Coinlib: Designing a Seamless Crypto Experience

A deep dive into my design journey with Coinlib: crafting intuitive web and mobile interfaces for real-time cryptocurrency insights.

On this page

Project Snapshot

Company: Sidebar
Product: Coinlib.io (Web, iOS & Android)
Role: Product Designer
Focus Areas: End-to-end Product Design, Responsive Web UX, Mobile Feature Parity, Asset Library
Highlights: Responsive Web Platform, React Native Mobile Apps, Design System

Problem & Context

Before Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies exploded in popularity, Coinlib set out to build a platform for crypto investors—one that made sense of real-time market data, analytics, and news in a simple, elegant way.

This was my first encounter with blockchain and crypto. To get up to speed, I read books and immersed myself in the ecosystem before jumping into design. The challenge was clear: turn complex, intimidating data into an intuitive experience that worked seamlessly across desktop and mobile.

My Role

I joined Coinlib as the sole designer, working directly with the founders to bring their vision to life. From the very beginning, I was responsible for the end-to-end design of the product across all platforms. I led the design of the web experience from the ground up—defining the layout, structure, and visual language—while ensuring the platform felt approachable, fast, and visually clear.

Once the web platform launched, I shifted focus to mobile. I designed high-fidelity mockups for both iOS and Android, making sure the apps maintained full feature parity and a consistent user experience. While the apps were built in React Native by Coinlib’s development team, I delivered a robust design system and asset library to support implementation. At the time, Sketch was my primary design tool, and I used it to maintain consistency, precision, and visual polish throughout the project.

Throughout the process, I collaborated closely with developers, reviewed builds, and made sure every screen and interaction met our shared standards. This was more than just a freelance gig—it was a deep partnership built on trust and shared ambition.

Process & Approach

Web Platform

Our journey began with the desktop web app, where most users would first interact with Coinlib. The goal: create a professional-grade platform that remained accessible to both crypto newcomers and experienced traders.

Interface design: Built a clean, data-focused UI that supported exploration without clutter.
Information hierarchy: Prioritized the most important insights—prices, trends, news—up front.
Responsiveness: Ensured smooth performance and usability across screen sizes.
Developer collaboration: Worked in lockstep with engineering to ensure seamless integration.

Mobile Apps

Once the web platform was live, we expanded to mobile with React Native apps for iOS and Android. The challenge was to preserve the web app’s utility on smaller screens.

Feature parity: Replicated core functionality in a mobile-optimized interface.
Consistent design language: Extended visual elements and UX patterns to mobile.
Interaction design: Focused on smooth transitions, intuitive gestures, and clarity.
Design handoff: Provided detailed mockups and a structured asset library for the dev team.

Outcome & Impact

Delivered a highly responsive web platform that translated complex crypto data into a usable product.
Brought the experience to mobile with feature-rich, elegant apps that worked on both iOS and Android.
Coinlib was later acquired, a proud milestone that marked the success and maturity of the product.
My design work still lives on, supporting thousands of users navigating the crypto market.

Coinlib.io is more than just a project; it’s proof of my ability to tackle complex challenges and deliver results that exceed expectations. By blending user-centered design with technical precision, I transformed a data-heavy concept into an elegant, user-friendly platform—a shining example of what’s possible when vision meets execution.

In an exciting turn of events, Coinlib was eventually acquired, marking the end of my direct partnership with the project. However, I’m proud that the design decisions I made continue to stand the test of time, ensuring the platform’s usability and appeal remain intact.