2023

8 Weeks

Founding Lead Product Designer

1 PD, 2 PM, 2 FE, 1 Blockchain Developer, 1 BE

RAIN aimed to create a blockchain-based web platform connecting startups with institutional investors, helping startups showcase potential and investors find strategic opportunities.
There was a dual-audience UX challenge: founders/early-stage startup teams and seasoned investors (age 25–50+), with differing expectations and trust cues.

Design a scalable, intuitive product experience across desktop and mobile web that:

builds trust and credibility for both sides
facilitates efficient discovery and interactions between founders and investors
simplifies key processes like onboarding, KYC, profiles, and deal workflows.
Lead product design, research planning, visual direction, and prototyping as the Founding Product Designer.

Conducted competitive analysis, user interviews, and persona/scenario mapping to understand needs of both startups and investors.

Defined information architecture separating workflows for startups and “RAIN Makers” (investors/experts) to ensure clarity and relevance.
Designed a RAIN component library and UI system, focusing on:
- Onboarding & Profile Setup (including KYC)
- Discovery mechanisms to help users find relevant counterparties
- Wealth & Deal workflows tailored for strategic interactions
- “Gigs & Quests” system: modular blockchain-based tasks with on-chain proof of work and compensation
- Feedback system with wallet-signed feedback to improve trust and resolve disputes.

Delivered a blockchain-enabled platform experience that balanced trust, usability, and strategic visibility for both startups and investors.
Simplified end-to-end interaction flows from onboarding to deal execution while enabling proof of work and feedback on blockchain to strengthen credibility and accountability.
Created a design foundation (components + workflows) scalable across web platforms, extending reach within entrepreneurial ecosystems.