I: (OVERVIEW)
ROLE
UX/UI Designer
DESCRIPTION
A marketplace for collectible gifts within Telegram.
I joined during the first version and worked alongside another designer on new user flows, redesigns, the desktop version, and a games section with a shared balance and inventory.
II: (PRODUCT SCALE)
III: (ROLE & TEAM)
MY ROLE
I worked on UX/UI and communication materials alongside another designer. We shared the workload: both of us designed user flows, created interfaces, and developed the design system. My work covered trading and payment flows, redesigns, the web version, and the integration of Games.
We received requirements and feedback through project coordinators. We explored implementation options, proposed our own solutions, and refined the interfaces based on team reviews and user feedback.
IV: (CONTEXT)
From buying gifts to managing an inventory
The product started with buying and selling Telegram gifts. As bulk actions, offers, crafting, and Games were introduced, we adapted the interface to support new flows. We paid particular attention to large inventories: repetitive actions, finding offers, and tracking gift values.
Managing large inventories
With a large number of gifts, users have to repeat the same actions many times. We introduced bulk actions so they could select multiple items and sell, withdraw, send, delist, or reprice them.
We also designed a quick-sell flow for accepting buyers’ offers. Collection offers were grouped by price: users first saw a summary list, then could open the details and sell matching gifts.
As offers targeting specific attributes were introduced, we expanded how they were displayed. The interface needed to account for requirements related to a gift’s model, background, and other attributes, as well as its collection.
Information for trading decisions
VI: (MULTICRAFT)
Up to ten crafts in one batch
When Telegram introduced crafting, we integrated it into Portals. Users can work with gifts directly in their inventory without withdrawing them first or switching to Telegram’s interface.
Portals supports up to ten crafts in one batch. Each attempt can use one to four gifts from the same collection. The mechanics and probabilities came from Telegram; our task was to design how users manage multiple attempts.
We designed navigation between crafts and the presentation of probabilities. For each attempt, users can see the selected gifts, the chance of success, and the probability of inheriting specific attributes. This lets them review each set before starting the entire batch.
Once the batch is complete, users can review each attempt individually or open a combined list of successful and failed crafts.
VII: (GAMES)
A games section with a shared inventory and wallet
The next area of development was PvP and PvE games with bets in GRAM or Telegram gifts. We needed to integrate the new section into the existing product and connect it to the trading flows.
A navigation button lets users switch between Market and Games. Each section has its own accent color: blue for Market and purple for Games. A shared design system keeps them visually connected.
The initial approach required users to switch to Market to manage gifts. We proposed keeping essential actions within Games: users might need to open their inventory during a game, and switching sections would make that flow more complicated.
We designed a simplified inventory with quick actions for buying, selling, depositing, and withdrawing gifts. These actions use the marketplace’s shared infrastructure while keeping users in the games section.
We also designed onboarding, bet type and amount selection, auto-betting, game history, replays, outcome verification details, achievements, and seasonal activities.
VIII: (WEB VERSION)
Adapting the flows for desktop
For the web version, we reworked the inventory layout for a larger screen. We placed filters next to the gift list and moved selling options into a side panel. Users can select gifts and set prices while keeping their inventory and selected items in view.
IX: (INTERFACE ITERATIONS)
Revisiting the visual style and navigation
One redesign was built around Liquid Glass. During review, the implementation revealed several limitations: transparency and refraction reduced readability, the effect distracted from the content, and similar glass surfaces made it harder to establish color accents.
We reworked the surfaces toward a more matte, restrained finish and standardized corner radii and component styling.
At the same time, we revisited navigation and filters. As the number of sections grew, long text tabs took up more space. In the updated version, only the active section displayed a label. Frequently used filters were made directly accessible, while the full set remained available through a button.
Expanding the shared interface
Over the course of the project, we created more than 400 screens and states. Beyond the core flows, our work covered the wallet, payments via SBP, Russia’s Faster Payments System, Lucky Buy, the referral program, cashback, seasonal activities, Telegram Stars and Premium purchases, and access settings.
Each new feature was supported by updates to the design system, including components, variants, and states for Market, Games, and the web version.
XI: (OUTCOME)
During my time on the project
At Portals, we expanded trading flows, added batch crafting, designed and launched the web version, and integrated Games with a shared inventory and wallet. The work included new interfaces and states, as well as revisiting existing solutions as the product grew.