Challenge
Signum was created to address a clear gap in the Tezos ecosystem. At the time, the NFT market was expanding rapidly, with new collections appearing every day, which opened up an opportunity to rethink how digital assets could be used within decentralized finance. The concept, introduced by Pierro, was to build a platform where users could borrow Tezos by using their NFTs as collateral. From a product design perspective, the main challenge was creating a system that felt trustworthy in a space often shaped by speculation and risk. We needed to discourage bad actors, reduce opportunities for misuse, and design an experience that inspired confidence without sacrificing accessibility. Although the primary audience was already familiar with DeFi tools, it was equally important to make the platform feel approachable and intuitive rather than overly technical or intimidating.
Solution
For Signum, the design solution centered on translating a complex NFT-backed lending model into a product that felt transparent, credible, and easy to navigate. The platform allowed borrowers to request Tezos loans by submitting Non-Fungible Tokens as collateral, while lenders could evaluate those requests, review the assets behind them, and fund opportunities directly through the interface. By structuring the experience around clear actions, visible collateral, and smart-contract-based custody, the application helped reduce friction in a trust-sensitive Decentralized Finance environment and made the process more accessible without losing the depth expected by crypto-native users.
Design
