Were you ever charged for something, just because you forgot to cancel in time? How about overdraft fees?
Forbes says that more than 40% of consumers have experienced unplanned financial consequences due to dark patterns.
Now imagine never having to worry aboutthat again. Meet PlutoPay, your ultimate banking companion designed to expose hidden fees and dark patterns in banking.
Let me break down to you how I designed this project from initial research to high-fidelity prototypes.
The financial world can be a tricky place, often cluttered with hidden fees and dark patterns that catch users off guard. Traditional banking apps tend to lack transparency, leaving users frustrated with unexpected charges. On top of that, managing expenses, setting budgets, and handling peer-to-peer transactions can be a real headache. PlutoPay was created to tackle these pain points head-on, offering a user-centric, transparent, and intuitive banking experience.
Understanding the competitive landscape was crucial. We analyzed what’s already available, such as PayPal and Venmo, which offer secure money transfers but have their own share of needlessly complex user interfaces and fees. This competitive analysis helped us identify gaps in the market that PlutoPay could fill.
Based on the competitive analysis I gathered insights from user interviews and feedback sessions. This data was synthesized into affinity maps, which highlighted common user frustrations and needs. I then created detailed personas to represent our target users. For instance, one persona was a young professional who was new to managing their own money.
We also realized that a core demographic for PlutoPay would be expats and non-native English speakers. That’s why, moving forward we paid particular attention to simple and easy to understand language.
Ideate
Using the information gathered, I mapped out user journeys and created low-fidelity prototypes. To understand how users naturally organize information, I conducted a card sorting session. Participants categorized tasks into intuitive groups, and I used a similarity matrix to visualize these relationships. With the help of a dendrogram, showcasinf the consensus among participants, I created a first sitemap.
I transformed the user flows first into wireframes, then into mid-fidelity prototypes, focusing on minimizing the number of screens while ensuring all necessary features were accessible. Early user feedback indicated the navigation icons were unclear, so I added labels and standardized icon sizes for better clarity.
Once I had a working mid fidelity, clickable prototype I started my first round of User Testing. The budgeting fuction was streamlined based on feedback, evolving from broad sections into a more intuitive flow. Participants also pointed out issues like the oversized balance card, which I resized for better visual balance.
Overall, users appreciated the simple and clear design, particularly praising the straightforward payment process.
User testing revealed that navigation icons were unclear, so I added labels and ensured consistent sizing. This improved usability significantly. I also developed a comprehensive design language system, including fonts, colors, logos, and other visual elements to ensure consistency. The color palette ranged from creamy ivory to dark neutral grey, with a grounded yellow accent to evoke warmth and trust, tying back to the PlutoPay logo for increased memorability.
The final product was a sleek, user-friendly banking app that put users in control. Specific metrics showed a 20% increase in user satisfaction and a 30% reduction in navigation confusion. Feedback from further testing confirmed that PlutoPay made managing finances simpler and more transparent.
Working on PlutoPay was an incredible journey filled with learning and innovation. By focusing on user needs and iterating based on feedback, we created a user-friendly, powerful banking companion. This project enhanced my approach to UX and visual design, and I’m excited to apply these insights to future projects.
Thanks for joining me on this journey! Stay tuned for more insights and behind-the-scenes looks at my work. If you have any questions or want to discuss design, feel free to reach out. Let’s create something amazing together!
