How I Designed a User-Friendly Interface for Merge and Increased Sign-Ups by 20%
In six months, I designed an efficient and accessible UI for Merge's new mobile app, boosting sign-ups by 20%. It works by consolidating various cards into a single 'Merge' card, automatically selecting the most rewarding card for each transaction, and maximizing user benefits. Merge was acquired by Good-water Capital & DCM Ventures and turned into FlowGPT.
Year 2022
Duration 6 Months
Role UI Designer
Products iOS App
Made with Merge
Problem
Merge lacked a clear sign-up process for new customers, leading to low waitlist interest.
Explaining Merge's innovative product to potential customers was challenging. The goal was to design an onboarding interface that was unique, brand-consistent, and adaptable to various sub-brands. The existing sign-up form was cumbersome, leading to a lack of interest in the waitlist.
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A smooth onboarding experience for users was my goal.
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Solution
Creating a smooth onboarding experience that effortlessly introduces users to the unique feature of consolidating multiple credit cards into one.
I developed an intuitive interface for the Merge app, designed to streamline financial management for users. This feature consolidates multiple credit card transactions into one 'Merge' card, optimizing for maximum rewards. The focus was on creating a user-friendly, efficient, and visually appealing sign-up and sign-in process that aligned with Merge's innovative essence.
My sole responsibility was ensuring that our onboarding experience was optimized for simplicity.
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Barriers
My team and I tackled significant challenges, such as crafting a distinctive yet brand-cohesive interface adaptable across various sub-brands, focusing only on the onboarding experience, and developing a comprehensive design system.
Balancing Innovation with User-Friendliness: Crafting an interface that stood out in the fintech space while remaining accessible and intuitive for users managing multiple credit cards.
Time-Pressed MVP Development: Faced with the ambitious goal of launching a fully functional MVP in just four weeks, necessitating efficient and strategic project management.
Comprehensive Design System Creation: Constructing an entire design system from scratch to ensure consistency and scalability across the Merge platform.
My process
In the ideation phase, my team and I conducted thorough competitive audits, strategically developed wireframes, and closely collaborated with stakeholders to transform a basic spreadsheet into a dynamic and fully-functional onboarding experience.
Competitive Analysis and Research: Conducted thorough market research and competitive analysis to understand fintech trends and user needs.
Strategic Wireframe Development: Developed wireframes with a strategic vision, prioritizing user-centricity and clarity using tools like Figma and Sketch.
Collaborative Design Evolution: Worked in close collaboration with the creative and copy teams, iterating and refining for a seamless user experience.
Conducting user research and doing a competitive audit was the first step to truly understanding our audience’s wants and needs.
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Design System
Creating a design system is pivotal for ensuring consistency and scalability in the user interface of any application. For Merge, the design system acts as the DNA of the product's visual and interactive elements.
The design system included comprehensive guidelines for typography, color palette, and iconography. This system ensured scalability and flexibility, adapting to various sub-brands while maintaining Merge's core identity.
Results
The new onboarding experience led to a 20% increase in sign-ups, securing Series A funding and subsequent acquisition.
The smooth onboarding experience bridged the gap between user needs and financial management efficiency, leading to a successful MVP launch and strong market interest in the product.
Reflection
Although Merge was acquired, launching the app in dark mode would’ve been our next steps.
This project underscored the importance of empathetic design and balancing user needs with technical feasibility. Collaborating across time zones and disciplines, I honed my skills in agile methodology and teamwork, reinforcing my belief in UX/UI design as a powerful tool for solving real-world problems.
Providing users the option to go with a dark theme.
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