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Project
Atomic Engine is a revolution, fighting the narrative of what the NFT used to be. No longer is an NFT just an image, but access to anything and everything imaginable IRL. Your NFT can now be a membership, access key and so much more. Artists and Brands big and small can all get involved, providing their own NFT collection with unlocked content, in sync with who they are. And because NFTs are backed by code, everything you unlock is protected just for you. Atomic Engine is redefining the NFT.
Category
Programs
Role
Year
2023
User Researcher, Designer
Figma, Illustrator
User Experience
Problem & Goal
The Problem:
Right now, NFTs face major problems that keep everyday users from caring about them. There are no real benefits beyond owning a digital image, and the culture around them has become about showing off rather than creating value. Many people see NFTs as overpriced collectibles for the wealthy instead of meaningful digital experiences. On top of that, the process of buying one is confusing and intimidating, requiring knowledge of crypto wallets, blockchains, and multiple platforms. Together, these issues make NFTs feel exclusive, complicated, and disconnected from what most people actually want.
The Goal:
It’s time for NFTs to be shown in a new light. The goal is to expose their true possibilities, moving beyond static images to show how NFTs can unlock real-world value and experiences. By creating clearer use cases, simplifying the buying process, and building an ecosystem where NFTs have genuine purpose, we can make them feel approachable and valuable to everyone, in an application that serves as a hub for all of these experiences.
Interviews
To better understand how people view NFTs today, two interviews were conducted that represent opposite perspectives. The first interview, known as “The Explorer”, is someone curious about NFTs and eager to learn how they work. The second, “The Skeptic”, sees little value in them and questions their purpose. These conversations help uncover what excites newcomers, what turns others away, and what changes could make NFTs more approachable and meaningful for everyone.
Personas
Building on these interviews, two personas were developed to represent the key perspectives uncovered. James, a 27 year old marketing coordinator, embodies The Explorer. Curious, open minded, and eager to understand how NFTs can offer real value. Claire Madison, a 30 year old UX researcher, represents The Skeptic. Analytical, cautious, and focused on what needs to change for NFTs to feel purposeful. These personas serve as a foundation for identifying user needs, motivations, and opportunities that will guide the design direction moving forward.
Ideation
During the ideation phase, early concepts were translated into visual form to outline how users would navigate the NFT experience. A rough storyboard sketch was first created to show the key moments within the app, from browsing NFT collections to completing a purchase, and most importantly, viewing the exclusive benefits of their NFT. This was followed by a detailed user flow that mapped out each interaction step by step, highlighting how users move through the system in a new, simplified process.
Sketches
The next stage focused on translating ideas into quick app sketches that visualize the user journey from start to finish. Five key screens were developed, beginning with the homepage, leading into the art profile and market page, followed by the individual NFT spotlight page, the purchase screen, and finally the NFT wallet. These sketches served as a walkthrough of the core experience, showing how users would explore, engage with, and purchase NFTs within a clear and cohesive flow.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
With the core flow defined, the next step was creating stylized low-fidelity wireframes to bring structure to each screen. These layouts focused on spacing, navigation, and visual rhythm, establishing how users would interact with content before any visual design was applied. The goal at this stage was clarity, ensuring every element had a purpose and that the experience of exploring, selecting, and purchasing felt seamless from the start. These graphics were essentially complete with only the branding left to take shape.
Branding
The branding phase explored four visual styles for the app’s UI. Sci-Fi featured a futuristic, digital look; Tight-Fit focused on minimal, compact layouts; Solar Glow introduced soft gradients and glass effects; and Simplified offered a friendlier, more open approach. After testing and comparison, a blend of the Tight-Fit and Simplified styles were chosen, combining minimalism with a friendly structure to create a clean yet welcoming interface.
High-Fidelity Wireframes
The final high-fidelity designs showcase three unique sellers and their NFTs, each demonstrating a different way digital assets can hold value through Atomic Engine. These examples highlight how NFTs can go beyond static images. Unlocking real experiences, memberships, and personalized content that redefines what an NFT can be, all made possible with the structure of the NFT ecosystem.
NFT Ecosystem
The new approach to NFTs can be understood through a simple framework: the 3-point ecosystem, which categorizes NFTs into three primary types, Art, Tokens, and Keys. These categories distill the essential uses of NFTs into long term ownership, benefit-embedded memberships, and temporary access features. In other words, people are buying NFTs for one of three reasons: ownership, exclusivity, or access.
Art NFTs represent the traditional form we’re familiar with, allowing creators to securely sell their work and receive fair compensation. Token NFTs act like digital utility coins. Insert one and receive something in return, such as a benefit, service, or digital asset. Key NFTs, on the other hand, function as secure passes that grant access to events, experiences, or even travel. While these variations already exist, they’re often buried within the broader NFT landscape. This 3-point structure offers a clearer way to define, build, and adopt NFTs based on real-world utility.
Testing
Atomic Engine is a revolution, fighting the narrative of what the NFT used to be. No longer is an NFT just an image, but access to anything and everything imaginable IRL. Your NFT can now be a membership, access key and so much more. Artists and Brands big and small can all get involved, providing their own NFT collection with unlocked content, in sync with who they are. And because NFTs are backed by code, everything you unlock is protected just for you. Atomic Engine is redefining the NFT.
Testing
Atomic Engine is a revolution, fighting the narrative of what the NFT used to be. No longer is an NFT just an image, but access to anything and everything imaginable IRL. Your NFT can now be a membership, access key and so much more. Artists and Brands big and small can all get involved, providing their own NFT collection with unlocked content, in sync with who they are. And because NFTs are backed by code, everything you unlock is protected just for you. Atomic Engine is redefining the NFT.
NFT Profile
Welcome to the NFT profile page, a central hub where users can view and interact with the full value of their NFTs. Each NFT has its own page where all the unlocked perks, features, and benefits are laid out clearly. This is where the real value shows up, not just the artwork or the ownership, but the things your NFT gives you access to, like exclusive content, rewards, or special events. It takes the guesswork out and lets you easily explore everything that comes with what you own.
Starbucks Odyssey
Starbucks NFTs have a huge range of premium perks when unlocked. Each NFT grants access to special features such as early access to seasonal drinks,
free monthly beverages, invitations to coffee classes, entry to the private Starbucks shop and more. These tokens serve as both unique collectibles and keys to elevated Starbucks experiences.
Apple Music
Apple Music NFTs offer exclusive digital collectibles featuring alternate artwork of iconic albums from your favorite artists. Each NFT unlocks a premium fan experience, including early access to concert tickets with special pricing, entry to a members-only fan store, exclusive artist updates, behind the scenes content, music experiences, and more, designed for the most passionate fans.
The Met
The Met NFT Collection transforms your museum entry into a unique digital experience. Each NFT acts as your ticket to The Met, with distinct artwork representing different ticket types. Once unlocked, the NFT provides access to a scannable digital ticket, an interactive museum map, dining options, Met Store access and more, combining art, and technology in one seamless pass.
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