Project
Aerodrome Finance
(Mobile Concept Redesign)
Role
Product Designer (solo)
Platform
Mobile-first browser experience
Duration
1 month
The original Aerodrome mobile interface was a responsive version of the desktop site. But mobile usage isn’t just about fitting content onto smaller screens—it’s about rethinking how users interact, when they interact, and what they need in those moments.
Mobile users are on the go, often multitasking or checking quickly between other activities.
The interface was cluttered and confusing, with tiny fonts and no clear hierarchy.
Users landed directly on the swap screen with no context, no price visibility, and no feedback post-trade.
Key features like gas fees and slippage were hidden or hard to access.
Aerodrome Mobile Experience
Note: The issues shown here reflect the mobile interface inherited from Aerodrome’s desktop design. For a full breakdown of the original usability challenges, see my Aerodrome Desktop Redesign Case Study.
“I want to know” moments
These are low-effort, high-frequency actions—checking token prices, portfolio balance, or liquidity positions.
What’s the price of a token?
What’s in my wallet right now?
Has anything changed since I last checked?
These moments require speed, visibility, and mental shortcuts—not deep commitment.
“I want to do” moments
These are high-focus, high-risk actions—like executing a swap or adjusting slippage settings.
Do I need to approve this token?
Is the price impact too high?
What happens if this fails?
These require clarity, control, and timely feedback.
Why this distinction mattered
On mobile, users aren’t always in the same state of mind. Sometimes they’re browsing. Sometimes they’re committing.
Designing around these two mobile mindsets allowed me to remove friction, prioritise clarity, and build user confidence in high-stakes moments.
Redesigned user flow structured around mobile intent—balancing speed for browsing and support for decision-making.
Based on the two mobile mindsets—“I want to know” and “I want to do”—I started by sketching a mobile-first flow that gives users a clear path from portfolio awareness to decisive action.
To validate the mid-fidelity prototype, I ran a round of usability testing focused on common mobile DEX behaviours. The goal was to ensure the interface supported fast actions, clear context, and minimal friction.
I focused on realistic, high-frequency mobile use cases:
Swap tokens quickly
“You saw a signal in Discord and want to swap USDC to ETH fast while on mobile.”
Check if a token is doing well
“You’re commuting and want to see if any token is pumping before deciding.”
Confirm if a swap succeeded
“You think a swap went through last night — can you check?”
These flows were evaluated for clarity, ease of use, and confidence at each step.
Bottom nav replaces side menus.
Tap targets are optimised for thumbs.
Visual hierarchy ensures critical info stays top-of-screen. Familiar, but fit-for-mobile.
User outcomes
The redesigned mobile flow received positive feedback during usability testing. Users were able to complete swaps with fewer errors and understood the warnings around slippage and failed transactions more clearly. Quick access to token stats and past trades also helped them feel more in control of their decisions.
Reflection & Takeaways
This project sharpened my skills in designing for mobile-first DeFi experiences. I realised mobile design isn’t just about scaling down desktop layouts — it requires rethinking the structure and intent behind each screen. I learned to prioritise mobile-specific behaviours, surface the right information at the right time, and reduce friction for tasks like token selection and transaction confirmation.
It also deepened my understanding of how to simplify Web3 mechanics—like token bridging, gas fees, and swap risks—without hiding essential details. If I were to iterate further, I’d focus on the liquidity and farming flows, which remain one of the most complex areas in DeFi. My goal would be to break down that technical complexity into something intuitive and easy to navigate for everyday users.
