Team Spotlight Series: Meet Carolina Reis, Product Designer at LayerX

Welcome to the first interview of this Team Spotlight series at LayerX!

In this series, we’ll be delving into the stories, experiences, and perspectives of the incredible people that make LayerX. The goal of this content series is to put our team members under the spotlight: we’ll get to know their human side and share a little bit of what each one of us is with our valued community.

Today, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Carolina Reis, Product Designer at LayerX. She’s responsible for bringing the visual and user experience of LayerX’s products to life.

Let’s explore the ins and outs of her day to day life at LayerX, her creative process, and how she likes to spend her time when she’s not designing awesome user interfaces for the LayerX products!

What’s a day in the life of a web3 Designer at LayerX?

Being a product designer in a startup means wearing many hats, and some mornings, it’s more like playing ‘designer bingo’ — will I be crafting a new user interface, strategizing on our next big feature, or maybe even rethinking the color of a button. One of my daily highlights is my meeting with Rodrigo, my team lead. We gather, armed with ideas, to align our vision and tasks for the day. I get to showcase my latest designs and to ask questions. Now, here’s where the web3 magic happens — collaborating with the developers. I pop into their world from time to time to chat about new features and get their feedback. It’s like having a conversation in a foreign language, but with the patience of seasoned language instructors (developers, I salute you). So, there you have it, a glimpse into the world of a web3 Designer at LayerX. Every day is a chance to learn something new! 🚀✨

What do you appreciate most about LayerX’s culture?

What I appreciate most about LayerX’s culture is the sense of being part of a close-knit family. When I first arrived, I didn’t know the first thing about web3, and I’ll admit I was a bit overwhelmed. The first days felt like I was in a sci-fi movie where everyone was speaking a different code language. However, everyone on the team was incredibly patient and helpful. They took the time to guide me through the intricacies of this complex industry, and I never felt like I was on my own.

What distinguishes designing for web3 technologies from “traditional” design practices?

Designing for web3 technologies is like stepping into a whole new digital dimension. What sets it apart from traditional design is the idea of decentralization. Think of traditional design like a central control tower where everything’s organized and managed from one place. But in web3, it’s like a global network where power is spread out, making it more democratic. This means we have to create designs that ensure trust and transparency without relying on a single authority. Another unique aspect is the use of fancy crypto stuff, like digital wallets and keys. In traditional design, you’re often dealing with simple buttons and screens, but in web3, it’s all about secure access to your digital assets. So, web3 design is all about embracing this decentralized world and adding a touch of digital magic to the user experience. Even if you’re not familiar with crypto, our job as designers is to design a super intuitive and user-friendly experience, so you can manage your digital valuables like a pro.

Are there any design concepts or trends within the web3 space that have inspired you or you have incorporated into your work?

I would say no because we’re in the early days of design exploration in the web3 space. Unlike more established fields, web3 is like a blank canvas waiting for designers to create the concepts and trends themselves. What’s exciting is that, as designers, we’re the ones who get to set the tone and invent the design principles for this evolving industry.

How would you explain the core principles of web3 Design to someone who may not be familiar with the industry?

Web3 design is all about making the digital world more democratic and user-friendly. Think of it as designing a digital playground where everyone has a say. One of the main principles is “decentralization,” which means no single entity or company controls everything. Another important principle is “user empowerment.” Web3 design puts users in control of their digital lives. Web3 design is about making the digital world easy to understand and accessible to everyone, just like creating a user-friendly map for a new city.

What design tools and software do you use in your work, and how have they improved your design workflow?

In my work, I rely on two main companions: Figma and the good old pen and paper. Figma streamlines collaboration and transforms my ideas into sleek designs, while pen and paper are my reliable go-to when I need to sketch out wild concepts or structure some ideas.Together, they’ve injected efficiency and creativity into my design workflow, ensuring that no brilliant idea gets left behind.

What project are you most proud of?

I’ve got not one but two projects I’m most proud of. First up, the multi-step voting feature for the TAIKAI platform. It was probably the most complex feature ever designed for TAIKAI in terms of UX flows. And don’t take my word for it, this was said by Henrique, our VP of Engineering. The feedback was great and the feature is now in production! And then there’s the redesign of the Bepro platform, the ultimate “hush-hush” project that’s still cooking in the design oven. I can’t spill all the beans just yet, but it’s going to be a game-changer!

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

Outside of work, I play amateur football, I like to go to live music at concerts or plays, and to spend some quality time with friends. When I need to unwind, you’ll spot me on the couch, indulging in some serious TV show binge-watching.

And that’s all for today folks!

Stay tuned for the next episode of our Team Spotlight series, where we’ll introduce you to another remarkable member of the LayerX family.

About LayerX

LayerX connects web3 developers and organizations through hackathons and task-based work, bringing together talent and opportunities to create innovative solutions.

Our hackathon platform, TAIKAI, and Task Marketplace at Bepro empower developers to showcase their skills and earn rewards. Don’t forget to join our community and say hello on Discord!