UX Designer, UI designer
Project Overview
The Akash Network by Overclock Labs is a decentralized cloud computing marketplace targeted toward decentralized application (dApp) developers in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, as well as other high-computing, high-growth fields like machine learning. Akash exists as part of the Cosmos Hub, which situates the project within a wide landscape of distinct blockchain networks and allows it to service many different development platforms. As a decentralized marketplace, Akash Network seeks to democratize the power of cloud computing and, in doing so, provide more flexible cloud services with lower costs to end users. Akash Network works closely alongside existing cloud service provider giants, and seeks to add a more equitable and efficient approach to the cloud computing industry.
Hooman Digital's proposal for the new website aimed to address technical and user experience issues prevalent in the Akash Network's existing platform, which was notably fragmented. Akash Network's diverse offerings necessitated a centralized hub to streamline operations, facilitating smoother onboarding for users. The objective was to create a cohesive ecosystem, enabling developers and users from across Central and Western Europe, as well as the US, to seamlessly engage as both customers and providers within the Akash Network's vibrant community.
As a part of Hooman Digital, I collaborated within a small international team of designers and developers, led by Piyush Choudhary, collaborating closely with the team at Overclock Labs. I played a pivotal role in the India team, where my responsibilities encompassed meticulous checks for heuristic issues, resolving UX problem, and prioritizing the seamless adaptability of the website's UI design and responsiveness across a diverse array of digital devices.
Non-Disclosure Agreement.
IP rights belong to Hooman Digital and Akash Network.
Learnings
Working with Developers
This marked my initial collaboration with developers, offering an incredibly insightful experience. Before this project, I predominantly utilized no-code tools like Framer and Webflow for website development. However, delving into the realm of developers' work proved exhilarating and provided a substantial learning opportunity.
From addressing minor UI implementation glitches to tackling multiple responsive page designs and resolving intricate webpage bugs and issues, the process was both demanding and invigorating. My prior experience with Webflow proved immensely beneficial, granting me a deeper comprehension of how web elements function in the realm of web development.
Using Tailwind CSS
This project introduced me to Tailwind CSS, a reliable component library for web design akin to Google's Material Design and Apple's Human Interface Guidelines. Initially, adapting to it posed a challenge as it didn't strictly adhere to a 4 or 8 pt grid system, which was a bit disappointing considering my prior experience with such systems. However, the real hurdle surfaced when creating custom components that seamlessly aligned with the Tailwind ecosystem. Overclock Labs had embraced Tailwind for their web operations, but the absence of a Figma or design kit – which they had discontinued approximately two years ago – made it particularly tideous. Tailwind's reliance solely on code for referencing their UI components added complexity to the process.