Product Designer / Brand Designer
Certified App
Building Trust in Web3 with Verified RatingsRole: Product Designer, UI/UX Designer, User Researcher
Timeline: 2024
Tools: Market and Competitor Research, Blockchain UX, Tokenized Economy Principles, High-Fidelity Prototypes, Interaction Design, User Testing, Feedback Analysis, Web3 Onboarding Strategies, Product Design, Strategy.
Many users struggle with finding trustworthy reviews, identifying scams, and understanding dApp credibility. Unlike Web2 platforms such as Trustpilot or the App Store, Web3 lacks a structured verified review and rating system to guide users. This is where Certified App comes in. Certified App is a decentralized review and certification platform for Web3 applications, ensuring transparency, trust, and user safety through on-chain verification.
The Challenge
The challenge was to redefine and improve trust in Web3 applications by creating a transparent and user-friendly review system that prevents fake ratings, enhances credibility, and empowers users to make informed decisions. With Certified App, the goal was to provide an intuitive solution that enables users to discover high-quality, verified dApps while preventing misinformation and fraud.
The Process To design a solution that truly addresses the trust gap in Web3, we used the Design Thinking framework:
- Empathize – Understanding users’ needs and pain points.
- Define – Framing the problem statement and identifying core challenges.
- Ideate – Brainstorming and generating innovative solutions.
- Prototype – Designing and testing high-fidelity prototypes.
- Test – Gathering user feedback and iterating on improvements.
Empathize – Understanding Users & Their Problems
User Pain Points in Web3
- Lack of trusted ratings for Web3 apps → Users struggle to determine which dApps are safe and reliable.
- Unverified reviews and misleading information → Many platforms suffer from fake or manipulated ratings.
- Overwhelming number of Web3 applications → Hard to discover quality apps without extensive research.
- High entry barriers for newcomers → Many users don’t know where to start or which projects to trust.
Key Insight — Web3 users seek trust mechanisms similar to Web2 platforms like Trustpilot, App Store, and Google Reviews.
Competitor Research
We analyzed major platforms to understand existing solutions and gaps:
- DappRadar – Aggregates dApps but lacks verified user-driven reviews.
- DefiLlama – Provides DeFi analytics but doesn’t focus on user trust.
- CertiK Skynet – Focuses on security audits rather than user experience.
Certified App differentiates itself with on-chain verified reviews, social trust indicators, and a certification system for Web3 applications.
Define – Framing the Problem Statement"Web3 users struggle to find trustworthy and high-quality decentralized applications due to a lack of transparent and verified rating systems, resulting in low trust and slower adoption of Web3 technologies."
User ArchetypeUnderstanding our target audience helps us design features that address their needs:
The Explorer – Actively seeks new Web3 apps and cutting-edge projects.
The Skeptic – Hesitant about Web3, needs strong social proof and security assurances.
The Newcomer – Just entering Web3, looking for guidance and safe recommendations.
The Investor – Evaluates dApps based on credibility and long-term potential.
Ideate – Finding Solutions
After gathering research insights, we brainstormed possible solutions. Some How Might We (HMW) questions:
- How might we prevent fake reviews and ensure transparency?
- How might we simplify dApp discovery for new users?
- How might we provide developers with a way to showcase credibility?
Crafting the Solution
- On-chain Verified Ratings – Eliminates fake reviews through blockchain validation.
- Trust Widget for dApps – Enables projects to display credibility on their platforms.
- Social & Expert Proof – Displays reviews from verified users and industry experts.
- Integrated Wallet Discovery – Recommends dApps within users' existing wallets.
- Gamified Reputation System – Users earn credibility scores based on activity and trustworthiness.
Prototype – User Flow & Features
User Flow for Certified App
- Homepage: Users see trending and top-rated Web3 apps.
- Search & Filters: Users explore by categories (DeFi, GameFi, NFT, DAO, etc.).
- App Page: Users view app details, ratings, reviews, and on-chain credibility.
- Installation/Access: Users download or interact with the app via trusted links.
- Leave a Review: After using the app, users return to Certified App to provide feedback.
Visual & UX Design
- Minimalist UI – Clean and intuitive navigation.
- Light & Dark Mode – Enhanced accessibility and user preference options.
- Data Visualization – Graphs and insights on app credibility trends.
Affirmation Map Example (for Skeptic User)
MVP Testing Results
- Increased User Engagement – Users spent more time exploring verified dApps.
- Higher Conversion Rates – 15-30% more users installed high-rated dApps.
- Lower Customer Acquisition Costs – dApps acquired users at a reduced marketing cost.
User Feedback
“Finally, a Trustpilot for Web3!”
“Now I feel safe trying new apps with verified ratings.”
“The certification widget significantly increases trust in Web3 projects.”
Conclusion & Next Steps
Key Takeaways
- Certified App bridges the Web3 trust gap by providing verified reviews and on-chain transparency.
- Differentiation through blockchain validation and reputation-based scoring.
- Potential for growth through wallet integrations and certification expansion.
Future Roadmap
- Improve review authentication mechanisms.
- Expand dApp categories & developer analytics.
- Partner with major Web3 platforms for deeper integrations.
Certified App is setting the new standard for trust in Web3!
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