Financial transparency can be a cornerstone of strong partnerships. The joint account feature allows couples and partners to collaborate on managing finances easily. This approach fosters open communication and shared goals, empowering users to build wealth together.
Revolutionizing personal and joint wealth management
Vested is an intuitive app that provides seamless personal and joint financial solutions such as financial budgeting, bill payments, savings, and investment. With a market-leading product assortment in a single easy-to-use platform, Vested enables its users to grow, manage and secure their wealth in personal and more connected ways.
Young individuals and couples in Nigeria are struggling to manage their finances. Despite various financial apps, they have to switch between multiple ones, making budgeting, saving, planning and investment difficult. This fragmentation creates a need for a single platform to simplify money management and empower them to achieve financial freedom.
In 2020, amidst the pandemic, I joined Vested as the product design lead with the cross functional team Anothy Oparah (Product Designer ), Oyinlola (Product Designer ), Funminiyi Balogun (Product Manager ) , Oyinlola , Chidera , Emeka ( Head of engineering ) and 6 other developers.I concentrated on promoting collaboration, establishing transparent processes, shaping the strategy, and supervising user research and design system implementation.
The design sprint revealed critical insights, resulting in a wireframed MVP backed by usability tests. This proof of concept aligns with our strategic goals and enhances the initial idea with validated user feedback.
Our research revealed a surprising insight: the core idea of messaging was underutilized by users. Additionally, we found that the flow of budgeting was confusing. We sought to understand several key aspects to improve the user experience:
- How is the flow of budgeting currently perceived?
- What are users’ perceptions of the budgeting feature?
- How do users set up a budgeting item?
- How is the partnership commitment feature utilized?
We spoke with 10 individuals, and interestingly, couples indicated a preference for the husband to manage finances.
The research revealed a potential barrier to investment among the interviewed couples. Four out of seven couples cited fear of losing money.
To streamline communication with stakeholders and pave the way for a successful MVP launch, I utilized user flow diagrams. This clear visualization approach ensured stakeholder alignment and facilitated efficient development.
Based on the feedback, we pivoted into the four key features to simplify money management: saving, investing, bill payments, and transfers. By integrating these functionalities into a single platform, we empower users to effortlessly plan, track, and achieve their financial goals.
Recipients of invitations can respond securely with a 4-digit PIN for transactions. If declining a request, they can provide short feedback to inform their partner of the reason.
High-yield accounts accelerate rainy-day fund growth, adapting rates for market conditions, ensuring value. Collaborative features empower inclusive investing, saving, and expenditure approvals, reducing isolation and fostering financial transparency.
The project achieved significant impact with over 10k downloads across both Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Additionally, it empowered two designers, contributing to their professional growth and development within the team.
10k+
Apple and PlayStore download
2k+
Active users
- Pre-Workshop Knowledge is Power: Don’t jump into workshops blind! Developing a foundational understanding of the problem beforehand optimizes workshop efficiency.
- Preparation is Key: Effective workshops require dedicated time for preparation. Allocate sufficient resources to ensure a productive session for all participants.
- Early User Testing Makes a Difference: Integrate user testing early in the design process. This allows for rapid iteration and ensures solutions align with user needs.
- Content First Approach: Content strategy is the bedrock of any UX project. Prioritizing content creation fosters clear information architecture and a well-defined user experience.
- Building Trust is Essential: Foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels valued. Trusting team members and leveraging their expertise leads to successful project outcomes
A huge thanks to everyone involved in the process from getting to go. In particular, I’d like to thank Anothy Oparah (Product Desginer ) , Funminiyi Balogun ( Product Manager ) , Oyinlola ( Product Designer ), Chidera , Obi Igwe , Emeka (Head of Engineering )
User needs are at the heart of my design philosophy. Let’s chat about crafting experiences that not only meet user expectations but also set your product apart.