SaveM
Reimagining Financial Wellness for Gen Z
Project Overview
The challenge -
Despite the availability of financial tools and educational resources, many young Canadians struggle with financial literacy, leading to anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and poor financial outcomes. The 2024 Financial Stress Index reveals that financial concerns remain the top stressor for Canadians, with a significant impact on their mental health and well-being.
The Solution -
aveM' integrates goal visualization, personalized guidance, and intervention nudges at critical decision points to empower users rather than simply tracking their financial activities. By meeting Gen Z where they are—both digitally and emotionally—Save M converts financial anxiety into financial confidence.
Our approach focuses on behavioral psychology, emo
My Role
Conducting background research and competitive analysis to ensure informed and user-centered design decisions.
Contributing ideas, facilitating brainstorming sessions, and asking critical questions to guide the creative process.
Designing high-fidelity wireframes quickly and efficiently.
Serving as the team’s go-to presenter for expert reviews and stakeholder check-ins, ensuring clear communication of design rationale.
Delivering a compelling final presentation that received enthusiastic feedback from industry professionals, showcasing my ability to articulate design concepts effectively.
The UXperience Design Jam was a designathon organized by the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, with sponsorship from Sun Life.
Context
24 hours
Duration
Figma, Figjam, Canva
Tools
6 other UX design students
My Team
Our Process
01
Define the problem
Desk research & Competitive analysis. We narrowed down our target users to Gen Z.
02
Our Solution
Brainstorm solutions. Create Low and High-fidelity wireframes.
03
Present
Presented our solution before experts from Sunlife
Problem Defination
31%
of Canadians don't pay off their full credit card balance each month.
42%
of Canadians say money is their leading source of stress in 2024.
"Only 7.1% of Canadian adults consider themselves 'very knowledgeable' financially."
Examined discussions on Reddit and customer reviews of financial applications.
Why is this a problem?
The User Personas
Persona #1: Ben Pierre, The Busy Professional
After processing this feedback, we moved forward with persona creation and developed the Ben persona.
However, the experts from SunLife recommended that we narrow our focus to a specific user group, as our original persona, Ben, was too broad. Despite having only a few hours to respond to this critique, we remained calm and adapted quickly.
I suggested shifting our focus to Gen Z, and the experts loved the idea!
Gen Z is more likely to feel stressed (42%), anxious (37%), and overwhelmed (31%) than any other generation when it comes to their financial situation (link).
Persona #2: Aaron Adams, The Aspiring Artist
To humanize these insights, we developed Aaron. Aaron is a recent marketing graduate navigating the challenges of financial independence while balancing his passion for music, travel, and shopping. Managing finances is especially challenging on his limited income.
To better understand the feasibility and impact of our idea, we explored Aaron's financial journey—his current "as-is" scenario.
Key Insights-
Money Stress is Real
70% worry about their finances, but only 30% actively track spending
Impulse Spending
65% struggle with overspending on food delivery and online shopping.
Gamification works
80% are motivated by progress tracking, challenges, and rewards.
Conversational UI is Key
Users want financial guidance that feels like chatting with a friend, not a lecture.
User Journey
We identified a recurring pattern where users experience highs upon receiving income, followed by discretionary spending, emergency expenses, financial anxiety, and ultimately resignation—creating a cycle of financial instability.
Each of us individually brainstormed ideas and then narrowed them down to the final features list.
Our Solution
Personalization, Learning & AI Chatbot
Gen Z engages and prefers fast, visually engaging content. SaveM' will simplify complex financial concepts through bite-sized, 60-second video explanations designed in the dynamic, scroll-friendly style of TikTok.
SaveM' will feature personalized dashboards and reward users with achievement badges, reinforcing positive financial habits.
"Financial Bestie" is an AI-powered assistant that uses natural language processing to facilitate casual, judgment-free conversations, offering guidance rather than rigid financial advice.
SaveM' will allow users to customize their experience by creating an avatar, selecting a mobile app theme, and adjusting the chatbot’s style and tone to match their preferences.
Easy Financial Goal Setting
A fun and flexible way to set financial goals that let users adjust their goals without pressure, reducing financial anxiety.e of TikTok.
Personalization, Learning & AI Chatbot
Gen Z engages and prefers fast, visually engaging content. SaveM' will simplify complex financial concepts through bite-sized, 60-second video explanations designed in the dynamic, scroll-friendly style of TikTok.
SaveM' will feature personalized dashboards and reward users with achievement badges, reinforcing positive financial habits.
"Financial Bestie" is an AI-powered assistant that uses natural language processing to facilitate casual, judgment-free conversations, offering guidance rather than rigid financial advice.
SaveM' will allow users to customize their experience by creating an avatar, selecting a mobile app theme, and adjusting the chatbot’s style and tone to match their preferences.
Learnings
The importance of Research
Research is the cornerstone of the design process. Thank god we were provided with a great research report by Sunlife. It was easier for us to dive into the needs of our users, understand the problem space, and pull this off in 13 hours!
Embracing the Challenge of Presenting
When the clock struck the final hour and we were called to the main hall for presentations, our team was still busy finalizing some screens. It was nerve-wracking to step up and present our work in front of the experts, but I decided to take on the challenge. Despite my initial fears, the presentation went exceptionally well, and it was a rewarding moment that boosted my confidence.
Diversity of Opinions is a Strength
Working with a design team for the first time on a design project, I realized the value of differing opinions. When multiple perspectives come together, the ideas are richer and more innovative. Although there were debates, it was exciting to see how these differences pushed us toward better solutions.
The Power of 13 Hours
The Designathon showed me how much can be accomplished in just 13 hours. From researching to ideating, prototyping, and finally presenting, our team was able to move through all the critical stages of design. It was a testament to the effectiveness of focused teamwork and time management.
My team and I at the designathon 😀
Project Overview
The challenge -
Despite the availability of financial tools and educational resources, many young Canadians struggle with financial literacy, leading to anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and poor financial outcomes. The 2024 Financial Stress Index reveals that financial concerns remain the top stressor for Canadians, with a significant impact on their mental health and well-being.
The Solution -
aveM' integrates goal visualization, personalized guidance, and intervention nudges at critical decision points to empower users rather than simply tracking their financial activities. By meeting Gen Z where they are—both digitally and emotionally—Save M converts financial anxiety into financial confidence.
Our approach focuses on behavioral psychology, emo
My Role
Conducting background research and competitive analysis to ensure informed and user-centered design decisions.
Contributing ideas, facilitating brainstorming sessions, and asking critical questions to guide the creative process.
Designing high-fidelity wireframes quickly and efficiently.
Serving as the team’s go-to presenter for expert reviews and stakeholder check-ins, ensuring clear communication of design rationale.
Delivering a compelling final presentation that received enthusiastic feedback from industry professionals, showcasing my ability to articulate design concepts effectively.
The UXperience Design Jam was a designathon organized by the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, with sponsorship from Sun Life.
Context
24 hours
Duration
Figma, Figjam, Canva
Tools
6 other UX design students
My Team
Our Process
01
Define the problem
Desk research & Competitive analysis. We narrowed down our target users to Gen Z.
02
Our Solution
Brainstorm solutions. Create Low and High-fidelity wireframes.
03
Present
Presented our solution before experts from Sunlife
Problem Defination
31%
of Canadians don't pay off their full credit card balance each month.
42%
of Canadians say money is their leading source of stress in 2024.
"Only 7.1% of Canadian adults consider themselves 'very knowledgeable' financially."
Examined discussions on Reddit and customer reviews of financial applications.
Why is this a problem?
The User Personas
Persona #1: Ben Pierre, The Busy Professional
After processing this feedback, we moved forward with persona creation and developed the Ben persona.
However, the experts from SunLife recommended that we narrow our focus to a specific user group, as our original persona, Ben, was too broad. Despite having only a few hours to respond to this critique, we remained calm and adapted quickly.
I suggested shifting our focus to Gen Z, and the experts loved the idea!
Gen Z is more likely to feel stressed (42%), anxious (37%), and overwhelmed (31%) than any other generation when it comes to their financial situation (link).
Persona #2: Aaron Adams, The Aspiring Artist
To humanize these insights, we developed Aaron. Aaron is a recent marketing graduate navigating the challenges of financial independence while balancing his passion for music, travel, and shopping. Managing finances is especially challenging on his limited income.
To better understand the feasibility and impact of our idea, we explored Aaron's financial journey—his current "as-is" scenario.
Key Insights-
Money Stress is Real
70% worry about their finances, but only 30% actively track spending
Impulse Spending
65% struggle with overspending on food delivery and online shopping.
Gamification works
80% are motivated by progress tracking, challenges, and rewards.
Conversational UI is Key
Users want financial guidance that feels like chatting with a friend, not a lecture.
User Journey
We identified a recurring pattern where users experience highs upon receiving income, followed by discretionary spending, emergency expenses, financial anxiety, and ultimately resignation—creating a cycle of financial instability.
Each of us individually brainstormed ideas and then narrowed them down to the final features list.
Our Solution
Personalization, Learning & AI Chatbot
Gen Z engages and prefers fast, visually engaging content. SaveM' will simplify complex financial concepts through bite-sized, 60-second video explanations designed in the dynamic, scroll-friendly style of TikTok.
SaveM' will feature personalized dashboards and reward users with achievement badges, reinforcing positive financial habits.
"Financial Bestie" is an AI-powered assistant that uses natural language processing to facilitate casual, judgment-free conversations, offering guidance rather than rigid financial advice.
SaveM' will allow users to customize their experience by creating an avatar, selecting a mobile app theme, and adjusting the chatbot’s style and tone to match their preferences.
Easy Financial Goal Setting
A fun and flexible way to set financial goals that let users adjust their goals without pressure, reducing financial anxiety.e of TikTok.
Personalization, Learning & AI Chatbot
Gen Z engages and prefers fast, visually engaging content. SaveM' will simplify complex financial concepts through bite-sized, 60-second video explanations designed in the dynamic, scroll-friendly style of TikTok.
SaveM' will feature personalized dashboards and reward users with achievement badges, reinforcing positive financial habits.
"Financial Bestie" is an AI-powered assistant that uses natural language processing to facilitate casual, judgment-free conversations, offering guidance rather than rigid financial advice.
SaveM' will allow users to customize their experience by creating an avatar, selecting a mobile app theme, and adjusting the chatbot’s style and tone to match their preferences.
Learnings
The importance of Research
Research is the cornerstone of the design process. Thank god we were provided with a great research report by Sunlife. It was easier for us to dive into the needs of our users, understand the problem space, and pull this off in 13 hours!
Embracing the Challenge of Presenting
When the clock struck the final hour and we were called to the main hall for presentations, our team was still busy finalizing some screens. It was nerve-wracking to step up and present our work in front of the experts, but I decided to take on the challenge. Despite my initial fears, the presentation went exceptionally well, and it was a rewarding moment that boosted my confidence.
Diversity of Opinions is a Strength
Working with a design team for the first time on a design project, I realized the value of differing opinions. When multiple perspectives come together, the ideas are richer and more innovative. Although there were debates, it was exciting to see how these differences pushed us toward better solutions.
The Power of 13 Hours
The Designathon showed me how much can be accomplished in just 13 hours. From researching to ideating, prototyping, and finally presenting, our team was able to move through all the critical stages of design. It was a testament to the effectiveness of focused teamwork and time management.
My team and I at the designathon 😀
Project Overview
The challenge -
Despite the availability of financial tools and educational resources, many young Canadians struggle with financial literacy, leading to anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and poor financial outcomes. The 2024 Financial Stress Index reveals that financial concerns remain the top stressor for Canadians, with a significant impact on their mental health and well-being.
The Solution -
aveM' integrates goal visualization, personalized guidance, and intervention nudges at critical decision points to empower users rather than simply tracking their financial activities. By meeting Gen Z where they are—both digitally and emotionally—Save M converts financial anxiety into financial confidence.
Our approach focuses on behavioral psychology, emo
My Role
Conducting background research and competitive analysis to ensure informed and user-centered design decisions.
Contributing ideas, facilitating brainstorming sessions, and asking critical questions to guide the creative process.
Designing high-fidelity wireframes quickly and efficiently.
Serving as the team’s go-to presenter for expert reviews and stakeholder check-ins, ensuring clear communication of design rationale.
Delivering a compelling final presentation that received enthusiastic feedback from industry professionals, showcasing my ability to articulate design concepts effectively.
The UXperience Design Jam was a designathon organized by the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, with sponsorship from Sun Life.
Context
24 hours
Duration
Figma, Figjam, Canva
Tools
6 other UX design students
My Team
Our Process
01
Define the problem
Desk research & Competitive analysis. We narrowed down our target users to Gen Z.
02
Our Solution
Brainstorm solutions. Create Low and High-fidelity wireframes.
03
Present
Presented our solution before experts from Sunlife
Problem Defination
31%
of Canadians don't pay off their full credit card balance each month.
42%
of Canadians say money is their leading source of stress in 2024.
"Only 7.1% of Canadian adults consider themselves 'very knowledgeable' financially."
Examined discussions on Reddit and customer reviews of financial applications.
Why is this a problem?
The User Personas
Persona #1: Ben Pierre, The Busy Professional
After processing this feedback, we moved forward with persona creation and developed the Ben persona.
However, the experts from SunLife recommended that we narrow our focus to a specific user group, as our original persona, Ben, was too broad. Despite having only a few hours to respond to this critique, we remained calm and adapted quickly.
I suggested shifting our focus to Gen Z, and the experts loved the idea!
Gen Z is more likely to feel stressed (42%), anxious (37%), and overwhelmed (31%) than any other generation when it comes to their financial situation (link).
Persona #2: Aaron Adams, The Aspiring Artist
To humanize these insights, we developed Aaron. Aaron is a recent marketing graduate navigating the challenges of financial independence while balancing his passion for music, travel, and shopping. Managing finances is especially challenging on his limited income.
To better understand the feasibility and impact of our idea, we explored Aaron's financial journey—his current "as-is" scenario.
Key Insights-
Money Stress is Real
70% worry about their finances, but only 30% actively track spending
Impulse Spending
65% struggle with overspending on food delivery and online shopping.
Gamification works
80% are motivated by progress tracking, challenges, and rewards.
Conversational UI is Key
Users want financial guidance that feels like chatting with a friend, not a lecture.
User Journey
We identified a recurring pattern where users experience highs upon receiving income, followed by discretionary spending, emergency expenses, financial anxiety, and ultimately resignation—creating a cycle of financial instability.
Each of us individually brainstormed ideas and then narrowed them down to the final features list.
Our Solution
Personalization, Learning & AI Chatbot
Gen Z engages and prefers fast, visually engaging content. SaveM' will simplify complex financial concepts through bite-sized, 60-second video explanations designed in the dynamic, scroll-friendly style of TikTok.
SaveM' will feature personalized dashboards and reward users with achievement badges, reinforcing positive financial habits.
"Financial Bestie" is an AI-powered assistant that uses natural language processing to facilitate casual, judgment-free conversations, offering guidance rather than rigid financial advice.
SaveM' will allow users to customize their experience by creating an avatar, selecting a mobile app theme, and adjusting the chatbot’s style and tone to match their preferences.
Easy Financial Goal Setting
A fun and flexible way to set financial goals that let users adjust their goals without pressure, reducing financial anxiety.e of TikTok.
Personalization, Learning & AI Chatbot
Gen Z engages and prefers fast, visually engaging content. SaveM' will simplify complex financial concepts through bite-sized, 60-second video explanations designed in the dynamic, scroll-friendly style of TikTok.
SaveM' will feature personalized dashboards and reward users with achievement badges, reinforcing positive financial habits.
"Financial Bestie" is an AI-powered assistant that uses natural language processing to facilitate casual, judgment-free conversations, offering guidance rather than rigid financial advice.
SaveM' will allow users to customize their experience by creating an avatar, selecting a mobile app theme, and adjusting the chatbot’s style and tone to match their preferences.
Learnings
The importance of Research
Research is the cornerstone of the design process. Thank god we were provided with a great research report by Sunlife. It was easier for us to dive into the needs of our users, understand the problem space, and pull this off in 13 hours!
Embracing the Challenge of Presenting
When the clock struck the final hour and we were called to the main hall for presentations, our team was still busy finalizing some screens. It was nerve-wracking to step up and present our work in front of the experts, but I decided to take on the challenge. Despite my initial fears, the presentation went exceptionally well, and it was a rewarding moment that boosted my confidence.
Diversity of Opinions is a Strength
Working with a design team for the first time on a design project, I realized the value of differing opinions. When multiple perspectives come together, the ideas are richer and more innovative. Although there were debates, it was exciting to see how these differences pushed us toward better solutions.
The Power of 13 Hours
The Designathon showed me how much can be accomplished in just 13 hours. From researching to ideating, prototyping, and finally presenting, our team was able to move through all the critical stages of design. It was a testament to the effectiveness of focused teamwork and time management.
My team and I at the designathon 😀
Got thoughts on design, or want to swap Spotify playlists over chai?
Send me a hello!
Got thoughts on design, or want to swap Spotify playlists over chai?
Send me a hello!
Got thoughts on design, or want to swap Spotify playlists over chai?