Duration
3 months
My role
As the UX Designer, I led the project from conceptualization to high-fidelity prototyping. My responsibilities included user research, journey mapping, wireframing, and usability testing, ensuring that user needs and behaviors guided each design decision.
Context
With nearly half of those facing debt in the UK also experiencing mental health struggles, the need for integrated financial and emotional well-being solutions is critical. Wellth was conceived to meet this need, supporting users with mindful financial management and tools to monitor and improve their mental health.
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Problem
Millions face the emotional strain of financial instability, worsening anxiety and depression. Current apps fail to address this fully, focusing only on either financials or mental health, leaving users without a holistic solution for managing financial stress.
Task
To create an intuitive, user-centered platform that seamlessly combines financial management tools with emotional well-being support, empowering users to make balanced and informed financial decisions while mitigating stress triggers.
Solution
Wellth offers a new, integrated approach to financial management, combining budgeting tools, emotional tracking, and mindfulness prompts. This allows users to manage their finances more mindfully and improve their overall well-being.
Understanding the emotional and financial needs of users
In today's world, financial management isn’t just about budgeting; it directly impacts mental health. According to recent studies, over 24 million adults in the UK report low confidence in managing money, with more than 1.5 million individuals experiencing both debt and mental health challenges. Nearly 46% of people facing debt struggle with mental health issues, a statistic that underscores the need for tools that bridge both financial and emotional support
We began our primary research by conducting user interviews with 6 participants and surveys with more than 50 participants across a diverse demographic to understand the emotional toll financial management takes on users. Key findings included:
3 weeks
This phase clarified that users needed a unified tool addressing both financial and emotional needs. Empathy maps, personas, user journey maps, narrative scenarios, POV statements, and user stories were created to capture user needs and guide the design process, ensuring a user-centered framework for solutions.
2 weeks
By analyzing existing financial and mental health tools like YNAB, Monzo, and Headspace, we identified gaps and combined best practices for usability. Using ideation HMW & rapid idea generation techniques, we developed unique features including spending cool-downs, emotional check-ins, and personalized financial insights.
1 week
Ideation
HMW questions
Rapid idea generation
We created low-fidelity prototypes to test layouts, advancing to high-fidelity designs with interactive elements and a cohesive style guide.
3 weeks
Using Five Act Interviews with six participants, we evaluated usability, refining features like navigation and emotional prompts based on feedback.
2 weeks
We then finalized the prototype, documenting design rationale and integrating insights for potential development, laying the groundwork for future implementation.
1 week
Satoshi, a clean and modern sans-serif typeface, was chosen for its readability, versatility, and approachable design. Its soft, balanced details evoke calmness, perfectly aligning with Wellth’s mission to reduce financial stress and promote emotional well-being.
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The onboarding flow introduces users to the app’s purpose in three simple screens: balancing finances and emotions, tracking habits and moods, and achieving mindful goals. It creates an immediate sense of clarity and support while building curiosity about the app’s unique features. For returning users, the login screen emphasizes security with options like email, Google, or social logins.
First-time users experience a smooth registration process, followed by a tailored setup where they enter their income, expenses, savings goals, and emotional well-being metrics. Tips and prompts ensure they feel guided and supported from the start.
Gathering feedback through usability testing
The Wellth app underwent a Five Act Interview testing process with six participants to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of its prototype. This qualitative testing provided insights into user interactions and identified areas for refinement. This testing revealed key insights:
Ease of Use: 5 out of 6 participants found the app intuitive and easy to navigate, with minimal guidance required.
Emotional Check-ins: 4 participants appreciated the emotional tracking feature but suggested making prompts more customizable to better suit individual needs.
Mindfulness Prompts: 3 participants found the spending cool-down feature helpful in reconsidering impulsive purchases, while others wanted more context-specific reminders.
Educational Resources: Participants valued the financial literacy resources, though they suggested including more bite-sized, actionable content.
Overall Feedback: All participants appreciated the integration of financial and emotional features, describing it as a “unique” and “needed” approach to money management.
Based on Prototype Testing
Given more time, Wellth could expand with:
Investment Tracking
Helping users integrate long-term financial goals.
Multi-User Functionality
Adding shared budgets for couples or families.
Advanced Emotional Analytics
Using AI to provide deeper insights into the emotional aspects of financial decisions.