SaveUp Mobile App
I designed the SaveUp mobile app as part of my coursework for the Google UX Design Professional Certificate. This project was a hands-on learning experience that allowed me to apply new UX concepts and skills in real time as I advanced through the course.
The challenge
As part of the course, I was given a list of design challenges to choose from. I selected the following:
Design an app that helps friend or family groups manage a household budget and save up for a common goal (such as a vacation).
Saving money can be challenging on its own, but saving as a group adds even more complexity. Conversations about money can be uncomfortable, and coordinating multiple people requires organization and transparency. My goal was to design an app that simplifies group savings, making it easier for friends and family to set goals, track contributions, and stay motivated together.
My role
UX Researcher
Interaction Designer
UI Designer
UX Writer
Since this project was part of my coursework, I handled the entire design process from start to finish. This included conducting user research, designing the app’s structure and interactions, and refining the UI with thoughtful choices in color, typography, and overall visual design.
Foundational Research
The course provided a set of fictional user profiles, which served as the foundation for my research. Using empathy exercises, I analyzed these profiles to better understand user needs, motivations, and pain points. This process led to the creation of the following empathy maps and user personas.
- "We roughly calculated once how many months it would take to gather such a sum, but it is a prediction very far in the future and it may not be entirely accurate"
- "We have the Excel sheet with all the calculations and predicted goal reach date saved somewhere but I haven’t looked at it for some time."
- "I’ve already forgotten the predicted date when we would have the money for the apartment."
- "Once a month we have to review our savings which can be a lengthy process"
- Distrusts his expense calculations, doesn’t think they’re accurate anymore
- Doubts if they’ll ever reach their goal
- Already forgotten the predicted goal reach date
- Doesn’t like the process of monthly expense analysis
- Enrolled in a bootcamp to get a better-paying job
- Tries to save money on food, transportation, vacation etc.
- Made an excel sheet with expense calculations and predicted goal reach date
- Every month (after paycheck) he and his boyfriend review savings in their bank accounts using a bank app feature which shows how much money you have this month compared to previous months
- Then they transfer saved money to separate savings accounts and compare the saved sum with the goal sum, often using a calculator
- Discouraged and lacking motivation
- Doubtful about reaching their goal
- Tired of and bothered by their monthly expense analysis
- "Someone almost always backs out: it turns out he can’t afford it after all or is missing some hiking gear which is also expensive."
- "Sometimes there are miscommunications: e.g. someone understood that expenses would be lower"
- "Because we communicate basically on 3 different messenger group chats some information might get lost or someone might easily misunderstand something."
- "Everyone tracks their savings individually"
- "When you commit to going on a trip, everyone just assumes you’re going to come up with money by the designated time."
- His group’s process of organizing a trip is disorganized and chaotic
- His group’s way of communicating is ineffective and chaotic
- Would like to have a space where information about the trip, e.g. the exact sum for it, would be visible for everyone to see at all times
- He and his friends find a hiking spot, then usually one friend starts organizing a trip and communicating expenses to others
- They communicate on 3 different messenger group chats
- Everyone in group tracks their savings individually
- He doesn’t diligently track his savings, just roughly estimates the date when he’ll gather the needed sum
- They don’t track others’ savings nor communicate the progress in a group
- Annoyed by himself and his friends for being disorganized when planning and saving for the trip
- Frustrated, disappointed, let down by his friends when they back out of a trip
- "I am the family's treasurer and every now and then (I don’t really have a schedule but rather do it on impulse) I check with every family member how much in savings they currently have"
- "Asking my family members about their savings every time can be a nuisance, I wish I had a way of just knowing it at all times."
- "Having to brainstorm our trip options requires a lot of thinking and calculating. And It’s even harder when you have dyslexia!"
- Wishes she had a way of knowing her family’s savings at all times instead of asking every member individually every time
- Doesn’t like researching trip offers based on discovered amount of savings every time, it's too time and energy consuming for her
- All family members have savings accounts for trips and every month a scheduled transaction puts a fraction of one’s earnings towards it.
- Every now and then (acts on an impulse) she checks with every family member the amount of their savings.
- Then she calculates which trip they can afford and how much longer they have to save for a trip around the world.
- Tired, burdened by brainstorming family’s trip options every time
- Disrupted by unexpected circumstances like daughter pulling out her savings for a summer house - it creates chaos, requires recalculating, replanning everything
- Frustrated when researching trip options with dyslexia, feels that her needs don’t matter
- Sometimes doubtful that her dream of a trip around the world will come true
- "We both have a list of things we want to buy but we often argue what to buy next since we have different priorities."
- "We had an argument recently because my wife spent some savings on a new carpet, however I was saving this very money for Playstation and now I have to start again."
- "This system often makes things that cost less money a priority since we can just afford them faster"
- Deciding on what to buy next is difficult
- Is forgetful about more expensive items
- Wishes he could buy more expensive, luxurious items like Playstation sooner
- Has a shared savings account with his wife where they transfer 7% of their savings every month (scheduled transactions).
- They both have separate lists of things they want to buy
- They discuss what to buy next every time, often argue about it
- Confused and frustrated because he doesn’t know which money on their savings account goes to which goal
- Mad at his wife when she buys something he doesn’t agree on
- Less patient about more expensive items
- Frustrated that they often decide on buying cheaper stuff first, hopeless about buying more expensive things, doubting if they’ll ever buy them
Target users
I identified two distinct target users: Alex and Sofia.
I compiled Alex and Sofia’s key problems and needs into user stories, which are presented below.
As a frequent traveler in a group, I want to see the group’s savings status at any time, so I can avoid awkward conversations about money.
As a frequent traveler in a group, I want a dedicated space for sharing savings and expenses to avoid misunderstandings and lost information.
As the head of a family who shares expenses, I want to allocate savings to different goals with clear priorities, so it’s easy to decide what to buy next and avoid arguments.
As the head of a family who shares expenses, I want a tool to automatically track expenses and savings with future projections, so I don’t have to calculate everything manually or worry about accuracy.
Coming up with ideas
User journeys
For both user personas, I mapped out their user journeys to understand their emotions at each stage and identify key features the app needed to effectively address their challenges.
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Persona: Alex Goal: Save money for a trip with friends and make it happen.
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| ACTION | Decide on a trip with friends | Plan the trip and estimate costs | Search for apps to track group savings | Use the app to track group savings | Save up the required amount and go on the trip |
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| FEELING ADJECTIVE | I feel excited about the upcoming trip and curious about what we’ll experience. I’m also feeling imaginative, coming up with activities and places we could explore. | The required expenses are higher than expected, and neither my friends nor I can afford the trip right now. I’m starting to feel doubtful about whether the trip will work out, which is disappointing since I’m so excited about it. | I feel a bit unsure about whether I’ve chosen the right app. I want something simple that won’t overcomplicate things for my friends. I also value privacy—I don’t want to share my exact salary, expenses, or savings with others. | The app is easy to use, and most of my friends appreciate it. We’re all relieved to avoid awkward conversations about money. However, a few friends are skeptical and worried about sharing personal financial details, even though the app feels secure. | I’m thrilled we achieved our goal! Everyone eventually appreciated the app, and I’m incredibly excited about the trip. |
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Persona: Sofia Goal: Manage monthly shared household savings and save up for a new washing machine
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| ACTION | Identify issues with current process | Look for apps to manage group expenses and savings | Input all information into the app | Track family's savings/expenses | Save up for a washing machine and move to the next goal |
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| FEELING ADJECTIVE | I'm exhausted from managing finances. The constant calculations and family arguments about priorities are overwhelming. Everyone feels frustrated and upset. | I’m uncertain about the app and hope it simplifies things instead of complicating them. Still, I’m glad we’re trying something new since the old system clearly wasn’t working. | The app is intuitive and user-friendly. I'm hopeful this system will work better than our old methods. | The app has made managing shared expenses much easier! I'm relieved and grateful for the streamlined process. | I'm thrilled it all worked out! The whole family is on board with this system, and there’s no more arguing about priorities. |
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Rapid sketching
I sketched my various ideas using the “Crazy Eights” exercise. Afterward, I analyzed which concepts had the most potential and determined the best direction for the app.
Wireframing
Using Figma tool, I created early app designs along with a low-fidelity prototype showcasing the app’s functionality.
Goal and personal spaces
To structure savings effectively, I introduced goal spaces - shared spaces where a group saves together for a common goal - and a personal space, a private area where users can track their income and personal transactions, such as salaries or grocery expenses.
In contrast, group transactions involve expenses shared between members saving for a common goal. For example, if one person covers a cost for others, the app helps manage balances to settle debts.
To enhance the experience, I incorporated detailed financial analysis within both goal and personal spaces. In the goal space, this includes features like predicting when a goal will be reached and automating the saving process to help users stay on track.
Subgoals
To make large goals more manageable, I added the ability to create subgoals, allowing users to break down a main goal into smaller milestones. For instance, a vacation goal could include subgoals like booking a hotel or purchasing plane tickets.
Customization
I designed several customization options to accommodate different saving preferences:
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Goal Prioritization: Users can choose between saving for all goals and subgoals simultaneously or following a queue-based approach - where savings are allocated to the first goal, then the second, and so on
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Contribution Style: Contributions can be equal, meaning everyone contributes the same amount, or flexible, where members contribute whatever they can until the goal is met.
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Visibility Mode: Users can opt for public mode, where everyone’s individual savings are visible, or private mode, where only the total group savings amount is displayed.
These features ensure that the app can adapt to different group dynamics and financial habits, making collaborative saving more transparent and efficient.
First usability study
Using the low-fidelity prototype, I conducted a usability study with five participants. The details of the study are outlined below.
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| Participants | 5 participants: 3 women, 2 men |
Later, I organized all my findings into an affinity diagram and identified common themes.
Key insights
I uncovered several key insights through my research, which are outlined below.
"All goals" and "single goal" spaces are too similar.
Users need clear visual distinctions between "all goals" and "single goal" spaces.
The plus button being the same in both Transactions and Goals tabs confuses users.
Users need a clear visual distinction between plus buttons in Transactions and Goals.
The Goal Visibility Mode is often misunderstood.
Users need the Goal Visibility Mode to be phrased and described differently, clearly stating it applies to goal savings.
The "Goal Prioritization" button is not intuitive at all.
Users need a different design of the "Goal Prioritization" button that clearly conveys its purpose, possibly using text.
The placement of the Balances section within the Overview tab is not intuitive.
Users need the Balances section to be in the Transactions tab instead of Overview.
Permission settings are too lenient.
Users need more cautious permission management inside a goal.
I updated the designs to address the identified pain points and then started working on mockups that more closely aligned with the final product.
Visual design
Before creating the mockups, I focused on the visual design of the app, selecting the color palette, typography, and iconography. I also defined key navigation elements and UI components that would be used consistently throughout the app, ensuring a cohesive and user-friendly experience.
After finalizing the visual design elements, I was able to create the app’s mockups.
Second usability study
From the mockups, I developed a high-fidelity prototype, which I then used for the second usability study.
| Research questions |
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| Participants | 5 participants: 3 women, 2 men |
Results
Misunderstood goal modes
The study revealed that users are still confused about goal modes (Goal Contribution Style and Savings Visibility Mode) and their purpose.To improve clarity, I rewrote the mode descriptions in more user-friendly language and added visual illustrations for better understanding.
Before
After
Unnecessary “Adjust required contribution” settle option
Another insight was that most users don’t use or understand the “Adjust required contributions” option to settle balances.
Instead of generating transfers to settle balances, this option adjusted each member’s required contributions toward the goal. This meant that a member with more debt would need to contribute a higher amount, while the member who was owed would have a reduced savings requirement.
I’ve decided to remove this option from the app since it caused a lot of confusion without providing much value.
Before
After
Overall feedback
0%
Strongly disagree
0%
Disagree
0%
Neither agree or disagree
20%
Agree
80%
Strongly agree
0%
Strongly disagree
20%
Disagree
40%
Neither agree or disagree
20%
Agree
20%
Strongly agree
The SUS (System Usability Scale) questionnaire feedback was generally positive, with most users agreeing that the app is easy to use. However, they indicated that they wouldn’t necessarily use it frequently, which is an area worth exploring for future improvements.
Final designs
In my final designs, I addressed all the insights gathered from previous user studies. Key improvements include clearer visual distinctions between the goal and personal spaces.
I also simplified the interface by replacing the identical plus buttons for adding goals and transactions. Now, each button includes descriptive text labels to clearly indicate their specific functions.
To further enhance clarity, I replaced the “Goal Prioritization” button with a dropdown menu, clearly labeled to explain its function.
Lastly, based on user feedback, I moved the Balance section from the Overview tab to the Group Transactions tab, as users found its original location unintuitive.
Permission System
Based on previous feedback highlighting that the app’s permissions were too lenient, I introduced a privilege system with two user roles: admins and participants.
- Admins have full control over the goal. They can edit the goal, add subgoals, settle all balances, and delete the goal.
- Participants have more limited permissions. They cannot edit the goal, add subgoals, or delete it. However, they can add group transactions, settle balances involving themselves, and leave the goal if needed.
This system ensures better structure and control over group savings while maintaining flexibility for participants.
Admin
Participant
App Prototype
Takeaways
Designing for group savings
This project deepened my understanding of the unique challenges in group saving - such as the need for transparency, automation, and seamless collaboration. I also learned that even when an app includes analytical and math-heavy features, it must remain intuitive and jargon-free to ensure usability for all.
Visual & interaction Design
While crafting the UI, I strengthened my understanding of visual design principles, including typography, spacing, and color palette creation. This experience reinforced how thoughtful design choices impact clarity, engagement, and overall user experience.
Enhancing my UX research process
This project sharpened my research planning and note-taking skills, allowing me to better structure insights and translate them into actionable design decisions. I also refined my approach to organizing and prioritizing user feedback, making the research process more efficient.
Reducing bias for better insights
To improve research accuracy, I explored different strategies to mitigate bias, such as using open-ended questions and neutral framing to encourage genuine, unbiased responses. This helped me uncover more authentic user needs, ultimately leading to a more user-centered design.