Vega Protocol
Year
April 2022 - October 2024
Type
Design Systems, Web3
Role
Lead Designer, DesignOps
Vega Protocol was building a custom blockchain for derivatives trading that could match centralised exchange performance whilst being fully decentralised.
I joined the team during Vega's Alpha Mainnet launch preparation, working across multiple product teams to improve experiences on the Trading Console, Governance site, Block Explorer and Desktop & Browser Wallets.
The challenge
Vega's dApps lacked cohesive brand alignment and the familiar design patterns that would build trust and encourage mainstream adoption.
The Trading Console needed to balance brand identity with the compact, data-heavy displays and mobile functionality that traders expected.
The approach
Collaborating with UX designers, product managers and developers, I designed new features and iteratively refined existing ones based on community feedback through Discord. I created component libraries that brought consistency across the ecosystem, establishing brand foundations and design standards that made the platform feel more cohesive while respecting the exceptional design language developed by Big Fan.
Trading Console
Through competitor analysis, we aligned the trading interface with established patterns whilst developing new features that gave traders the tools they needed.
Core Trading Features
Deal ticket improvements (including TPSL functionality, order types)
Market switcher and navigation enhancements
Portfolio page redesign
Transaction status feedback
Platform Enhancements
UI refinements and visual language evolution
Mobile optimisation
Connection flows for Web3 wallets
As the team became more lean, we held weekly co-design sessions with the co-founder, product owner and lead developer to quickly reach consensus and ensure a shared understanding of requirements.
Browser Wallet
We designed the browser wallet extension to connect users seamlessly across the Vega ecosystem, creating onboarding flows for wallet setup whilst ensuring secure transaction signing with clear approval states and status feedback.
Create a wallet, connections flow & transaction types
Design System
As the only designer on the team, I built component libraries from the ground up for the dApp ecosystem and marketing website, providing reusable components and developer-focused documentation that enabled consistent implementation across all applications.
