This case study is only for the landing page design for Y Launch - although some research mentioned here were done for the full product design.
Context
When Why Protocol—an ambitious Web3 AI startup—decided they wanted to beat the chaos of Pump.fun, they called me in. Their goal? Build an AI-powered token launchpad that didn't just look better—it felt better. Safer, smoother, and more in tune with how Web3 founders actually want to launch things.
Why Protocol needed a launchpad that lived up to their vision—a platform that let in-house users spin up new tokens in seconds and potentially list them on the internal deal-flow board for funding. Their current options? Janky, chaotic, and frankly, embarrassing. Most launchpads looked like they were built in a rush during a hackathon—and never updated.
They wanted something fast, minimal, trustworthy, and still very Web3.
My Role
Lead Product Designer (and Webflow builder)
I led UX from concept to launch—designing everything in Figma and building the final site in Webflow. I worked closely with JP and Nadir to align on messaging, vibes, and what we wanted the user to feel while exploring the platform.
The Problem: Too Much Chaos, Not Enough Confidence
Platforms like Pump.fun were everywhere—but they were visually overwhelming, hard to navigate, and felt like a scam waiting to happen. Bright colors, no real branding, poor onboarding, and zero trust signals. For founders trying to launch a token with credibility, it felt risky and unserious.
We needed to fix that.
What We Did Differently
Research First
Before touching Figma, I launched a few tokens on Pump.fun just to see what the experience was like from the inside. That gave me firsthand insight into what worked, what didn’t, and how users were behaving on the platform.
I also studied other Web3 launchpads and communities, noting:
- What gave them credibility (or not)
- How they handled onboarding
- Where users got confused or bounced
Designing for Trust and Culture
I designed the site to feel fun, but with enough structure and trust signals to make people take it seriously. Some of the key decisions:
- Landing Page Gamification: We showcased trending community tokens right on the homepage—turning discovery into a loop.
- Color Palette: Bold enough to grab attention (as expected in Web3), but still tied to Why Protocol’s brand for continuity.
- Social Proof: We listed known Web3 sponsors and partners up front—because in this space, people trust who you know before they trust what you build.
Built in Webflow
After finalizing designs in Figma, I handled the build directly in Webflow to maintain control over the visual quality and responsiveness across devices.
Artifacts Created
- Full Website Design
- Webflow Implementation
- Brand-aligned UI Elements
- Gamified Landing Concepts
Business Outcomes
We’re still early—Y Launch is being rolled out in phases. But here’s what’s already live:
- The website has launched.
- A waitlist is already filling up.
- We’ve started seeing early interest from token creators looking for an alternative to Pump.fun.
It’s a promising start, especially in a space where trust and vibe are everything.
What’s Next
The full launchpad experience is being built out now. Once it's live, I'll write a new case study and users will also be able to:
- Launch tokens in seconds
- Get featured in deal-flow
- Tap into Why Protocol’s broader AI and funding ecosystem
What I Learned
Sometimes, the best research is getting your hands dirty. Launching a token myself gave me way more context than reading blogs or watching walkthroughs ever could. Also, building directly in Webflow while designing helped me catch edge cases early and ship faster.