Simplifying student finance management
My role : UX/UI designer
Project type : App design
Team : 4 UX/UI design students
Status : Student project
Tools : Figma
Project overview
Background : The goal of the project was to develop, streamline, and modernize CSN’s mobile application in collaboration with users.
Problem :There is no informative and user-friendly app that meets modern standards or the needs of today’s students. There is a lack of an informative and user-friendly app that offers borrowers the essential tools to manage their tasks as students.
Solution : The solution is an improved mobile app with a clearer interface, better readability, and added features such as guidance on eligibility for financial aid, contact options, a budgeting tool and a monthly countdown all designed to help students manage their finances more easily.
The challenge
Does not meet modern standards or the expectations of today’s students.
Lacks an informative and user-friendly design.
Missing essential tools for managing student loans and study-related tasks.
Users find it difficult to navigate and complete basic tasks.
Selection of old design
Review of application
Design process
Future workshop
The first step in the design process was a future workshop.
Thematic analysis
The collected data was grouped to gather similar opinions from participants. The data were then translated into codes. The codes resulted in three themes with eleven associated items representing the participants' desires.
Requirements
Based on the thematic analysis, a requirements specification was compiled to clarify for both participants and designers which features and changes were to be implemented. In total, nine new functions would be implemented in the application to promote and facilitate use.
Paper prototype
Next, the requirement specification needed to be completed with sketches of the developed service to help visualize a potential end result
Wireframes
After the paper sketching was done, wireframes were created to visualize a potential final design.
Graphic profile
Furthermore, the app’s visual identity was updated. This was done because several of the project's users pointed out that the app's interface colors were boring and didn't match their desktop interfaces. The fonts were also chosen to be updated to convey a more modern touch.
Color palette
The updated color palette contained neutral colors such as light gray and white. These were the primary colors of the interface to avoid drawing focus from textual content. Purple and yellow accent colors were also added to give a playful, but at the same time a serious impression.
Typography
To improve readability and usability, two sans serif fonts were chosen to create a good readability. Different fonts and font weights were chosen to create a clear visual hierarchy.
Result
Contact options
Created contact options to enable users to reach out to CSN when needed.
Countdown to payment & budget tool
Created budgeting tools and a countdown to the next CSN payment to help users better manage their finances.
A more modern and user-friendly interface
Updated interface to satisfy users' wishes, improved readability, navigation, color combinations, fonts and font sizes.
Reflection of project
User involvement
A future focus would be to further develop the prototype collaboratively with participants, using additional methods such as user testing. The prototype would have benefited from further user evaluation to achieve a highly participatory design. Unfortunately, this was not possible due to the project’s time constraints. Additionally, the project scope was narrowed to ensure a thoroughly refined design outcome.
Broader target group
For future work, the research could focus on a broader range of target groups. One group not emphasized in this project is former CSN borrowers who are no longer studying but still have student loans to repay. Expanding the app’s development to include this group could make it more useful for a wider audience.
Thanks for watching!
Discover my other projects here
B2C E-commerce redesign for a premium interior brand
Intuitive UX design for sustainable clothing recycling
Strategic UX and brand design to drive customer growth
Let’s create something meaningful together!
Got an exciting project in mind? I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to reach out through any of the channels below.