Arkadiko Marketing Sites - Maxime Laforet

Arkadiko Protocol – Marketing Site Evolution

Overview Arkadiko is a DeFi protocol built on the Stacks blockchain, offering a Bitcoin-backed stablecoin (USDA) and suite of decentralized financial products. Over two years, I designed and built three distinct iterations of the marketing site, each responding to evolving brand strategy and product positioning.

Version 3: Complete Brand Redesign (2023)

View Live Site

The Challenge The previous marketing site relied on generic fintech styling that lacked the visual depth and uniqueness necessary for a crypto-native product. The goal was to elevate Arkadiko from a promising concept to a polished, investor- and user-facing platform ready for early adoption.

My Role Lead Designer & Front-end Developer

I led a comprehensive redesign of the marketing site, focused on improving user comprehension, visual appeal, and credibility in a highly technical and trust-sensitive domain.

Key Design Decisions:

Replaced generic illustrations with data-driven visuals and real chart patterns to signal seriousness, precision, and trustworthiness
Introduced bold, high-contrast visual system inspired by trading dashboards and dark-mode interfaces familiar to crypto users
Created interactive modules with subtle neon accents and grid patterns adding to the futuristic tone
Refined visual language rooted in crypto culture—dark theme, glowing accents, precision typography—to enhance brand credibility

Results:

Dramatically stronger first impression thanks to real trading data and immersive visual treatment
Much clearer information hierarchy and storytelling flow, guiding users from value proposition to feature breakdown with purpose
Better CTA visibility and conversion cues, encouraging beta signups without overwhelming users
Elevated brand perception to match protocol's technical sophistication

Tech Stack: Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, Figma

Version 2: Simplified Product Focus (2023)

Marketing Site v2 (archived)

The Challenge The initial site had become cluttered with content. The goal was to distill the protocol's offerings into clear, focused sections that improved clarity and navigation.

My Role Lead Designer & Front-end Developer

I designed and built a simplified, three-section landing page that organized Arkadiko's products into three clear vertical blocks: Keepers (smart-contract automation), USDA (flagship stablecoin), and DLCs (native Bitcoin lending).

Key Decisions:

Organized information architecture into three main vertical product-focused sections
Relocated auxiliary content to dedicated subdomain (usda.arkadiko.com) for streamlined navigation
Created lightweight, static site with hand-coded HTML/CSS for maximum performance
Ensured fast load times, responsive design, and visual cohesion with Arkadiko's brand

Results:

Clarified product hierarchy by spotlighting Keepers, USDA, and DLCs as standalone features
Streamlined UX by simplifying navigation and improving page responsiveness
Delivered clean, focused experience that aligned with Arkadiko's evolving brand strategy

Tech Stack: HTML, CSS, Figma, minimal JavaScript

Version 1: Initial Launch (2022)

First Landing Page (concept carried to Zest)

The Challenge Launch the protocol's first marketing presence to capture early interest and collect user emails for the waitlist.

My Role UI Designer & Front-end Developer

I designed and implemented Arkadiko's first marketing landing page, creating a clean, high-conversion layout with compelling messaging and strong brand alignment.

Key Features:

Clean, conversion-focused layout designed in Figma
Lightweight email capture integrated with Google Sheets
Strong visual hierarchy and branding
Fast, responsive implementation

Results:

Supported early growth and marketing efforts through effective design
Set up scalable system to collect and manage user leads
Established initial visual identity that evolved through subsequent iterations

Tech Stack: HTML, CSS, React, Google Sheets, Figma

Evolution Summary

This three-phase journey demonstrates my ability to:

Iterate based on product evolution – adapting design strategy as protocol matured
Balance simplicity and sophistication – knowing when to strip down vs. build up
Establish and evolve brand identity – from launch concept to polished crypto-native aesthetic
Execute end-to-end – handling both design and front-end implementation across all versions
Respond to market positioning – shifting from generic fintech to bold crypto culture

Each iteration solved specific problems: v1 captured early interest, v2 clarified product focus, v3 elevated brand credibility. Together, they show strategic design thinking beyond just making things look good.