The importance of good design in open protocol development for financial inclusion

Accessible design in Open Money protocols

Design is one of the biggest challenges and opportunities in Open Money.

At the core of Open Money’s mission is making financial services accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise, geographic location, or socio-economic background. This is why accessible design principles are embedded directly into the primitives of the protocol — the foundational components that enable Open Money to work.

Good design is essential for Open Money to reach its full potential. And by design, this doesn’t just mean a polished user interface or a visually appealing app. It refers to a broader definition of design — one that encompasses accessibility, usability, and openness at every level. This means creating protocols that allow people to access financial services that were previously out of reach.

A well-designed Open Money protocol must take into account factors like transaction fees, accessibility across languages, and varying levels of literacy.

It should also consider how easy it is for developers and technical communities to discover, use, and build upon the protocol. When discussing good design in this context, it’s about addressing the entire ecosystem of users — from everyday individuals seeking financial inclusion to developers building new decentralized applications.

Human-centered design in open protocols

Here are a few are some examples of how good design has already unlocked new possibilities in the emerging world of open protocols.

Ethereum Name Service (ENS): ENS is an excellent example of human-centered open protocol design. Instead of relying on wallet addresses that are long strings of random characters, ENS allows users to create human-readable wallet addresses. This makes it easier for people to share and use crypto addresses without the friction of complex alphanumeric codes.
Uniswap: Uniswap’s interface simplifies the complexity of decentralized trading. By eliminating the need for users to navigate complicated order books, Uniswap’s intuitive design makes DeFi trading accessible to more people. Good UX design takes the edge off the intimidating complexity often associated with DeFi.
WalletConnect: WalletConnect streamlines the process of connecting a wallet to decentralized applications. Using QR codes and simple flows, it allows users to connect with just a few steps — lowering the barrier to entry. This simplicity brings the experience closer to the familiar ease of signing up for or connecting a Web2 account.

In the early days, digital asset systems often felt clunky and primitive. Today, everything from wallet experiences to transaction explorers has evolved to be more intuitive and user-friendly. While ease of use may not be a direct utility metric, it is an essential element of accessibility — and this, ultimately, drives wider adoption.

Why design matters for Open Money

For Open Money, good design is more than an aesthetic choice — it’s a pathway to financial inclusion. By lowering barriers and making it easier for anyone to engage with decentralized finance, new possibilities for economic participation are opened up. A well-designed protocol empowers users and builders alike, fostering an ecosystem where innovation can thrive.

In the end, the true potential of Open Money will only be realized through a commitment to thoughtful, accessible design. This means going beyond surface-level polish and focusing on inclusivity, usability, and openness at every level of the protocol.

This post is part of the Open Money project, an ongoing series that forms the basis of a longer work. Subscribe to get a weekly update as it unfolds.