Context

Crypmoji is a privacy-first messaging platform, offering end-to-end encrypted communication backed by Swiss-grade data protection. Designed for users who prioritise security, Crypmoji ensures that only intended recipients can access messages. I joined the team to design a comprehensive onboarding experience that clearly communicated the platform’s unique value while reducing friction for new users. Following the launch of the onboarding flow, I continued as their day-to-day product designer—supporting UX improvements, refining existing features, and helping shape the product’s overall user experience.

My Problem Statement

When I joined Crypmoji, I met with the CEO, Edwin, to better understand the core friction points facing new users. One of the biggest challenges was the product’s steep learning curve—first-time users often struggled to understand its privacy features and unique interface. It quickly became clear that without a thoughtful, well-designed onboarding experience, user adoption and retention would suffer. My role was to tackle this head-on by designing an intuitive onboarding flow that educated users, built trust, and eased them into the Crypmoji ecosystem.

Timeline

Research

To begin designing a more effective onboarding system, I first audited Crypmoji’s existing flow and gathered feedback from users to identify key friction points. Many users felt lost during setup, particularly when it came to enabling the secure keyboard—a critical step for using the app. To inform my approach, I built a library of onboarding patterns from other products with similarly steep learning curves, especially those requiring system-level setup (like keyboard integration). Grammarly’s onboarding stood out for its clarity and user guidance, so I used it as a benchmark while adapting the flow to fit Crypmoji’s unique functionality and brand voice.

Wireframes

During early stakeholder discussions, the CEO, Edwin, emphasized the need for a lightweight introductory carousel to clearly communicate Crypmoji’s core value proposition. We identified this initial welcome flow as an opportunity to not only introduce the product, but also prompt key permissions—such as access to contacts—to enhance the user experience. In addition, we explored using this stage to guide users through setting up the Crypmoji keyboard, a crucial step for functionality but often a point of friction. To reduce cognitive load, we agreed that feature-specific onboarding would occur contextually after users entered the app—ensuring the welcome experience remained simple, focused, and inviting.

Prototyping

Drawing inspiration from Grammarly’s onboarding model, I designed a contextual, in-app guidance system to onboard users progressively and intuitively. As users explore Crypmoji’s features, concise popup carousels appear at key touchpoints to explain functionality in the moment it’s needed. This approach minimises cognitive load and helps users learn at their own pace—without overwhelming them up front. Early iterations of this system were tested by the CEO with internal stakeholders, while I conducted peer-based usability reviews to refine the language and flow of the onboarding elements. To support long-term user learning, I also included a dedicated tutorial hub within the settings, allowing users to revisit guidance whenever needed.