Leading UX design for mobile-first payment experience
80% of U.S. workers live paycheck to paycheck, and 1 in 4 don’t set aside monthly savings. Our clients were either using third-party instant pay vendors or offering nothing at all. We built instant payment features directly into our app, giving users fast access to earned wages.
As the lead designer, I focused on mobile UX, sketching, prototyping, and visual design. The product now processes over 2 million transactions annually.
My role
- Led visual and interaction design for the mobile experience
- Created prototypes, moodboards, and visual direction
- Partnered with engineers to refine design in code
- Helped shape admin configuration for the desktop app
Goal #1
Create an intuitive and seamless payment experience
Goal #2
Make sure the solution met both business and user needs
Goal #3
Push for design consistency across mobile
Discovery & research
I started with visual moodboards and competitive research to align on both tone and functionality. This helped us find a visual direction that balanced fintech expectations with our mobile app’s design language.
Sketching & exploration
Requirements shifted frequently and early wireframes surfaced edge cases we hadn’t planned for. I explored layout and pattern options through light sketching to uncover gaps and push core flows further.
Concept development
I pushed visual and interaction design within our system constraints. While we couldn’t redesign everything, I found opportunities to improve layout and flow. I tested alternate interaction patterns like sliders and radio selectors to keep the experience simple and engaging.
Stakeholder alignment
This was a high-visibility feature with close exec involvement. I incorporated feedback and ran small usability checks to validate key interactions. The process helped align visual tone with product strategy.
Configuration and settings
Admins needed control over employee access, transaction limits, and service defaults. We designed a clear and scalable configuration experience on desktop. Language, logic, and toggle behavior were iterated on to meet client needs.
Outcomes & impact
We launched On Demand Pay inside our main app and rolled it out to 26 clients in the first year. Transaction volume hit $4.2M, with an average of $179 per transaction. The majority of users were hourly employees. The success confirmed the value of embedded fintech and supported future investment in mobile.
