Bonsai Personal Finance
Management
Simplifies expense tracking, budget customization, and real-time sync for users of all levels. Seamlessly plan goals, focus on the future, and prepare for retirement while enhancing your net worth.
Project Overview
Challenge
Managing finances effectively can often be challenging and lead to disorganization, making it difficult to achieve financial goals.
Goal
The goal was to create an easy-to-use budgeting solution that fosters financial literacy and empowers people to achieve their financial goals with ease.
CATEGORY
Responsive
website and app for
budgeting
ROLE
UX/UI Designer
Researcher
TOOLS
Adobe Photoshop,
Figma
TIMELINE
3 weeks
Design Process
1
2
3
4
5
Empathise
Define
Ideate
Protoype
Test
User Research
To understand financial management challenges, I conducted surveys, interviews, and competitor analysis during user research. While I initially assumed that financial literacy was the primary issue, my research revealed that users also grappled with the complexity of existing budgeting tools and a lack of clarity in achieving their financial objectives. This informed my approach to prioritize simplicity and goal-oriented features in the design of our budgeting solution.
PAIN POINT #1
Automatic Transaction
Users find it tedious and time-consuming to manually input their transactions into budgeting tools, leading to inaccuracies and gaps in their financial records.
PAIN POINT #2
Simplicity
Existing budgeting tools often overwhelm users with complex features and interfaces, making it difficult to navigate and utilize effectively. This results in frustration and discouragement in managing finances.
PAIN POINT #3
Zero-Based Budgeting
Users find it challenging to allocate funds to specific categories due to limited guidance and tools in existing platforms, hindering their ability to prioritize spending and achieve financial goals.
PAIN POINT #4
Customizable
Users struggle to organize financial data across various categories and accounts due to limited customization options in existing tools, hindering their ability to tailor dashboards according to their preferences.
USER STORY
1. Decides to take control by recognizing financial challenges and exploring available options.
I conducted brainstorming sessions, analyzed data, and identified user needs to understand before solution development. Additionally, I created sketches and organized ideas for further clarity.
BRAINSTORM
SKETCHES
ORGANIZE
Here are some shots from the ideation phase, featuring brainstorming sessions, sketches, and organizational activities.
Ideation Overview
In the dynamic realm of budgeting apps and websites, the goal is to develop a standout solution that addresses evolving user needs. Through thorough research and competitive analysis, leading players such as EveryDollar, YNAB, Copilot, Monarch Money, Tiller, and Empower have been identified. Leveraging insights from these market leaders, the aim is to create a user-centric platform that combines automation, customization, and affordability to offer a superior budgeting experience.
Prototype Overview
In the prototype phase, I followed a structured process that began with site maps, user flows, and paper wireframes, evolving into digital wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes. Usability studies at each stage ensured alignment with user needs and feedback, resulting in a polished, user-centric final product.
During the wireframing process, I utilized brainstorming insights and user data analysis to create digital and paper sketches that laid the foundation for user-centered design solutions.
BRAINSTORM
ORGANIZE
Here are some wireframes, both in paper and digital format.
LO-FI PROTOTYPE
Dashboard
Search Bar
Offers a convenient method to quickly find specific features or financial records, enhancing usability.
Plan Overview
This section provides a quick snapshot of income, expenses, and goals, giving the user immediate insight into their financial health for the month.
Plan Net Worth Graph
A visual representation of the user’s net worth over time, which can motivate and inform the user about their financial growth or needs for adjustment.
Transactions List
Shows recent activity in a clear format, offering users the ability to monitor their daily financial movements at a glance.
Investments
Provides an overview of the user’s investments, which is crucial for keeping track of long-term financial planning and asset growth.
Expenses Donut Chart
A colorful and interactive breakdown of expenses by category. This visual tool helps users quickly grasp how they’re distributing their spending.
Goals Breakdown
Displays financial goals with progress bars, giving users a motivating overview of their savings targets, such as for a car, house, or retirement.
Customization Option
This feature empowers users to tailor the dashboard to their preferences, enhancing the personal value of the app.
Sidebar Menu
Allows easy navigation through various features like Accounts, Transactions, Investments, etc. It's streamlined, promoting efficient user flow throughout the app.
Usability Study
In the usability study of the budgeting app's lo-fi prototype, users were tasked with common financial activities to assess navigability, feature clarity, and data interpretation. Their interactions offered direct insights into the design's effectiveness and user satisfaction.
FINDING #1
Navigational Clarity Issue
Users struggled with navigation in the lo-fi prototype due to a lack of color and visual cues.
FINDING #2
Feature Definition Gap
Need for more distinct delineation of "Goals" and "Transactions" features in the lo-fi prototype.
FINDING #3
Graphical Representation Lack
Lack of visuals for essential data like net worth and expenses impeded financial comprehension in the lo-fi prototype.
LO-FI PROTOTYPE
Dashboard
Takeaways
Insights-driven design evolution
The project underscored how user feedback is more than just a checkpoint; it's a compass that guides the design evolution. Integrating usability study findings wasn't just about tweaking features; it was about rethinking the user interaction model to foster a more intuitive connection between the user and their financial data.
Sophisticated simplicity in data presentation
Advancements in the dashboard’s visual elements transcended aesthetic enhancements, embodying the principle of sophisticated simplicity. By distilling complex financial information into digestible visual formats, the design facilitated not only understanding but also empowered users to make informed financial decisions with confidence and clarity.
Harmonizing functionality across platforms
The project demonstrated that responsive design is not merely a technical requirement but a fundamental aspect of user experience strategy. Ensuring functional harmony and design consistency across various devices, the dashboard catered to the fluidity of modern digital interactions, acknowledging and adapting to the users' shifting contexts and constraints.