Building a mobile-first NFT marketplace
Recur was a web3 platform focused on onboarding mainstream audiences into the NFT space through branded digital collectibles and experiences. The product needed to balance the complexity of blockchain with a seamless, consumer-friendly interface.
Company
Recur Forever
Role
Product Designer
Year
2021–2022
Problem
NFTs felt inaccessible to everyday users
Most NFT marketplaces at the time were built for crypto-native users, requiring MetaMask, tokens, and an understanding of blockchain mechanics. Recur aimed to abstract that complexity and offer a familiar e-commerce-like experience, while still supporting the flexibility and ownership that NFTs enable.
Key insights
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Users needed clear guidance on wallet setup and fiat vs crypto
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Brands needed modular flexibility without redesigning from scratch
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UI needed to feel polished and intentional to build trust
Approach
Focusing on mobile-first design
To better understand the market, we analyzed competing platforms, ran internal usability tests, and worked directly with partner brands to understand what their audiences needed.
Challenges we faced
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NFT platforms assumed too much user familiarity
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Technical jargon created friction in onboarding
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The mobile experience was an afterthought
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Users struggled to complete a purchase flow
How we resolved them
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Focused layout for first-time buyers
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Created reusable components for fast iteration
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Designed and tested full prototype flows on mobile
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Collaborated with Web3 engineers to ensure feasibility
Solution
Frictionless from first tap to purchase
We built a clean interface tailored for users new to NFTs:
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Clean marketplace UI with a focus on item details
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Emphasis on buy-now actions vs. auction confusion
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Wallet UX simplified into a credit card–like experience
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NFT drop schedules and countdowns clearly visualized
UI Highlights
Marketplace feed: A scrollable catalog with tappable cards
NFT detail view: Large imagery, metadata, and clear pricing
Buy flow: Single-step checkout with card and crypto options
Recur Passes were available for purchase in a limited 24 hour window. Owning a pass provided owners exclusive access to future NFT projects.
Each Recur Pass featured a unique number and chromatic gradient, making each Pass a 1 of 1. Numbers were associated with a color with the sequence determining the rarity.
Users had the option of using the balance in their Recur wallet, debit or credit cards, as well as crypto to make their purchase.
The amount from a sold NFT would appear in a user's Recur wallet. Those funds can be used to purchase NFTs on the Recur platform or cashed out to the user's connected bank account.
Implementation
Systematizing NFT drops at scale
We built a design system that could flex across IPs, from Nickelodeon to Star Trek. The core marketplace experience was mobile-first and supported both crypto and credit card payments.
Design & Protoyping
Figma
Coding Stack
Tailwind
Code Repository
Github
What we shipped
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Component-based design system in Figma
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Mobile-first UX optimized for onboarding
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Fiat-compatible smart contract flows
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Reusable templates for branded NFT drops
Explore the Figma file to see the design system.
Results
Results worth repeating
The Recur Pass drop validated our entire Web2-first approach. With thousands of new users onboarded and trust signals built into every flow, the launch laid the foundation for a reusable system now powering 20+ branded drops—from Paramount to Hello Kitty.
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Passes sold in 24 hours
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in revenue from pass sales
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sales from fiat-based transactions
Takeaways
Designing the bridge from Web2 to Web3
This project taught me the importance of trust signals in emerging tech. When users feel safe, they explore. When brands feel supported, they grow. The design system we built became the foundation for every drop that followed.
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Mobile-first UX increased engagement
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Streamlined checkout flow
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Integrated wallet onboarding for seamless transactions
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Better feedback on transaction states
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Greater visual difference between tiers
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Performance tuning for image-heavy pages
Get in touch
Let’s talk. Whether you’re building something new or improving what’s already working, I’d love to hear about it.
Sean Finn
Product Designer
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