UFO | Currency Exchange Platform
The Currency Connection
Project Overview
This was my first UX Design project completed alongside the Google UX Design 7 course program and I was tasked to build a platform that helps global travelers find current exchange rates between currencies and exchange currencies. I worked on this alone as the primary researcher and designer and had a blast learning Figma through this project.
Role
Primary Researcher
and Designer
Tool
Figma
Date
December 2024 -
February 2025
Primary Research
Looking into other global currency exchange platforms I gained insight into the types of users that I will need to design the platform for and how it would be important to include all global movers such as international students and immigrant/migrant workers. As each population has their own pain points, I completed a competitive audit to gain more insight into shared design focuses.
Top Insights
Confidence
Being able to track predictions of currency rates in advance as well as enabling notifications of dropping rates would give users more security in the right times to transfer money.
Transparency
Hidden fees may lead to distrust of this platform and frustration of higher than anticipated fees. With this, there must be an establishment of financial transparency for transactions.
Time Efficiency
If someone is in urgent need of funds abroad, it is frustrating and may be detrimental if the funds are delayed. Thus this platform must be transparent about transaction times as well as offer quick transaction rates.
Security
Security measures must be clearly communicated so that users new to this platform can trust to send or receive different sums of money.
Design Process
By creating a User Persona and User Journey Map, I could mindfully think of user needs throughout the design process. Then came the story boards and iterations of the Information Architecture.
User Persona and User Journey Map
Storyboards
Information Architecture
Platform
Feeling confident about the vision of what functions this platform would showcase, I started with paper wireframes, then digital wireframes, and lo-fi prototypes.
Usability Testing
I conducted a moderated usability test with five global travelers in my life with the lo-fi prototypes. I gave the participant a task, observed click paths, behaviors, and any notable quotes about their experience. I iterated the design accordingly with gained insights.
Top 3 Insights
1
Based on the theme of financial balance confusion, the balance will be displayed on the homepage.
2
To counter cautiousness with the "Crypto" tab, investments will move into the Finances tab.
3
To make the sending money function more time efficient, the user flow will be simplified and screens will include scrolling functions.
Hi-Fi Prototypes
Feeling satisfied with the upgraded designs, I moved into making a sticker sheet and high fidelity prototyping.
Sticker Sheet
Hi-Fi Home Screen
Video simulating user flow for sending money
Accessibility Considerations
Color
Utilized color blindness simulators to double check the contrast between the color palette I was designing for this platform.
Text To Speech
Each icon included a label in text for screen readers.
Motions and Gestures
Use of simple and clean transitions between elements.
Takeaways
I am currently living in a foreign country and so parts of this design process felt personal and like something I wanted to share with my friends here. Having a different currency than a new friend may feel like a challenge but it can also serve as a way to connect!
I am so grateful to share my first project of many with you. I learned so much throughout the Google UX Design Course, other UX resources, and of course FIGMA!!!