Designing for Irreversible Financial Commitment in Illiquid Markets
Timeline 15 weeks
Role Individual
Scope End to end decision flow
Context
Easel explores what happens when people encounter artworks not just as objects to admire, but as assets they can partially own.
Unlike traditional investments, artworks do not have clear pricing logic, predictable outcomes, or immediate feedback.
illiquidity
attraction
opacity
Investments cannot be easily reversed.
Once a decision is made, you commit capital for an extended period without guaranteed exit options.
Problem Statement
Users approach high-commitment financial decisions with mental models shaped by fast, reversible digital interactions.
In illiquid markets, this leads to premature commitment before constraints are understood.
Intent
How?
Ensure understanding precedes irreversible commitment.
By introducing friction at moments of risk, not attraction.
Research Insights
Digital is reversible
Users assumed they could exit anytime since its a digital platform and asset.
Solution - Clear irreversible authorization boundary
Emotion Overrides Risk
Artwork narrative overshadowed liquidity evaluation.
Solution - Separate narrative from financial constraints
Liquidity Is Underweighted
Even experienced investors underestimated resale friction.
Solution - Structured liquidity + ownership block before commit
Long Disclosures Are Ignored
Participants skimmed dense explanations.
Solution - Scannable constraint modules
System
Response
Commitment is gated by understanding
Awareness
Understanding
Constraints
Commitment
Exploration is allowed before any commitment is possible.
Browsing Without
Commitment
Filter and Sort
Collection
John F. Kensett
Lake George
$37 per unit
Ammi Phillips
Mrs. Mayer and Daughter
$35 per unit
Botticelli
The Last
Communion of
Saint Jerome
$43 per unit
Georges Seurat
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
$35 per unit
Winslow Homer
The Gulf Stream
$39 per unit
John White Alexander
The Observer
$31 per unit
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc
$51 per unit
William Michael Harnett
Still Life - Violin
$24 per unit
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Whalers
$33 per unit
Lucas Mendez
Untitled No. 7
From $35
Chloe Anderson
Liminal Space
From $35
Oliver Schmidt
Study in White
From $35
Gate browsing before education
Persistent risk warnings
Friction only at irreversible commitment
Where to introduce friction?
Consolidated review block before authorization
How to present constraints?
Long-form disclosure page
Mix risk inside artwork narrative
How final is commitment?
Editable after confirmation
Biometric auto-confirm
Explicit authorization boundary
Tradeoffs Considered
Review your Position
Total Investment Amount:
Partial ownership, not the artwork itself
Ownership Interest:
0.03%
$510
Liquidity RISKS
Resale depends on future buyer availability.
Exiting the position may not be instant.
Time horizon
This is a long-term holding.
Short-term price changes may not reflect value.
Price shown reflects current market value.
I acknowledge that this investment is illiquid, long-term, and may not be easily exited.
Confirm and Continue
Cancel
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc (1786)
$51 per unit
10 units
Review Before Commitment
Key details and constraints are consolidated here before any irreversible action is allowed.
Review your Position
Total Investment Amount:
Partial ownership, not the artwork itself
Ownership Interest:
0.03%
$510
Liquidity RISKS
Resale depends on future buyer availability.
Exiting the position may not be instant.
Time horizon
This is a long-term holding.
Short-term price changes may not reflect value.
Price shown reflects current market value.
I acknowledge that this investment is illiquid, long-term, and may not be easily exited.
Confirm and Continue
Cancel
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc (1786)
$51 per unit
10 units
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc (1786)
$51 per unit
$510
0.03%
Current Cost (as of 13/02/2025)
Allocated Units
10
Proceed to Review
Maximum limit: 13 units per investor
Ownership Interest
Position Value
This is the last adjustable input. Once confirmed, the flow transitions into formal review and constraint acknowledgment.
continued…
Irreversibility is
Explicit
Authorize Commitment
Position Summary
Position value:
To pay
$516
$510
plus taxes
No price change since last review.
Payment method
Bank account ending ••••5700
Change
Fees
No transaction fees taxes as applicable.
Cancel
Authorize and Continue
By authorizing, you agree to proceed with this investment.
Authorization is the final irreversible state.
No adjustable inputs remain beyond this point.
Iteration
Insight
Initial tests showed users skimmed liquidity risk when presented alongside artwork narrative. I separated emotional content from financial constraints during review to ensure clarity before commitment.
System
Continuinty
Position state persists across navigation.
Ownership is reflected immediately in portfolio.
No contextual reset after execution.
Transaction receipt reinforces irreversible transition.
John F. Kensett
Lake George
$37 per unit
Ammi Phillips
Mrs. Mayer and Daughter
$35 per unit
Botticelli
The Last
Communion of
Saint Jerome
$43 per unit
Georges Seurat
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
$35 per unit
Winslow Homer
The Gulf Stream
$39 per unit
John White Alexander
The Observer
$31 per unit
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc
$51 per unit
William Michael Harnett
Still Life - Violin
$24 per unit
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Whalers
$33 per unit
Lucas Mendez
Untitled No. 7
From $35
Chloe Anderson
Liminal Space
From $35
Oliver Schmidt
Study in White
From $35
Filter and Sort
Collection
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc (1786)
$51 per unit
MARKET INSIGHTS
Total Offering Value $5.3 M
Current Unit Price 4/12/2025 $51
Last Independent Audit NY 6/10/2021
Collection The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Average Resale Window 4-18 Months
ABOUT ARTWORK
Painted in 1879, Joan of Arc reflects Bastien-Lepage’s naturalist style and remains one of his most recognized works. The subject’s national and historical significance contributed to renewed institutional attention following the Franco-Prussian War. First exhibited at the 1880 Paris Salon, the work was noted for its psychological intensity and departure from strict realism. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS
Ownership represents a fractional interest in a holding entity that owns the artwork.
Investors participate in resale proceeds proportional to their ownership.
The artwork remains stored, managed, and insured by the holding entity.
Ownership does not grant physical possession or display rights.
Resale is dependent on buyer availability and market conditions.
Exit timing is not guaranteed.
Pricing and liquidation decisions are administered by the platform.
Proceed to Review
Back to Collection
Contextual Evaluation
Exploration remains unrestricted prior to formal review.
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc (1786)
$51 per unit
MARKET INSIGHTS
Total Offering Value $5.3 M
Current Unit Price 4/12/2025 $51
Last Independent Audit NY 6/10/2021
Collection The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Average Resale Window 4-18 Months
ABOUT ARTWORK
Painted in 1879, Joan of Arc reflects Bastien-Lepage’s naturalist style and remains one of his most recognized works. The subject’s national and historical significance contributed to renewed institutional attention following the Franco-Prussian War. First exhibited at the 1880 Paris Salon, the work was noted for its psychological intensity and departure from strict realism. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS
Ownership represents a fractional interest in a holding entity that owns the artwork.
Investors participate in resale proceeds proportional to their ownership.
The artwork remains stored, managed, and insured by the holding entity.
Ownership does not grant physical possession or display rights.
Resale is dependent on buyer availability and market conditions.
Exit timing is not guaranteed.
Pricing and liquidation decisions are administered by the platform.
Proceed to Review
Back to Collection
The asset is presented without compression or recommendation.
Valuation, liquidity, and structural terms remain visible in parallel, allowing interpretation to precede calculation.
Interpretive
Phase
Execution Recorded
Authorization transitions the asset from intent to ownership.
Position Confirmed
Transaction Receipt
Total amount debited:
0.03%
$516
inclusive of taxes
account ending ••••5700
Ownership recorded:
transaction #4762D772760
View Portfolio
10 units
Jules Bastien-Lepage
$51 per unit
Joan of Arc (1786)
Following authorization, the position remains recorded and reflected over time.
Post-Execution State
+2.16%
$11
$521
Current
Unrealized P/L
$510
Invested
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc (1786)
Qty. 10 units
Entry Avg. $51 / unit
Total P/L:
Current Avg. $52.1 / unit
Invested: $510
Current Total Value: $521
+2.16%
$11
Filter and Sort
Portfolio
Cross-Platform Navigation
Core navigation remains persistent across exploration and ownership, allowing users to move between discovery, portfolio state, and market context without disrupting active decisions.
John F. Kensett
Lake George
$37 per unit
Ammi Phillips
Mrs. Mayer and Daughter
$35 per unit
Botticelli
The Last
Communion of
Saint Jerome
$43 per unit
Georges Seurat
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
$35 per unit
Winslow Homer
The Gulf Stream
$39 per unit
John White Alexander
The Observer
$31 per unit
Jules Bastien-Lepage
Joan of Arc
$51 per unit
William Michael Harnett
Still Life - Violin
$24 per unit
Joseph Mallord William Turner
Whalers
$33 per unit
Easel explores how to design systems
that slow users down when commitment is permanent.
Digital Shouldn’t Always Mean Instant
Some decisions shouldn’t be fast.
Some decisions shouldn’t feel reversible.
Commitment Is a System State.
Not a Button.
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg display="block" role="presentation" viewBox="0 0 240 268" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M 88.55 268.1 C 60.317 268.1 38.267 261.45 22.4 248.15 C 8.167 236.25 1.05 220.967 1.05 202.3 C 1.05 181.533 9.683 162.867 26.95 146.3 C 46.083 127.867 71.283 117.133 102.55 114.1 C 99.972 110.346 97.746 106.363 95.9 102.2 C 89.584 101.983 83.279 101.516 77 100.8 C 70.933 99.867 65.217 98.817 59.85 97.65 C 40.483 92.983 25.433 85.517 14.7 75.25 C 4.9 65.683 0 55.3 0 44.1 C 0 31.5 6.067 20.883 18.2 12.25 C 30.333 4.083 45.617 0 64.05 0 C 72.917 0 81.9 1.05 91 3.15 C 100.1 5.017 109.2 8.167 118.3 12.6 C 119 12.833 119.35 13.533 119.35 14.7 C 119.35 17.033 118.3 17.733 116.2 16.8 C 99.167 8.633 82.483 4.55 66.15 4.55 C 51.683 4.55 40.133 8.167 31.5 15.4 C 22.867 22.633 18.55 32.083 18.55 43.75 C 18.55 54.25 22.4 63.933 30.1 72.8 C 38.967 82.6 50.983 89.25 66.15 92.75 C 70.583 93.683 75.133 94.5 79.8 95.2 C 84.467 95.9 89.25 96.367 94.15 96.6 C 93.217 92.867 92.75 88.55 92.75 83.65 C 92.75 67.083 99.4 52.15 112.7 38.85 C 128.567 22.983 151.083 12.6 180.25 7.7 C 183.283 7.233 186.2 6.883 189 6.65 C 192.033 6.417 194.95 6.3 197.75 6.3 C 210.35 6.3 220.617 8.983 228.55 14.35 C 236.483 19.483 240.45 26.367 240.45 35 C 240.45 48.533 231 61.95 212.1 75.25 C 188.067 91.817 154.467 100.8 111.3 102.2 C 111.533 105.933 112.467 109.55 114.1 113.05 C 118.067 112.817 122.033 112.817 126 113.05 C 129.967 113.05 133.933 113.167 137.9 113.4 C 146.3 114.1 150.5 117.25 150.5 122.85 C 150.5 128.217 145.95 130.9 136.85 130.9 C 124.95 130.9 114.917 126.817 106.75 118.65 C 85.283 122.15 67.667 133 53.9 151.2 C 41.533 168.233 35.35 186.783 35.35 206.85 C 35.35 223.183 39.667 236.367 48.3 246.4 C 57.633 257.833 71.05 263.55 88.55 263.55 C 99.75 263.55 110.367 261.217 120.4 256.55 C 130.433 251.883 139.417 245.817 147.35 238.35 C 155.283 230.883 161.467 223.067 165.9 214.9 C 170.567 206.733 172.9 199.15 172.9 192.15 C 172.9 185.617 170.45 180.25 165.55 176.05 C 160.883 171.617 153.183 169.4 142.45 169.4 C 135.217 169.4 127.4 171.15 119 174.65 C 110.833 177.917 102.9 182.233 95.2 187.6 C 87.5 192.733 80.85 198.1 75.25 203.7 C 69.65 209.3 65.917 214.2 64.05 218.4 C 63.583 219.8 62.65 220.15 61.25 219.45 C 59.85 218.75 59.383 217.7 59.85 216.3 C 62.417 210.233 66.617 204.05 72.45 197.75 C 78.283 191.45 85.167 185.5 93.1 179.9 C 100.975 174.33 109.57 169.856 118.65 166.6 C 127.75 163.1 136.967 161.35 146.3 161.35 C 164.033 161.35 176.867 164.5 184.8 170.8 C 192.733 177.1 196.7 184.683 196.7 193.55 C 196.7 201.483 194.017 209.767 188.65 218.4 C 183.283 227.033 175.7 235.2 165.9 242.9 C 156.333 250.367 144.9 256.433 131.6 261.1 C 118.533 265.767 104.183 268.1 88.55 268.1 Z M 111.3 96.25 C 147.7 94.383 178.15 84.933 202.65 67.9 C 222.483 53.9 232.4 41.767 232.4 31.5 C 232.4 21 223.883 15.75 206.85 15.75 C 183.75 15.75 161.467 25.317 140 44.45 C 122.267 60.083 112.7 77.35 111.3 96.25 Z" fill="rgba(230, 230, 230, 0.88)" height="268.1px" id="Ncz7n32vr" width="240.45000000000002px"/></svg>)