Nusenda
I redesigned my bank’s mobile app, envisioning a more intuitive and frictionless experience.
My final concept imagined a mobile-first design that improved upon navigation, feature finding, and aesthetics.
This project originated from personal difficulties — I enjoyed the app’s functionality, but I felt frustrated with its design, struggling to navigate the app or understand the full extent of its features.
Although this was a personal project, I wanted to back it with research, so I pored over App Store reviews of Nusenda and popular banking apps. Additionally, I met with people I knew to discuss their experiences with banking apps.
During this research, I repeatedly encountered difficulties with navigation or feature discovery, an issue I could completely address through design.
This defined the redesign's objective:
To explore potential solutions, I had to fully understand the app’s functionality. I mapped out every feature/page in the app, then explored how they might be contextually grouped.
I sketched lo-fi concepts for each page, balancing visual simplicity and feature visibility.
As I created hi-fi mockups in Figma, I would create a multitude of variations, taking the time to thoughtfully evaluate the range of possibilities side-by-side and thoughtfully choose each detail.
This wasn't just to create a prettier app — these details were selected to facilitate easier navigation and content scanning in line with the project's objectives.
My final design centered around a three-tabbed navigation system, replacing the existing hamburger menu. The tabs, Accounts, Support, and Profile, encompass the three primary contexts in which a user may use the app.
Large buttons provide easy touch targets and clear signifiers of functionality. Essential information is prioritized, with details being one tap away. Icons allow for easier identification and categorization of transactions.
The Support tab centralizes any resources a user may need to resolve banking issues, featuring large buttons that make each option straightforward.
I gave myself set deadlines to ensure a finished product amidst the demands of work and school, and as a result, have several areas of improvement in mind to further this concept.
Branding
This concept utilizes the iOS design system created by Apple, an option that's familiar and easy to use. However, I recognize that apps and, more importantly, the companies behind them warrant a unique brand identity. I would love to imagine one for Nusenda that could give the app a unique character while still feeling at home on iOS.
Usability Improvements
Usability is paramount with services as important as banking. While the design follows Apple’s iOS design language, I have not thoroughly evaluated its compliance with all their Human Interface Guidelines. Doing so could further strengthen accessibility and usability.
User Research
My initial research was knowingly limited, so I would love to expand its scope and truly understand users’ needs and experiences. Additionally, I’d like to share the prototype with users of the Nusenda app to gain their feedback and improve upon its design.
