 focuses on reading and writing content (i.e. the social web), whereas Web3 focuses on reading, writing, and owning content (i.e. content ownership). The advancements with Web3 will also include better cybersecurity with the help of decentralization. To provide a visualization of how Web2 activities will translate into Web3, let’s look at how people spend money online.
With Web2, we’re all accustomed to spending fiat money online, but with Web3, you’ll be able to use cryptocurrency to fund any online transaction. Many other use cases will aid the transition to Web3, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come with a learning curve for many people.
This is where design comes in, as being able to visualize and guide Web3 users will be the best route for widespread adoption. It won’t necessarily be an easy journey, as explaining decentralization to those who don’t already participate in it can be a significant challenge.
Why user-friendly design is crucial
In many ways, those developing and building upon Web3 will need to cater to those brand new to the subject. It’s no secret that many people tend to be wary of something new, and Web3 may initially exacerbate that feeling. However, if explained and demonstrated in a concise and informative manner, you will build confidence and trust with the end user.
Here are a few key aspects of what Web3 design will need to consider:
- Understanding the target audience and how they currently use Web2
- Designing with guidance and an informative nature
- Education that the general population can understand and adapt to
These are hurdles that the development and implementation of Web3 are bound to encounter. Adoption may not be seamless, but designers can make the transition easier for the users by creating effective UI/UX.
How UI/UX design will promote the adoption of Web3
A good starting point to understanding the importance of a fluid and effective UI/UX is by looking at generations younger than Gen X (i.e. ZAlphas) . Millennials and Gen Z both have high standards when it comes to usability. Not only do they expect a fast and responsive experience with the web, but they also favor a consistent experience with each use.
By designing Web3 with these generations in mind, you can meet their demands and potentially those of future generations. Many younger people put a lot of value into a seamless and responsive UI/UX experience. If you want them to dive into what Web3 has to offer, delivering on this aspect of UI/UX is critical.
However, the hands-on characteristics of the design that people will interact with are only one part of the equation. Designers will also need to implement a good amount of education that’s easy to digest and drives curiosity.
Guided education through thoughtful design
With the rise of Web3 comes a lot of technical jargon that can be hard for new users to understand. Although this language shouldn’t be avoided, designers will need to deliver it to users in a thoughtful and informative manner.
This is another aspect that will rely heavily on the designers. It may be important to provide a functionally seamless user experience, but this won’t mean anything if the users don’t understand what they’re looking at. By implementing and designing educational tools that users can take advantage of, you’ll inherently build the trust needed for Web3 adoption.
However, it’s paramount that this education is adequately delivered, so users aren’t overwhelmed and ignore the technology altogether. There are a few methods to handle this effectively, and it’s essential for designers to understand how to implement this into their work.
Here are a few considerations designers will need to include:
- Incremental education to avoid overwhelming users
- Providing information in an easily digestible manner for the general population
- Education on the key terms surrounding Web3 and decentralization
- Promoting curiosity to drive the user to further their education of the technology
There’s no question that the widespread adoption of Web3 technology will require considerable effort on multiple fronts, but most of it will start with the design work. By incorporating a responsive UI/UX that’s informational and relatively easy to use, more people will be able to digest the transition into the Web3 landscape.
Web3 is on the horizon and with it comes a shift in consumer data, with a new emphasis on decentralized data that users control themselves. As a business, you must prepare now for what this means for your customers in a new Web3 world.
Our team is on the front lines of data privacy and security and can help you prepare to lead the way. Contact us today to get started.
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