Pearl
Card-driven saving, insightful, strategic, collectible
Role
Sole Product Designer
Timeline
3 weeks (responsive web, end-to-end)
Tools
Figma · Adobe CC
Project
CareerFoundry Money-saving tool brief
Challenge
Create a platform that teaches money saving strategies based on spending habits.
Target
Goal-oriented young adults who abandon finance apps when charts and data feel abstract.
Solution
A savings app that actually motivates users to save. Track spending through collectible cards, unlock rewards for hitting goals, and get strategies tailored to their biggest money drains.
Instant spending clarity
Every tester found their mock "biggest spending category" within seconds.
"It's actually fun"
What testers said about saving money for the first time.
"I wish this was real"
The response from 4 out of 5 testers.
n = 5 usability participants
The gap
The brief asked for a money-saving tool. But every finance app looks the same with charts, intimidating graphs, zero personality. Meanwhile, I kept telling myself "it's just a couple dollars more" every time I overspent, never realizing how quickly it added up.
What if saving money was actually fun? What if people looked forward to checking their spending? What if finance apps sparked joy instead of dread?
Before → After
😰 Anxious → 😊 Excited
😴 Bored → 🎯 Motivated
😤 Frustrated → 💪 Empowered
🙈 Avoidant → 🤩 Engaged
Three pivotal moves
Goal Cards
Milestone cards that turn abstract goals into tangible rewards. Testers said they'd save just to see what cards they could collect next.
Challenge Cards
Spending boss battles. One tester laughed: "So I literally fight my coffee addiction?" Yes. Yes you do.
Strategy Cards
Bite-sized tips matched to users specific spending patterns. Not just generic advice, but what works for their wallets.
Steps
Focus
Outcome
1
Landscape & user stories
Key pain points mapped
2
Paper & low-fid card decks
Validated card metaphor
3
Mid-fid mobile test - 5 testers
Task success hit 80 %
4
Hi-fid + desktop hand-off
Task success climbed to 86 %, brand + UI locked.
Learnings
Money ≠ one-number
Gamification and emotional design made testers excited about saving. One said: "I'd actually look forward to checking my spending."
First attempt failed
My retro 90s design was... not it. Mentor feedback led to sophisticated illustrations that appeal to more adults.
Next up
Animate the cards with Rive. Imagine unlocking a Paris savings goal and watching the Eiffel Tower card come to life. That's the future of finance apps.
Why This Matters
Finance apps treat money like math. But money is emotional. It's dreams, fears, and that voice saying "just a couple dollars more."
Pearl treats saving like what it really is: boss battles against your spending habits, with beautiful rewards for winning. Because everyone deserves a finance app that sparks joy, not dread.
This student project proved people want more than spreadsheets. They want to feel proud of saving, not punished for spending.
© 2025 by IvanAtlas