Industry
Finance
Client
CareerFoundry
Service
UX Design
Date
March 2025
A UX case study focused on improving financial management through user-centered design
initial goal
problem
Content creators and gig workers with multiple income streams need an e-wallet that helps them track earnings, set savings goals, and manage finances across platforms because existing solutions lack the necessary features, leading to financial disorganization and missed opportunities.
opportunity
PlutoPay was designed to provide an intuitive, secure, and efficient way for users to track income, set savings goals, and streamline financial transaction.
how to better understand the user
User research will need to be conducted in the form of interviews, surveys, and competitor analysis to identify common frustrations and needs
initial user interview summaries
common themes found
user insights
Centralization: All three interviewees expressed a need for a consolidated financial platform to manage income from multiple sources, improving efficiency.
Income Tracking: All participants need a better system for tracking income, especially across different apps, to simplify budgeting, financial reporting, and taxes.
Adaptability: Interviewees are open to adopting new tools if they offer improved features, integration with existing platforms, and security, as demonstrated by their current frustrations with available solutions.
who are we designing for?
how will this app be used?
wireframes
Exploration of Ideas
low-fidelity
mid-fidelity
prototype test plan
Test 6 participants in person with varying levels of familiarity with financial planning apps, including first-time users and experienced users.
Assess the intuitiveness of core workflows, identify usability barriers that hinder task completion, gather qualitative feedback to improve user-centered design decisions, and enhance the app’s value for key personas
Measure task success rate, time on task, error rate, satisfaction ratings, and qualitative observations via transcribed recordings, gather qualitative feedback to improve user-centered design decisions and enhance the app’s value for key personas.
insights from user testing
1. Misinterpreted Menu Labels
Root Cause: Users expect a more direct, action-oriented term that clearly signifies the addition of financial entries
Suggested Change: Update menu labels to use clear, action-oriented language
2. Difficulty Navigating to the Budgeting Section
Root Cause: This misalignment with users’ mental models creates uncertainty about where to find essential financial management features
Suggested Change: Reorganize the navigation structure to place the budgeting section prominently on the home screen
3. Unclear Terminology and Naming Conventions
Root Cause: The terminology used in the app does not match users’ everyday language or expectations, leading to misinterpretation of key features
Suggested Change: Simplify terminology and include contextual help icons explaining financial terms.
final mockup
icon stroke weight
Ensured consistent stroke weight across all icons to unify the final design.
logo
Mascot has been included to make routine tasks more enjoyable, reduce cognitive load and make the user experience more memorable.
modified buttons
Updated dashboard buttons to differientiate action-oriented language user flows. Changed "income” to “income sources” to address pain points discovered in user testing.