Coinbase
Crafting a New Horizon for Rain.com
A Seamless Experience for High-Ticket Traders
September 2021
In a world of complex crypto platforms with cluttered interfaces and vague content, Rain.com redefined what a crypto investment platform could be. Designed specifically for high-ticket traders in the Middle East, Rain offers a luxurious, culturally attuned, and intuitive trading experience. Backed by Coinbase and rooted in Bahraini culture, Rain is a leading platform for MENA’s crypto traders.
SERVICES
Product Design, User Research, Website Design, UX/UI, Design System
Project Overview
Rain aimed to bridge gaps in crypto trading platforms for the Middle East. The goals included addressing risks in token selection, simplifying trading for new users, and aligning the platform with cultural and financial values unique to the region. Competitors often overlooked local currency support, used jargon-heavy interfaces, and lacked thoughtful educational tools.
Eric Bashir collaborated with a global team to design a seamless and culturally resonant platform. By leveraging intensive user research, Rain’s mobile app and Advanced Trading Portal (ATP) delivered both simplicity and advanced features, catering to beginners and seasoned traders alike. The experience balanced brand-rich aesthetics with functionality, ensuring every design choice served a business objective.
Rain.com was envisioned as a platform that simplifies crypto trading for high-ticket traders in the Middle East while celebrating Bahraini culture. With strong backing from Coinbase and a mission to support informed investments, Rain aimed to bridge the gap between complexity and user-friendly trading experiences.
User-Centric Approach
We adopted an approach that allowed us to create system elements as we built, which I compiled into Rain’s enduring design system.
Eric employed a rigorous user research process across three phases - pre-design, during design, and post-design usability testing. Interviews and surveys with Middle Eastern traders revealed pain points with competitors like Binance and Kraken, particularly their failure to address Middle Eastern financial values and local currency integration.
Cultural Sensitivity* The design prioritized aligning with Middle Eastern aesthetics and values. Rain’s unique color palette - Nightfall, Sand, and Sunglo - reflected the region’s skies, while its gradients mirrored the sun’s movement. These choices ensured Rain resonated deeply with its audience.
Process
We built a culturally attuned crypto platform through user-driven design, iterative testing, and a focus on clarity.
The process adopted began with deep user research to identify key pain points, followed by wireframing and prototyping to validate design choices. After multiple testing phases, we refined and implemented the final designs, ensuring every element addressed the unique needs of Middle Eastern traders.
The design emphasized cultural resonance, clarity, and luxury. It focused on removing unnecessary complexity while integrating visually appealing elements that reflect the Middle Eastern identity and align with Islamic financial values.
Final Design
The final design delivered an elegant, user-focused platform tailored to empower high-ticket traders in the Middle East.
The final product features inluded a minimalist and informative token detail page for quick decision-making, and a visually rich Advanced Trading Portal (ATP) tailored to professional traders. We created a user-friendly crypto education system integrated into the app, all while using a cohesive design system that ensures consistent branding across all touchpoints.
Product Images
"Designing Rain.com's app and web trading portal was more than a design challenge, it was an opportunity to connect technology with culture. It allowed me to explore the intersection of user needs and cultural values, creating a product that didn’t just work but resonated with its audience. Seeing how Rain became a symbol of trust and sophistication in the region has been deeply rewarding." — Eric Bashir
Achievements
"As a traditional person, I was hesitant about crypto platforms until Rain. The attention to our cultural values, the simplicity of the app, and the stunning design made me trust and love this platform. It feels like it was made just for us."
— Rain User, a Bahraini National
Rain has set a new benchmark for crypto trading in the Middle East by combining cultural sensitivity with cutting-edge design.
Rain quickly gained traction as a leading trading platform in the region, User feedback during this time highlighted trust, pride, and loyalty toward the platform. The in-app referral system drove exponential growth, creating a network effect, while the educational features received praise for simplifying crypto for beginners.
Rise in daily active users (DAUs) after introducing key features
Boost in account upgrades to premium tiers
