Firkant | Logo
Firkant

Plots.Finance

we melded user-friendly design with blockchain features, ensuring accessibility for all, especially gamers
Overview

Plots Case Study

Plots.finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that democratizes virtual land ownership in the emerging GameFi market. Using blockchain technology and the ERC20 token $VLND, Plots.finance allows game players to co-own and manage virtual lands with as little as 10% ownership.$PLOTS token holders govern the platform through decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governance. Gamers level up the lands and create games within the metaverse, and Plots.finance shares revenue with $VLND and $PLOTS holders, similar to financing game developers. Investors send ETH to the platform, receive $VLND tokens representing land ownership, and funds are used to purchase virtual lands from selected collections.The agreement includes an 18-month commitment, and the term for land ownership is 3 years. If unfulfilled, Plots.finance can sell the land and return ETH to the investor smart contract.
Year
2023
Client
Plots
Project Typer
UX, UI, Production Design, Front End Dev, Back End Dev
Role
Lead UX/UI Designer
Lead Front End Dev
01
01

Problem

problem

One problem Plots.finance faced when wanting to create a user experience for their product was striking the right balance between simplicity and the inclusion of blockchain-related features. As Plots.finance aimed to appeal to gamers and individuals who might not be well-versed in blockchain technology, they needed to ensure that the platform's user interface was user-friendly and accessible.

However, they also had to incorporate blockchain elements like wallet integration, token transactions, and smart contract functionalities to enable virtual land ownership securely and transparently. Finding ways to present these blockchain-related features in a simplified and intuitive manner without overwhelming users with technical jargon posed a significant challenge.

To address this, Plots.finance had to conduct extensive user testing and gather feedback from potential users. They iteratively refined their user interface to make it more intuitive and user-friendly, while also providing clear explanations and guidance on how to interact with the blockchain elements of the platform. By focusing on user feedback and continuously improving the user experience, Plots.finance managed to strike the right balance and create an accessible platform for users from different backgrounds, including gamers who might not be the most proficient in blockchain lingo.

02

Have almost too much self-belief

approach

Firkant, a digital design agency, created an engaging and user-friendly digital product for Plots.finance by conducting research about the platform and target audience, designing an intuitive user experience with simplified language and onboarding, visually representing virtual real estate, ensuring accessibility and security, and implementing iterative user testing.

They collaborated closely with the development team to bring the design to life, provided support during the launch, and made post-launch improvements based on valuable user feedback.

Firkant's focus was to cater to gamers interested in virtual real estate, even if they might not be familiar with blockchain technology, and create a platform that fostered a seamless and enjoyable experience for them.

02
03

1.

Research and Discovery: The design team conducted in-depth research about Plots.finance, its goals, and its target audience. They gathered insights from potential users, including gamers interested in virtual real estate but not necessarily familiar with blockchain technology. Understanding the platform's objectives and the users' needs set the foundation for the design process.

2.

User Experience (UX) Design: The design team mapped out the user journey and created wireframes and prototypes to plan the platform's structure and user flow. They ensured that all critical functions and features were easily accessible and understandable for users. The goal was to make the investment process as simple and straightforward as possible for a diverse audience.

3.

User Interface (UI) Design: With a focus on visual aesthetics and brand identity, the design team developed the user interface. They incorporated Plots.finance's branding elements, colors, typography, and visual styles to create a cohesive and appealing design that aligned with the platform's identity.

4.

Simplified Language and Onboarding: To cater to a non-tech-savvy audience, the design team used clear and concise language throughout the platform. They prioritized user-friendly onboarding processes, guiding users through account creation, wallet setup, and token transactions in a step-by-step and friendly manner.

5.

Visualizing Virtual Real Estate: The team utilized interactive and visually engaging elements to showcase the potential of virtual real estate. This might have included 3D visualizations, illustrations, or animations to help users understand the concept better.

6.

Accessibility and Security: The design team ensured that the platform was accessible to users with diverse abilities and across various devices. They also collaborated closely with the development team to implement robust security measures, encryption, and multi-factor authentication to protect users' funds and data.

7.

Iterative Prototyping and User Testing: Throughout the design process, the team created iterative prototypes and conducted user testing with real users. This invaluable feedback helped identify pain points and areas for improvement, allowing the team to refine the design and enhance the user experience.

8.

Development and Implementation: Once the design was finalized, the design team worked closely with Plots.finance's development team to implement the digital product. The seamless collaboration ensured that the design vision was faithfully translated into a fully functional platform.

9.

Launch and Post-Launch Support: The design team provided support during the platform's launch, monitoring user feedback, and making any necessary adjustments. They remained engaged in post-launch support to continue enhancing the user experience based on real-world usage.
04
04

Style Guide

Plots.Finance | Typeform and Styles
Plots.Finance | Typeform and Styles
05
Development

Have almost too much self-belief

After completing the design process, Firkant took the next step to develop the Plots.finance product in-house. Here's an overview of how they accomplished this:

They collaborated closely with the development team to bring the design to life, provided support during the launch, and made post-launch improvements based on valuable user feedback.

Firkant's focus was to cater to gamers interested in virtual real estate, even if they might not be familiar with blockchain technology, and create a platform that fostered a seamless and enjoyable experience for them.

05

Collaboration with Development Team

Creating elements and structure

Firkant collaborated closely with its in-house development team to translate the finalized design into a functional digital platform.

The design team worked hand-in-hand with the developers to ensure that the design vision was accurately implemented during the development phase.

Front-end Development

Making sticky cards

Firkant's front-end developers took charge of converting the UI designs into responsive web pages. They used programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the user interface and make it interactive for users.

The focus was on creating a seamless user experience that aligned with the user-centric design principles established during the earlier design process.

Back-end Development

Create layering effects for stacked cards

The back-end development team was responsible for building the core functionalities of the Plots.finance platform. This involved setting up the necessary smart contracts and blockchain integration, managing user authentication and security, and enabling transaction processing and revenue-sharing mechanisms.

Smart Contract Implementation

Enhancing layering effect with interaction

Firkant's blockchain developers created and deployed smart contracts on the appropriate blockchain network to facilitate virtual land ownership, token transactions, and revenue distribution. The smart contracts ensured transparency and security within the platform.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Congratulations!

Throughout the development process, Firkant's quality assurance team rigorously tested the platform for bugs, security vulnerabilities, and overall functionality.

They conducted both manual and automated testing to ensure that the product met the desired standards and provided a seamless user experience.

Integration and Deployment

Congratulations!

Once the development and testing phases were complete, Firkant integrated all components of the platform and prepared it for deployment. They ensured that the platform was compatible with different devices and browsers to guarantee accessibility for all users.

Post-Launch Support:

Congratulations!

After the successful deployment of the Plots.finance platform, Firkant provided ongoing post-launch support. This included addressing any issues or feedback from users, making necessary updates, and continuously improving the product based on user needs and emerging trends

Collaboration with Development Team

Front-end Development

Back-end Development

Smart Contract Implementation

Testing and Quality Assurance

Integration and Deployment

Post-Launch Support

Firkant collaborated closely with its in-house development team to translate the finalized design into a functional digital platform. The design team worked hand-in-hand with the developers to ensure that the design vision was accurately implemented during the development phase
Firkant's front-end developers took charge of converting the UI designs into responsive web pages. They used programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the user interface and make it interactive for users. The focus was on creating a seamless user experience that aligned with the user-centric design principles established during the earlier design process.
The back-end development team was responsible for building the core functionalities of the Plots.finance platform. This involved setting up the necessary smart contracts and blockchain integration, managing user authentication and security, and enabling transaction processing and revenue-sharing mechanisms.
Firkant's blockchain developers created and deployed smart contracts on the appropriate blockchain network to facilitate virtual land ownership, token transactions, and revenue distribution. The smart contracts ensured transparency and security within the platform.
Throughout the development process, Firkant's quality assurance team rigorously tested the platform for bugs, security vulnerabilities, and overall functionality. They conducted both manual and automated testing to ensure that the product met the desired standards and provided a seamless user experience.
Once the development and testing phases were complete, Firkant integrated all components of the platform and prepared it for deployment. They ensured that the platform was compatible with different devices and browsers to guarantee accessibility for all users.
After the successful deployment of the Plots.finance platform, Firkant provided ongoing post-launch support. This included addressing any issues or feedback from users, making necessary updates, and continuously improving the product based on user needs and emerging trends.
06
06

persona profile

Name: Ryan Nguyen
Demographic:

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Occupation: Software Engineer
Income: $80,000/year
Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science
Location: San Francisco, CA
Ryan is a tech-savvy young professional who works in the software engineering field. He is always looking for new and innovative technologies to invest in and is intrigued by the idea of virtual land ownership.
He enjoys playing video games in his free time and is interested in exploring the world of GameFi.
Ryan is excited by the potential for growth in the virtual real estate market and is looking for a way to get involved. He values accessibility and transparency in investment opportunities and wants to find a platform that aligns with his values.
Ryan is willing to take risks for potential high returns and is eager to become an early adopter of new technologies.
Name: Mary Smith
Demographic:

Age: 60
Gender: Female
Occupation: Retired
Location: Small town in the United States
Mary is looking for ways to supplement her retirement income and is interested in learning more about alternative investments. She is attracted to the idea of investing in virtual real estate but is hesitant to get involved in a complex and unfamiliar technology-based platform.
Mary is a retired school teacher who lives in a small town in the United States. She has very little experience with technology and finds it challenging to navigate new digital tools and platforms. She is interested in exploring new investment opportunities but is intimidated by complex financial instruments and jargon.
Challenges:
Mary's goal is to find a simple and user-friendly platform that allows her to invest in virtual real estate without requiring a lot of technical knowledge or experience. She wants to feel confident in her investment decisions and ensure that she is investing in a secure and reputable platform.
Goals:
Mary is not very tech-savvy and finds it challenging to navigate new digital tools and platforms. She is also intimidated by complex financial instruments and jargon, making it difficult for her to understand the potential risks and rewards of investing in virtual real estate.