Barterchain – Enterprise Ireland, Innovation Voucher
Barterchain - Enterprise Ireland, Innovation Voucher
Overview
IADT collaborated with Barterchain – a peer-to-peer service exchange platform – to reimagine its user experience and interface. Led by Gráinne Carroll, with research assistant Anita Savić, the project focused on enhancing usability, strengthening accessibility, and introducing new features to support a sustainable revenue model.
Challenge
While Barterchain’s existing app was operational, it lacked the intuitive design and clarity needed to drive user engagement. Onboarding was confusing, navigation was inconsistent, and users found it difficult to track exchanges or understand their progress. The app required a complete UX/UI overhaul that would simplify the experience, integrate premium community features, and enable data-informed decision-making.
IADT’s Approach
IADT conducted a full UX/UI audit to identify friction points and redesign the app’s overall structure and flow. The team rebuilt all core components in Figma – including onboarding, homepage, user profiles, search, and offer management – and introduced a new “Tribe” community feature as a premium offering to support engagement and monetisation. Accessibility, visual coherence, and clear user feedback mechanisms were central to the redesign.
Impact
Barterchain received a comprehensive design system, complete user flows, and a fully redesigned interactive prototype, ready for development. The updated experience not only improved usability but embedded a viable business model aligned with the company’s social mission. Based on IADT’s redesign, Barterchain has since secured funding to redevelop and relaunch the platform.
“This innovation voucher project allowed us to transform our platform’s UX / UI, and completely reimagine the barter experience. Grainne and Anita took our existing users’ feedback to create a redesign that is both customer and expert led. This innovative design also integrates our business model – so that we can finally start generating revenue. We have since been approved for a feasibility grant to redevelop and relaunch our platform, and we are very excited to see our redesign and rebrand go live! Thank you Grainne and Anita, it was a pleasure to work with you!”
Carla Rosenkranz,
Founder, Barterfolk
The TU RISE IADT Elevate Programme hosted an XR Design Sprint bringing together enterprises and creative practitioners to explore real-world applications of immersive technologies through collaborative, hands-on innovation. Over five days, participants developed early-stage concepts across education, culture and creative industries, supported by design thinking and industry expertise.
The TU RISE Elevate team was delighted to attend Amplify 2026, hosted by the IRDG Innovation Network, where Aisling Cox and Dorota Zurek gained valuable insights into innovation, R&D and collaboration. Thank you to the IRDG team for delivering such an inspiring event.
We were delighted to take part in the IADT Summer School on Research & Social Justice, which brought together researchers, educators and community partners to explore the role of research in creating positive social impact. Thank you to everyone who contributed to such an inspiring and engaging event.