Finshark is a simulation game designed to help users develop their financial skills and build better money habits. The app offers users the opportunity to learn investment strategies, budgeting skills, and how to use credit wisely, among other things. Aim to solve the lack of financial literacy by creating an engaging, gamified platform that simplifies long-term investments and stock market strategies. My goal is to make financial education accessible, fun, and empowering for users..
Product manager,
Developer,
Stakeholders
UX Research,
Wireframe, Prototype
Mockups,
Design System
Testing
Figma
Miro
Photoshoop,
Slack, AfterEffects
MY ROLE
WORKED WITH
TOOLS
OVERVIEW
Many people struggle with financial literacy and lack the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about budgeting, saving, and investing. This results in poor financial habits, mounting debt, and missed opportunities for building wealth. The lack of access to reliable financial education and resources further exacerbates the problem, leaving people vulnerable to financial insecurity and hardship.
Problem
Goal
To design a Finshark game app that helps users improve their financial literacy and develop better money habits. The app should provide a fun and engaging way for users of all ages to learn about budgeting, saving, investing, and using credit wisely. Additionally, the app aims to help users visualize the impact of their financial decisions on their future and encourage them to develop long-term financial goals.
RESEARCH
DESIGN PROCESS
Empathy Mapping
User Persona
User Research
User Interview
SYNTHESIS
IDEATION
FINAL DESIGNS
REFLECTION
Developing solution
Prototype
Mockup design
Testing
Post design
RESEARCH
DESIGN PROCESS
Empathy Mapping
User Persona
User Research
User Interview
SYNTHESIS
IDEATION
FINAL DESIGNS
REFLECTION
Developing solution
Prototype
Mockup Designs
Testing
Post design
USER RESEARCH
To better understand the needs of potential users, research was conducted using surveys and interviews. The research revealed that users of all ages wanted an app that was easy to navigate, visually appealing, and interactive. They also wanted personalized learning options that catered to their individual learning styles.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Post-Level Insights: After completing each level, users receive personalized financial insights based on their gameplay, providing actionable tips and lessons tailored to their performance.
Gamified Learning: Combines engaging simulation-based gameplay with real-life financial scenarios to teach users about budgeting, investing, and credit management.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
For the Finshark app, I conducted comprehensive user research to understand the diverse needs, behaviors, and challenges faced by users when it comes to managing their finances. The research was designed to gather actionable insights and help tailor the app to meet the needs of its audience effectively.
I conducted surveys and in-depth interviews with potential users across different age groups. The goal was to explore their financial habits, challenges, and expectations from a gamified financial learning app like Finshark.
Struggle with budgeting and understanding credit; lack of engaging and interactive financial education resources.
Difficulty balancing immediate financial obligations (e.g., student loans, mortgages) with long-term investments
Lack of trust in digital tools, complex investment strategies, and understanding new financial trends like cryptocurrencies.
Gen-Z
(18-24)
Millennials
(25-40)
Gen -X
(41-56)
Observations:
EMAPATHY MAPPING
As part of the user research for the Finshark app, I conducted empathy mapping to better understand the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of users across different age groups. This process helped me uncover deeper insights into the motivations and pain points of potential users, ensuring that the app design is user-centric and aligns with their needs.
USER PERSONA
I created user personas to better understand the diverse needs, pain points, and motivations of Finshark's target audience across different age groups. This helps ensure the app provides tailored solutions and a user-centered experience.
Sunny T
Age: 21
Role: College Student
Pain-Points
Struggles to understand financial concepts like budgeting and credit.
Finds traditional financial tools boring and unengaging.
Nancy Roy
Sana Patel
Age: 32
Role: Marketing Manager
Pain-Points
Balances immediate expenses with saving for the future.
Overwhelmed by the complexity of investment options.
Age: 48
Role: Business Owner
Pain-Points
Feels unsure about retirement planning and investment risks.
Prefers reliable, simple financial tools but distrusts overly digital systems.
STYLE GUIDE
I have created a typography and color guide for the Finshark app to ensure consistency and enhance the overall user experience. The typography was carefully selected for readability and accessibility, while the color palette was designed to evoke trust and clarity, aligning with the app's goal of educating users on financial matters.
To enhance user engagement, we introduced two levels in the game, each catering to different levels of financial knowledge. The first level focuses on foundational financial concepts like distinguishing between "wants," "needs," and "savings," while the second level dives deeper into advanced topics such as credit scores and investment strategies.
Level 1
Level 2
FINAL UI SCREENS
MORE SCREENS
