App Redesign
Nusenda
Inspiration
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. I wanted to address common issues through both heuristic and context-specific changes.
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. I knew this would be a limited dataset, but the problems mentioned in reviews are still real issues that users have faced. Additionally, I met with people I knew to discuss their experiences, whether with Nusenda or another banking app.
During this research, I repeatedly encountered difficulties with navigation or feature discovery, and unlike some other issues, this was one I could completely address through design.
How might we design a mobile banking app that mirrors users' mental models of the information, improving feature visibility and successful task completion?
Ideation
To explore potential solutions, I had to first understand the extent of the app’s functionality. I mapped out every feature/page I could find in the app, then began to group them and imagine how they might be contextually arranged.
I sketched lo-fi concepts of how main pages might look, imagining different ways to combine visual appeal with ease of use.
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.
Implementation
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.
Next Steps
I gave myself set deadlines to ensure a finished product amidst the demands of work and school, and as a result, have identified several areas of improvement to further this concept.
Branding
This concept utilizes the iOS design system created by Apple, an option that feels 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 Nusenda that could give the app a unique character while still feeling at home on iOS.
Thorough Evaluation
While the design employs Apple’s iOS components and has the familiar interface of an iPhone app, I have not thoroughly evaluated its compliance with all of Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. Doing so could further strenghten accessibility and usability.
User Feedback
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.