Stride Swap
Stride Swap was to be the first true multi-chain DEX (decentralized exchange), where you could buy and sell crypto currencies on-chain across networks, but unlike with an aggregator you could also LP, place limit orders, and other things typically seen in centralized or single-chain decentralized exchanges.
Client
Stride
Type
Product Design, Visual Identity
Year
2025
Process
Coordinating a full product launch
Having been freelance most of my career, I usually get tasked with more confined parts of a product lifecycle. This was different. From the first idea until right before launch, I coordinated product design end-to-end – owning key UX decisions, mapping edge cases, and translating user intent into simple, intentional journeys. In parallel, I built the brand identity and marketing site around it.
Conducting in-depth user research
To build an ambitious product like this, it was critical to understand who the target users are, what breaks in existing experiences, and what would make them actually switch. This meant countless hours of research, interviews, prototypes, and testing—not just to validate the “happy path,” but to uncover where people hesitate, misread states, or get lost. That feedback directly shaped the flow, reduced extraneous steps, and clarified what mattered most on each screen.
Iterating on a well-known brand tastefully
Parallel to building the product, I worked on a brand refresh. The Stride brand is well known in the space, so it had to stay recognizable while feeling fresh and exciting – just like the product. I decided to not touch the logo, instead I redesigned the world around it: Moving from plain shades of pink to vivid gradients, light and darkness, and a more contrasted, guided experience that uses color and layout to focus attention.
Outcome
It was a truly one of a kind experience. Unfortunately the project was cancelled right before launch due to Stride's main technical partner dropping out.
