NextStep Finance
An app that empowers users to confidently explore and understand personal loans through a seamless, user-friendly experience.
ROLE
DURATION
READ TIME
UX/UI Designer, Branding
5 1/2 weeks
15 minutes
Young adults seeking personal loans often feel overwhelmed by unclear, inaccessible information.
The Problem
They want to make smart financial choices but struggle to understand loan costs due to confusing terms and repayment details.
Empower young people to make smarter financial decisions through clear, intuitive loan experiences that simplify complex terms and build trust, clarity, and confidence.
The Solution
The Outcome
100%
Task success rate
Task 1
All users easily found and understood the loan breakdown, showing a clear, intuitive hierarchy.
100%
Task success rate
Task 2
Users easily compared loan offers, showing the interface effectively supports informed decisions.
100%
Task success rate
Task 3
All users easily checked eligibility, showing the flow’s clarity and accessibility.
Research Methods
Moderated Video Interviews
I organized a tree testing study to assess navigation clarity, identifying pain points in content hierarchy and labeling.
Tree Testing
I carried out remote usability testing to evaluate task completion, efficiency (time and clicks), and user sentiment.
Prototype Testing
I conducted Google Meet interviews to uncover user challenges and behaviour patterns related to Personal Loan tasks.
Addressing inconsistent UX, limited personalization and restricted lender options
Competitive Analysis
User-friendly sites help Quebec residents easily compare personal loan options with clear tools and information.
Key Findings
Strong focus on education and comparisons
Offers speed and simplicity
Limited personalization and few direct lenders
Inconsistent user experience across platforms & lacks flexibility
To understand user needs, I interviewed five online banking users (ages 18–35) with varying experience in personal loans.
User Interviews
Conducted remotely via Google Meet, the sessions aimed to uncover behaviours, needs, and pain points in navigating loan platforms.
Transparency
Users prioritize clear, upfront loan details—total cost, interest, payments, and timelines—to build trust through transparency.
Pre-Research
Users prefer self-guided research and value tools that help them explore loan options independently before contacting a bank.
Eligibility Requirements
Users want to see basic eligibility criteria upfront to avoid applying for loans they don’t qualify for.
Educational Guidance
Users value tips, warnings, and clear explanations of terms—especially around credit impact and long-term consequences.
Loan Comparison Tools
Users value loan comparison tools but want clear assurance that using them won’t affect their credit score.
Highlighting Information
Users want key details—like rates and terms—clearly visible, not buried in fine print.
Insights from tree testing
Most users completed tasks successfully during tree testing
Proving that the app’s content structure and category grouping (taxonomy) are clear and easy to navigate.
Next Steps
Refine Navigation
Improve layout and element placement to reduce friction and streamline user flows.
Enhance Feature Access
Adjust wireframes to make key features easier to find and use.
I created a user flow to visualize how users interact with online banking services, focusing on personal loans.
Defining the User flows
This ensured all key screens were accounted for and guided the structure of my wireframes to support a smooth, task-oriented experience.
I created a user flow to visualize how users interact with online banking services, focusing on personal loans.
Design Guide
Solution
Wireframes
I created wireframes to define the app’s layout, focusing on key features and intuitive user flows.
Observations
80%
Navigation Confusion
Most users found the navigation bar unclear and often tried to access their profile from the bottom nav, following common mobile app patterns.
70%
Comparison Tool Visibility
Most users couldn’t find the comparison tool and used the calculator instead, showing it needs clearer labeling or better visibility.
90%
Progress Bar Expectations
Most users expected the progress bar to show both amount paid and remaining balance, highlighting the need for clearer visual feedback.
Prototype with Iterations
Solution
I made some refinements after testing my wireframe.
Built-in Comparison Tool
Merged into the calculator page for seamless decision-making.
Expanded Navigation
Added a loan types section for easier discovery.
Faster Eligibility Access
Direct buttons now lead to the eligibility and application pages.
Smarter Progress Bar
Now shows both amount paid and remaining balance.
Sharper Visual Hierarchy
Key info stands out for quicker understanding.
Solution
Prototype
I made some refinements after testing my prototype.
Comparison Tool, Integrated
Now part of the calculator for easier decisions.
Eligibility, One Tap Away
Direct links to eligibility and application.
Navigation, Expanded
Displays both paid and remaining balance.
Progress Bar, Clearer
Loan types added for quicker access.
Info, Prioritized
Layout refined to highlight what matters most.
Design Impacts
Usability testing
Users confirmed that core features ( loan breakdown, offer comparison, and eligibility check) were intuitive and easy to navigate.
Minimal friction
Users completed all tasks with minimal friction, showing the design and information architecture effectively support key goals.
The results
These results validate the design direction while revealing opportunities to further improve clarity, accessibility, and efficiency.