Joint Account
This case study outlines my process of designing a concept for the "Joint Account" product of Alfa Bank as part of an online course in the UX/UI Design: User Interface Design program.
My role
Product Designer, Student
Team
Product Designers, Mentors
Timeline
2023 (4 months)
Overview
In 2023, I completed a training program at one of the best online design schools, Bang Bang Education, in the UX/UI Design: User Interfaces program. For four months, I worked in a team of designers and solved a product-related task.
I completed the full product development cycle of a feature within a product, from defining the task to the final prototype.
Goal
To design the "Joint Account" interface within four months for online banking users and develop usage scenarios for the new product.
The Challenge
Designed a product concept while leading a team of two designers without product experience, aiming to solidify my knowledge and understand how products are developed in large companies. Managed the project, organized meetings, prepared presentations, supported teammates, and defended my part of work before industry experts.
My responsibilities
Together with the team, I conducted a competitor analysis, a briefing with a representative from Alfa Bank, user interviews with 4 participants, data analysis, identified user pain points, formulated and prioritized hypotheses for solving the issues, and created a scenario for the "Joint Account" product.
After selecting the scenarios, I designed a User Flow and divided tasks within the team for step-by-step interface development. I performed sketching, wireframing, and prototyping, followed by testing our solutions and creating high-fidelity prototypes. Finally, I presented and defended our works.
UX Research
For a month, I researched the FinTech sector in the field of joint accounts. I conducted market and competitor analysis, formulated a list of hypotheses, and prioritized them. Additionally, I conducted in-depth interviews with four users to gather insights.
UX research in FigJam
First, I analyzed our brief and created a table outlining the purpose of the joint account from both the user’s and the business’s perspectives.
For business
An increase in online banking visits due to the creation of new touchpoints between the business and users
Enriching the customer behavioral segmentation model
...
For users
The joint account helps to quickly and conveniently distribute finances among family members
The joint account helps to control total spending
...
Examples of the purpose of the joint account
I created a comparative table for five direct competitors that already had a similar product. This analysis allowed us to identify user pain points and outline the approximate functionality for our product.
Competitor analysis table
We conducted interviews with 12 users. Our respondents were married couples who managed a family budget. Using my social networks, I found 4 respondents and conducted interviews with them. I asked open-ended questions and created a table with their responses.
This method proved effective because it helped generate important and useful insights, as well as identify the pain points of users managing a shared budget.
Lack of transparency in family relationships
The problem with paying shared services
There are common mandatory expenses, so a shared budget is needed in the digital space
The problem with overall expense tracking in banks is that there are no personal category settings
The issue of financial literacy
Problem with uncontrolled spending
User pain points
After these stages, my team and I held a workshop to generate ideas for our product and came up with three scenarios to address some of the issues.
Adding participants to the joint account
Expense and income analytics
Upcoming payments
Scenarios for interface design
I chose the Upcoming Payments scenario. This scenario addresses the user problem of timely payment of mandatory expenses and scheduled fund transfers between joint account participants. It helps users plan the operation once and not worry about forgetting to pay bills, such as utilities, or transferring money to their child. As a result, I created a User Flow diagram for clarity.
User flow for “Upcoming payment” scenario
UI Design
When designing the interface, we focused on the web format because this requirement was specified in the brief. Before starting the design process, I prepared a reference base.
During the interface design process, I performed sketching, wireframing, wireframe testing, and prototype creation in Figma. As a result, I developed high-fidelity prototypes, which were later tested by my classmates.
The real interface of an online bank in 2023
Wireframing
I redesigned the existing interface by reducing the number of colors and grouping interface sections while keeping the previous layout. The empty space in the bottom right corner is reserved for the scenario created by my teammate.
A concept for a new online banking interface
Below is the prototype of the Payment feature in the Upcoming Payments scenario.
Prototype of the Transfers feature in the Upcoming Payments scenario.
I also showcase the Transfers feature, which allows users to execute and schedule transactions within the banking system.
Prototype of the Payments feature in the Upcoming Payments scenario.
Results
In this project, I went through the entire product development cycle for a feature. I conducted research, identified pain points and problems, generated feature ideas, and implemented my chosen scenario using a prototype in Figma.
Conducted market and competitor analysis, gaining valuable insights.
UX Research
Interviewed four users and identified their pain points.
UX Research
Prioritized hypotheses and focused on three key features most valuable to users.
UX Research
Created a Customer Journey Map (CJM).
UX Research
Selected the Upcoming Payments scenario, developed wireframes, and tested them.
UX Design
Developed a layout system, finalized the UI kit, and designed high-fidelity prototypes for the Upcoming Payments scenario.
UI Design
vlad milovskii
digital designer.
focused on product design with a user-centric approach and attention to visual details.
I have experience working at the design agency embacy and product development experience as an engineer.
for the full interaction experience, please use a computer. I will be adapting the design for mobile devices soon.