zkUSD
Description
zkUSD is a private, algorithmic stablecoin concept built on the Mina Protocol. Inspired by MakerDAO’s DAI and leveraging Mina’s zero-knowledge proofs, it aims to provide a stable and private medium of exchange within the Mina ecosystem. As the founding designer, I worked closely with the CEO and CTO across both product and brand, shaping zkUSD from its earliest ideation to a tangible experience. Our work laid the foundation for a stablecoin that seamlessly integrates privacy and stability within the Mina ecosystem.
Client
Project
Overview of zkUSD's dApp homepage
Context & Problem Space
The challenge
Most stablecoins today suffer from a binary tradeoff: they’re either fully transparent and overexposed, or they operate behind opaque, centralized mechanisms. zkUSD set out to explore a third path — a private, algorithmic stablecoin built natively on the Mina Protocol, using zero-knowledge proofs to preserve user privacy while ensuring full auditability.
Inspiration
We took inspiration from systems like MakerDAO’s DAI, but aimed to radically simplify the experience by abstracting away cryptographic complexity — all while maintaining DeFi-grade composability and user trust.
Key UX Problems We Wanted to Solve
Vault-based systems are intimidating and multi-step
Risk factors like liquidation are often poorly visualized
Web3 products rarely make privacy feel “invisible but intuitive”
Design Goals
Build trust through minimal, legible, and instructive UI
Visualize collateral health and liquidation risk early and clearly
Establish a visual identity that feels both technical and premium
Maintain UX clarity across onboarding, vaults, borrowing flows
My Role & Design Approach
As the founding designer, I worked directly with the CEO and CTO across every phase — from early workshops to developer handoff. My role spanned branding, product strategy, design systems, and web execution.
Product Design
Led UX for:
Vault creation, collateral deposit, repayment, and withdrawal
Health score indicators and LTV gauges (split into Current and Projected)
Error states for invalid vaults, risk alerts, and edge cases
Created dark-mode UI defaults for visual consistency across dashboard and site
Built a modular component library for faster iteration and scalability
Designed responsive prototypes for desktop and mobile
Brand & Visual System
Ran workshops to define voice, trust signals, and brand traits
Designed a custom stroked-Z logomark to reflect currency symbolism
Paired elegant serif headers with monospace numeric elements for cryptographic sharpness
Created a flexible visual style guide with responsive UI states, color gauges, and type hierarchies
Web Presence
Designed and launched the landing page with dual messaging:
“For Users” (how to mint and manage vaults)
“For Developers” (how to integrate zkUSD in apps)
Simplified architectural education through visuals and analogies
Designed pitch-ready slides and visual flows used for Mina Foundation grant demos
3. Results & Reflections
Impact
Shipped the entire visual and UX layer from scratch — including onboarding, product, and brand
Helped the founders land early funding and visibility through grant applications
Built foundations for a design system that new contributors could inherit
Key Learnings
Visualizing DeFi risk (especially liquidation) isn’t about more data — it’s about frictionless intuition
Privacy doesn’t need to feel technical — it can feel smooth, ambient, and safe
A solid component library accelerates not just design, but trust — consistency builds confidence
Collaboration
Worked 1:1 with technical founders
Used Figma, Notion, and Framer (for micro-interactions + motion demos)
Brought in illustration and motion collaborators for potential visual extensions
Curious to See the Real Work?
See how I actually design — not just the pretty screens. Book a walkthrough of my Figma files, UX flows, and strategic thinking.
"Vikrant was a pleasure to work with. His flexibility and Figma expertise allowed him to quickly adapt designs to meet our changing needs. He consistently delivered with a fast turnaround. Professional, capable, and fun to work with, Vikrant exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend."
Charlie Mack
Founder & CEO, FIZK
