MetaMask for Apple Watch — A UI/UX Case Study
MetaMask is a hugely popular app in the world of crypto and NFTs, growing its user base from 545,080 users in 2020 to over 21 million in 2022. Currently, it is available as a browser extension for desktop devices, and as a mobile app. There is no version of the app for the Apple Watch — so I decided to build a case study for it and design one.
(View the full case study here)
Designing for the Apple Watch
Apple has some pretty strict guidelines when it comes to designing for their devices, including the petite screen of their watch. Understandably so, they want the apps installed on them to be as accessible as possible.
They have some great resources on their website in various formats including Sketch, Adobe XD and Photoshop — though they are all made for macOS (even keeping designers in their ecosystem wherever possible). These resources include libraries, design and production templates, fonts, symbols, and even simple device mockups, all to help you stick to their guidelines as easily as possible.
MetaMask on an Apple Watch?
The MetaMask app is used to control a user’s cryptocurrencies and NFTs, sometimes valued at enormous amounts. Would such an app have a place on a tiny smart-watch screen, and would it even be useful?
Apps made for the Apple Watch, or any smart-watch for that matter, are generally extensions of their mobile app counterpart. They have features that would only be useful and feasible for actions that a user would be willing to perform on their wrist rather than on a device in their hands. Simple actions, such as starting a timer or selecting a song on Spotify are examples.
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Clearly, not all functions of MetaMask would be suitable for the Apple Watch. Cryptocurrency wallet addresses are very long and impossible to remember, allowing the user to manually enter it is asking for problems. But there are some features which could work:
- displaying a QR code of the user’s account to receive a transaction
- sending transactions to saved accounts or accounts previously sent to
- swapping assets between a predetermined list
- selecting between different user accounts and checking their balances
- changing the network used (e.g. Ethereum, Matic, Binance Smart Chain)
My research, designs and prototype
Throughout my case study, I conducted a few small studies for market research and usability when testing the prototype. The overall results were that people who were familiar with using MetaMask on desktop and mobile devices found their way around the Apple Watch prototype relatively easily. These results are to be expected really, and could be said for any smart-watch app that is an extension of a larger app on desktop or mobile devices. I won’t go into too many details here, but please feel free to read through the case study in full. Also, feel free to have a play with the prototype, it works better on desktop devices than mobile.
Final thoughts
Smart-watch apps are meant to allow users to perform quick and simple actions without having to take their mobile device out of their pocket. Some people prefer using them for that very reason as once the phone is out, endless scrolling on social media is an easy trap to fall into.
Have a friend who wants to send you some ETH quickly? Open the QR code on your watch and let them scan it. Need to transfer some BitCoin to your other wallet? A few touches on the wrist and it’s done. Want to take a little profit from some BNB you’re holding? A quick swap on your watch and it’s over. There are definitely some use cases for this app, it would be interesting if MetaMask did create an Apple Watch app and I’d be curious to see if it turns out anything like I’ve designed.
Thank you for reading!
