My Role
UX Strategy • Visual Design • Interaction Design • Design Systems • Prototyping • Usability Testing
Live site: https://www.lyriem.com/
Overview
Lyriem is a new kind of freelancer marketplace built for autonomy, transparency, and trust.
Unlike traditional platforms that charge up to 30% in fees and hold payments hostage, Lyriem uses escrow-backed blockchain contracts to let freelancers and clients work directly—no middleman, no markup.
Unlike traditional platforms that charge up to 30% in fees and hold payments hostage, Lyriem uses escrow-backed blockchain contracts to let freelancers and clients work directly—no middleman, no markup.
My role as UX/UI Lead was to define the end-to-end experience: translating complex blockchain functionality into a human, trustworthy product experience for both freelancers (“Makers”) and clients (“Initiators”).
The Challenge
Freelancers are losing trust in traditional gig platforms.
Hidden platform fees reduce take-home pay
Clients face unclear billing and slow project starts
Blockchain-based alternatives feel too technical for mainstream users
The challenge was to design a platform that removes barriers while building confidence—making advanced technology feel simple, credible, and empowering.
Goal: Build a frictionless, trust-centered experience that lets users skip the gatekeepers and hire direct.
Research & Insights
I conducted competitor analysis and user research interviews with freelancers and small business clients.
Three key insights emerged:
Three key insights emerged:
Transparency is currency. Users wanted clear visuals of where their money and contracts go.
Ease beats innovation. Most users didn’t care about blockchain—they cared about getting paid quickly and safely.
Personalization matters. Freelancers and clients needed tailored entry points that reflected their unique workflows and goals.
These findings shaped every design decision in Lyriem’s MVP.
Design Goals
Simplify blockchain processes without technical jargon
Visually reinforce safety and autonomy
Create an onboarding experience that converts curiosity into confidence
Establish a scalable design system for future product expansion
The Solution
1. Homepage: Clarity Through Copy and Contrast
Taglines like “Skip the Gatekeepers. Hire Direct.” and “Stop Paying to Work.” drive the product’s differentiator home within seconds.
A clean, modular layout with blue and chartreuse contrast establishes trust while staying bold and modern.
A clean, modular layout with blue and chartreuse contrast establishes trust while staying bold and modern.
2. Dual-Path Onboarding
Separate entry points for Makers and Initiators simplify decision-making.
Each onboarding flow includes plain-language microcopy, soft-edged input fields, and a clear call to action: ‘Join the Waitlist.’
This reduced cognitive friction for first-time users unfamiliar with blockchain or contract wallets.
Each onboarding flow includes plain-language microcopy, soft-edged input fields, and a clear call to action: ‘Join the Waitlist.’
This reduced cognitive friction for first-time users unfamiliar with blockchain or contract wallets.
Next Steps
Lyriem’s MVP is currently moving toward usability testing and brand system expansion.
Upcoming phases include onboarding automation, in-platform communication, and smart contract transparency dashboards.
Upcoming phases include onboarding automation, in-platform communication, and smart contract transparency dashboards.