DeFi Yield Protocol
UnUnifi
Job Opportunity
While surfing the internet, I found a UX/UI opportunity at Ununifi, a startup located in Japan. I completed the entire application and was selected for a first interview with Takeru (Co-Founder). During the interview, I showcased my experience and ability to turn complex blockchain concepts into intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces. As a result, I was given the opportunity to start working with Ununifi on their rebranding and the launch of new products, Gluon and Sunrise blockchain.
first steps
Vision and Tasks
The team is building a new modular blockchain called Sunrise and has created the first yield protocol, Gluon. The company was previously known as Ununifi. The instructions were clear: build a DeFi protocol properly with a well-defined design components library. Before I started working with the team, I had been working with a major agency, supporting Google designers in the creation of the Bard AI Design Kit. This experience made me a strong fit to deliver the first version of the Gluon design system. After I was hired, the team's instruction was to create a protocol exactly like Pendle. Since I was a user of Pendle, this made the work easier for me.
PENDLE PROTOCoL
Flow Chart
As Pendle users (both the founders and I), we started creating and taking screenshots of the entire interaction needed to create positions within the protocol. This exercise ensured that we didn’t miss any aspect of the user experience and guaranteed that users could complete the entire process. Additionally, creating the flowchart with screenshots helped me identify the main components to begin developing the DeFi Protocol.
Earn Fixed Yield Dashboard
Brand
New Brand + Tasks
The founders’ initial idea was to create and improve the UnUniFi platform. However, they were not satisfied with the name, as they thought the pronunciation might be difficult. After a few days, they asked me to design a new brand for the protocol called Gluon. The concept was to communicate the different layers present in the blockchain, highlighting how this new modular technology is the best platform to build on. Once we completed the protocol, I began designing the new logo, and I was given an additional task: to create the website for the product, along with a learning hub module to explain to users how they can earn and create yields.
Gluon
Logo
The idea of the logo is to show the different layers of the modular blockchain. as each layers has indepent behabiours. Once the logo gets approved
Logo Design
Create a strong landing page showcasing seven of the main features present on the platform.
Design System
Create a strong landing page showcasing seven of the main features present on the platform.
Website
Crypto users and active X users, ranging in age from 15 to 50 years old.
Modals
Landing Page
Design Process
Card Component
One of the challenging components was that we wanted to display too much information. The client wanted to show a lot of information, which made completing the component difficult. After many iterations, I proposed using hover interactions to display secondary information over the cards.
Design Process
Hover Information
Since the card had too much information, I proposed to the user to use a hover interaction over the (i) icon to display secondary information.
Design System
Scam DEv
Red Flags - Rug Pull
After a few weeks, the community began asking in the Telegram chat about when the product would go live, along with requests for updates and more information. However, the developer started to become less active, which raised some red flags. I was very disappointed about not receiving the airdrop, so I shared the story in the Telegram chat (of course, I was banned). Since I didn’t get the airdrop, I added a link to my website in the footer to acknowledge that I was the designer behind the project.
In short, I helped a founder create a rug pull without even realizing it. I had genuinely believed in the project, especially since I had been following and paying close attention to the growing demand for trading platforms like BullX and Photon. I decided to support the project with all my quality and professionalism. This experience taught me even more about the realities of the trenches.
Conclusions
WHat I learned?
Lessons
Define components first makes the desig process very
I gained valuable insights into CT and learned what it’s like to work in the trenches of the crypto world.
I believe platforms like Pump.fun aren’t good for the crypto ecosystem, as not everyone involved is a developer, and it can lead to harmful outcomes.
While Pump.fun may seem like a short-term success, it creates an on-chain economy that I believe will grow in the coming years.
Never trust just a nice website. This was the biggest lesson with Nebula. Traders in the trenches often make decisions based on the quality of the website, social media presence (like X and Telegram communities), and overall branding. A polished website can easily deceive people and trap them in a rug-pull project.
Building a trading meme platform was incredibly fun. I learned a lot about bots and trading platforms. My favorites are GMGN and the Trojan bot.
Sunrise Modular Blockchain
