Charles from SDF and Fernanda from Cheesecake Labs discuss design decisions for Freighter and Akuna wallets, focusing on solving user adoption barriers through thoughtful UX rather than technology alone. Both wallets prioritize security, clarity, and accessibility for mainstream users entering the Stellar ecosystem.
In this presentation, Charles (SDF lead product designer) and Fernanda (Cheesecake Labs product manager) explore why users hesitate to adopt crypto products, citing barriers like technical complexity, security concerns, and poor design. They present two case studies: Akuna wallet, a non-custodial mobile wallet designed for African creators to receive global payments in USDC and cash out locally, and Freighter Mobile, a new everyday Stellar wallet with unified token views and in-app browser. Key design choices include Akuna's username-based transfers with verification checks and memo confirmation to prevent fund loss, plus Freighter's human-readable transaction details, Blockade security integration, Face ID support, and WalletConnect compatibility. Both wallets emphasize building user trust through clear language, actionable errors, and visual security indicators rather than exposing technical complexity.
