Paloma Bots is an automated trading platform built on Paloma's native blockchain, enabling traders to execute strategies across multiple chains. Operating without centralized services ensures enhanced security, transparency, and efficiency.
I was the Lead Product Designer on this project and the only designer on the team, so I had to take on a lot of different roles. I made sure the interface was user-friendly while also translating technical requirements from the engineering team into something users could actually interact with. I worked closely with both front-end and back-end developers, as well as the product manager, who helped me make sense of the more complex parts of the platform so I could turn them into bot interfaces. We moved fast and iterated often, building a flexible design system that could handle new trading strategies, even when the functionality or user needs weren’t fully defined yet. In the end, we created an adaptable platform that could grow and evolve with the fast-moving nature of a Web3 startup.
The main challenge was simplifying complex blockchain strategies into an accessible interface. This required developing the design parallel to the strategy and backend, working closely with engineers in a fast-paced environment.
This case study demonstrates how the app was designed to evolve, catering to traders who are not highly sophisticated and often lack a place in DeFi. It serves as a middle ground between complex trading platforms overloaded with charts and the need for a straightforward, focused experience. Our goal was to create a simple and intuitive way for new traders to enter the market with ease. The app generates revenue through transaction fees per bot.
The design process was divided into three key phases: ideation and wireframing, UI design, Design System, and finally, continuous improvement and iteration. The first two steps were executed between April and September 2024, focusing on refining the product's foundation and user experience. The latest update and improvements to Paloma Bot were made in February 2025, ensuring the platform remains optimized for traders.
This trading tool helps users achieve two goals. The first is to discover new tokens and observe their momentum; the second is to automate trading with stop-loss and profit-taking features.
To design the user interface for the Momentum bot, we focused on the following features:
We began by creating simple screens that allowed users to set up a bot in three easy steps. The main screen displays a list of tokens with all relevant momentum data. Users then move to the bot creation screen, where they configure their trading parameters, and finally confirm the transaction through their wallets.
To improve usability, we designed an intuitive scrolling menu that lets users browse all available bots and select one easily. Each bot is represented with: Bot Name, Volume, Number of Users and a representative image that visually communicates the bot’s function, associated DEX, or chain.
New Bot Screen – Users can select a bot from the menu to set up their trading strategy quickly and easily.
The UI design adhered to Paloma Bot's branding, incorporating a simple design with a focus on two highlight colors and custom icons specific to each bot. We also designed a unique set of icons for each trading bot to enhance visual recognition and differentiation.
To help users track their active and expired trading bots across all Paloma Bots, we initially designed a unified interface that categorized all bots the same way. However, as more bots were developed, we realized this layout did not allow users to view all their different bots effectively at once. We solved this by introducing a second design featuring individual bot cards, which enhanced navigation and provided a clearer overview of each bot’s status and activity.
Portfolio View Comparison – Displays the before and after versions of the portfolio view.
Our component-rich design system enabled rapid bot development, turning ideas into fully functional products at lightning speed. It provided the Paloma team with the flexibility to experiment and iterate efficiently fostering innovation while maintaining consistency. Since the scope of future bots was uncertain, we developed design scenarios to ensure adaptability. I collaborated closely with the engineering team, gathering insights on potential new bots to create a scalable and flexible system.
Paloma Bots Design System – Core components and UI patterns built for consistency, scalability, and faster bot launches.
We designed a responsive version of Paloma Bots to ensure seamless usability across devices. The mobile experience maintains all core functionalities while optimizing navigation and interaction for smaller screens, allowing users to track and manage their bots efficiently on the go. The modular design system we created enabled us to efficiently develop responsive layouts for mobile devices.
Here are some key takeaways from the journey:
Designing Paloma Bots was a fun and dynamic process, balancing technical complexity with a smooth user experience. We focused on making the system modular, scalable, and easy to iterate on, so it could adapt to both current and future trading strategies. Being part of this from day one was super rewarding. It challenged me, helped me learn a ton about smart contracts and blockchain mechanics, and made me appreciate the tech even more. So far, Paloma Bots has launched 20+ bots, though some have been phased out due to market shifts.
Thank you for reading through this Product Design case study.
