Zenz - App UI/UX redesign case study

Introduction

Zenz is making cross-border payments easy. We build this Fintech platform for our client to facilitate cross border payments. The application is going to be largely used by people living in overseas and wants a very reliable tool to send money back to their family in native regions. Our team have been working on this project with the client since it is in an idea stage, and now the app is facilitating large amount of transactions every day.

Why the first version of the app needed a redesign?

With years of development and keep introducing new feature's on the application at every new release, it was a right time to give an overhaul improvements to the 3 year old design. The features have been developed but now they needed an user experience correction to improve the usability of the app. Moreover, we wanted to incorporate the live user’s feedback to improve and update the application.

Challenges in the new design

Sometimes working from ground zero is more easy compare to working on a prebuilt structure, because it limits your thoughts and make you thinking in a specific direction. There were a few challenges which we had encountered while working on new designs for the Zenz application.

1. Existing brand identity

This application has an existing brand identity and colour pallet. The client do not want to deviate much from the existing colour pallet. So we needed to think within a pre-set of colours to use for the new updated designs.

2. UX flow limitations

The application has an existing user base who are using it regularly. Thus, changing the user journey flow entirely was not possible into the application. Thus, we had a limitation to make major improvements into the UX.

3. Already developed API structures

The application has an already build code structure, and the front end is pulling certain set of data from backend. As well as the existing flows populating certain data on the screen based on user activity. To create the new designs, there should be taken care of to minimise the development cost.

4. Time constraint

There were two type of timelines needed to consider here i.e. the design timeline take makes us ready with the new designs to be implemented into the codes as well as the timeline for the actual development. New next release should be prompt to capture new client base as well as improving the current user’s experience on the application to avoid user loss. And the timeline in app development directly co-relates to the development cost.

Design Research

To mitigate the challenges and start the new design process required a strong foundation of research. There were some basic but very useful research techniques we followed;

1. Blank user test

We run a test in which the user do not have any background of the application. The user do not have any technical knowledge about the fintech industry as well.

2. Close circle test

The other test round is application usage test through a close team who have somewhat background of the application technically through a demo session.

3. Existing user’s feedback and consultation

The best source of input is the experienced shared by the application’s existing users. They have been super helpful to understand the flaws into the apps and the improvement scopes.

4. Competitor’s analysis

Competitor's are always a helpful resource to understand the current market trends, and it is always helpful when you are planning for such major improvements.

5. Developer’s input

And last but very important is the developer’s input. This is required to understand the implementation approach on the collected feedbacks on various stages. The developers have been very helpful to keep the cost low by suggesting best possible approach for the features improvements/implementations.

Based on the inputs from the design research, we set redesign goals which were mainly targeting to increase user’s engagement with newly improved features of the application and give them a seamless experience in the transaction journey.

Wireframe Designs

After making the initial research and collecting feedback from various stack holders for this application, now it a time to put the ideas on a paper and create the wireframes with improved user journey.

Wireframes help to visualise the elements on the screen before it's actually take a shape. And it is very much helpful for the developers too to plan the development in advance according to the user journey defined on the wireframes. Here are some of the initial wireframes, not so fancy but meaning full.

Designing New UIs

After having all the necessary inputs from various stack holders, not it was a time to start the new designing for the existing Zenz application. We have a basic brand identity in place which was ready for a retouch. So we have done the hard work on the following ways;

1. Defining the upgraded colour pallets

The colours are near to the existing application brand identity, but with some modern touch.

2. Created new icon set for the designs

A complete new icon set is created for the application to give a fresh new look.

3. Creating new graphics

The refreshed graphics plays very important role to a design revamp project. The artists in our team have crafted new graphics for the application that suits it's new identity.

4. New UI designs for the application

And finally, here are the new designs for the application which is a hard-work of the team at Ubrain Studios Pvt. Ltd. Hopefully the new version will give an entire new experience to the app users and improve their navigation journey on the application.

Conclusion

Zenz - Money Transfer application redesign project was a great fun for our team. It is always feel good factor looking at the digital product taking? best shape and getting liked by a lot of people from around the world. The design journey was not that easy, but the final results very satisfactory.

I am very much thankful for the best inputs from our design team Ubrain Studios Pvt. Ltd. , And for me it was a pleasure to be a guide through out the process ??.

Are you having an app and looking for a design consultation?

Feel free to get in touch with me Nimit D.