Jeff Locke
Jeff Locke
Contact
Resume
About
Work
An app that allows users to manage their money while also being sensitive to the mental hardships and stress that come with one's personal finances.
Mind Over Money gives users:
  • Methods to save money
  • Strategies to combat overspending
  • Tools to be present with their finances
Mind Over Money
An app that allows users to manage their money while also being sensitive to the mental hardships and stress that come with one's personal finances.
Mind Over Money gives users:
  • Methods to save money
  • Strategies to combat overspending
  • Tools to be present with their finances
Mind Over Money
The Team
Jeff Locke
Alliston Austad
Fahria Rahman
Quinn Martell
Dani Macuk
Susan Eichman
The Team
The Team
3 Weeks
Timeframe
The Team
Figjam
Figma
Google Suite
Slack
Trello
Zoom
Tools
Figjam
Figma
Google Suite
Slack
Trello
Zoom
Tools
3 Weeks
Timeframe
Jeff Locke
Alliston Austad
Fahria Rahman
Quinn Martell
Dani Macuk
Susan Eichman
The Team
The Problem
The Solution
Mind Over Money, an app that provides encouragement and support to young adults feeling anxious about their finances. By offering real, attainable ways to be more in control of their financial well-being this app helps them gain clarity and calm about their financial situation while opening a door to a healthier mindset.
Many young people experience overwhelming negative emotions when dealing with their finances. Despite no shortage of banking and budgeting options, few address the mental anguish that comes with managing one's money. Might there be a market for a financial app that also emotionally supports them?
The Solution
Mind Over Money, an app that provides encouragement and support to young adults feeling anxious about their finances. By offering real, attainable ways to be more in control of their financial well-being this app helps them gain clarity and calm about their financial situation while opening a door to a healthier mindset.
The Problem
Many young people experience overwhelming negative emotions when dealing with their finances. Despite no shortage of banking and budgeting options, few address the mental anguish that comes with managing one's money. Might there be a market for a financial app that also emotionally supports them?
Users worry they are unprepared for financial emergencies and will struggle with unforeseen expenses occur.
Users avoid thinking about saving and managing money to avoid stress.
Users find existing solutions to be overly complex and lacking in personalization.
To determine the direction of the app our team worked through three main questions:
  • How do people manage their money?
  • What kind of role do finances play in their lives?
  • What emotions do finances evoke?
User Research
Discover
We also conducted a survey which received 62 responses.
Additionally we took stock of competing products to see what solutions already exist as well as where we could improve.
We interviewed 6 people to gain an understanding of what parts of finance and mental health users struggle with.
Interview Insights
Competitor Analysis
25% avoid finances in order to avoid stress during trying financial times.
48% say they have a high average level of stress when thinking about their finances.
75% say saving for the future was one of their biggest financial concerns.
After probing competing products we found they lack the following qualities:
  • Offering perspective
People worry they are alone in their financial struggles and are afraid to seek help. They need to know there are others in similar positions.
  • Addressing financial stress
While there is a full market of budgeting apps, few if any address financial stress.
Survey Findings
1
75%
48%
25%
Users worry they are unprepared for financial emergencies and will struggle with unforeseen expenses occur.
Users avoid thinking about saving and managing money to avoid stress.
Users find existing solutions to be overly complex and lacking in personalization.
To determine the direction of the app our team worked through three main questions:
  • How do people manage their money?
  • What kind of role do finances play in their lives?
  • What emotions do finances evoke?
Discover
User Research
We also conducted a survey which received 62 responses.
Additionally we took stock of competing products to see what solutions already exist as well as where we could improve.
We interviewed 6 people to gain an understanding of what parts of finance and mental health users struggle with.
Interview Insights
Competitor Analysis
25% avoid finances in order to avoid stress during trying financial times.
48% say they have a high average level of stress when thinking about their finances.
75% say saving for the future was one of their biggest financial concerns.
After probing competing products we found they lack the following qualities:
  • Offering perspective
People worry they are alone in their financial struggles and are afraid to seek help. They need to know there are others in similar positions.
  • Addressing financial stress
While there is a full market of budgeting apps, few if any address financial stress
Survey Findings
1
75%
48%
25%
Emma starts an emergency fund and is able to pay for an unexpected car repair without additional stress.
Emma finds and tries Mind Over Money, which she sees can help her meet her goals.
The regular reminders help keep her on track to achieve her goals and keep her sane while doing it.
Through regular reminders the app supports and encourages her.
9
4
5
She enters her financial information into the app and gets a clear view of her situation.
She sees that the app has the features she wants and that it won't overwhelm her.
8
7
1
The app guides her to set personalized, attainable goals for her financial wellness.
Faced with an unexpected expense, Emma starts to worry about her finances.
She searches for an app to help her manage her money while also alleviating her stress around finances.
Feels
  • Stress and anxiety, especially around unexpected expenses arising and future planning.
  • Would like to retire early but hasn't done any planning around it because it seems far off.
  • Apathetic; I need to ignore my financial situation because thinking about it will cause extra stress.
  • I can take care of my current financial needs, but I struggle with saving for the future.
  • Spending money can be both stressful and stress relieving at times.
  • Attempting to manage my finances seems pointless at times becaues of the state of the economy.
Thinks
  • Keeps a budget, but doesn't account for unforeseen expenses.
  • Struggles with consistent stress management.
  • Looks to her parents for financial guidance.
  • Has occasionally tried budgeting apps.
Does
Says
  • "It's hard to leave money in savings without touching it"
  • "Anxiety and money is a bad combo."
  • "I use a mantra: 'this is okay, I'm okay. Things will figure themselves out.'"
Frustrations
  • Difficult to save when extra costs keep coming up.
  • Banking tools and finance apps don't fit my needs.
  • Planning for the future seems impossible when I can barely manage my day-to-day expenses.
Goals
  • Tackle finances and get a clearer picture of how much she can spend and save each month.
  • Create an emergency fund and pay down debt.
  • Manage her money without getting overwhelmed and avoiding her finances.
Emma she/her
Age: 24
Family: Single
Occupation: Bookstore Clerk
Location: Bend, OR
"I can really spiral myself out when I think about finances."
Goals
  • Create an emergency fund.
  • Proactively manage her money.
  • Gain a clearer view of how and where she is spending money.
User Journey Map
UX Scenario
Emma, a 24-year-old bookstore clerk, feels the weight of anxiety creeping in as she navigates her unique financial journey. She struggles to keep up with expenses while juggling part-time work and pursuing her passion for literature, Emma often finds herself overwhelmed by financial stress.
In order to define the problem to then focus on the development phase we completed the following:
  • User Persona
  • Emapthy Map
  • User Journey Map
Define
Empathy Map
User Persona
2
1
We synthesized our interview and survey data to create a user persona.
Retain
Try
Introduction
Discover
6
3
She looks for an app that will help her manage her finances but also alleviate her stress
2
Through regular reminders the app supports and encourages her.
5
She sees that the app has the features she wants and that it won't overwhelm her.
4
She enters her financial information into the app and gets a clear view of her situation.
Emma starts an emergency fund and is able to pay for an unexpected car repair without additional stress.
9
The regular reminders help keep her on track to achieve her goals and keep her sane while doing it.
8
Emma finds and tried Mind Over Money, which she see can help her meet her goals.
3
1
The app guides her to set personalized, attainable goals for her financial wellness.
Faced with an unexpected expense, Emma starts to worry about her finances.
2
She searches for an app to help her manage her money while also alleviating her stress around finances.
Says
  • "It's hard to leave money in savings without touching it"
  • "Anxiety and money is a bad combo."
  • "I use a mantra: 'this is okay, I'm okay. Things will figure themselves out.'"
  • I can take care of my current financial needs, but I struggle with saving for the future.
  • Spending money can be both stressful and stress relieviing at times.
  • Attempting to manage my finances seems pointless at times becaues of the state of the economy.
Thinks
Feels
  • Stress and anxiety, especially around unexpected expenses arising and future planning.
  • Would like to retire early but hasn't done any planning around it because it seems far off.
  • Apathetic; I need to ignore my financial situation because thinking about it will cause extra stress.
  • Keeps a budget, but doesn't account for unforeseen expenses.
  • Struggles with consistent stress management.
  • Looks to her parents for financial guidance.
  • Has occasionally tried budgeting apps.
Does
Emma she/her
Age: 24
Family: Single
Occupation: Bookstore Clerk
Location: Bend, OR
Frustrations
  • Difficult to save when extra costs keep coming up.
  • Banking tools and finance apps don't fit for my needs.
  • Planning for the future seems impossible when I can barely manage my day-to-day expenses.
Goals
  • Tackle finances and get a clearer picture of how much she can spend and save each month.
  • To create an emergency fund and pay down debt.
  • To manage her money without getting overwhelmed and avoiding her finances.
Goals
  • Create an emergency fund.
  • Proactively manage her money.
  • Gain a clearer view of how and where she is spending money.
User Journey Map
UX Scenario
Emma, a 24-year-old bookstore clerk, feels the weight of anxiety creeping in as she navigates her unique financial journey. She struggles to keep up with expenses while juggling part-time work and pursuing her passion for literature, Emma often finds herself overwhelmed by financial stress.
In order to define the problem to then focus on the development phase we completed the following:
  • User Persona
  • Emapthy Map
  • User Journey Map
Define
Empathy Map
User Persona
2
We synthesized our interview and survey data to create a user persona.
Retain
Try
Introduction
Discover
6
7
Frustrations
  • Difficult to save when extra costs keep coming up.
  • Planning for the future seems impossible when I can barely manage my day-to-day expenses.
Goals
  • Create an emergency fund and pay down debt.
  • Manage her money without getting overwhelmed and avoiding her finances.
4
3
2
Set Reminders
Select how often they would like to check in
1
Set Intention
Select a goal to focus on
Set Pathways
Choose small actions user can take to achieve their goal
Home Screen
User starts here
To create a functional product that meets users' needs we created the following:
  • Feature Prioritization Matrix
  • User Flows
  • Style Guide
  • Lo- and Mid-Fi Prototypes
Develop
Style Guide
User Flow
Feature Prioritization
3
She looks for an app that will help her manage her finances but also alleviate her stress
Mentall Wellness
Focus on relieving the users' stress and anxiety related to finances.
Users can tailor their goals to meet their specific needs and input their emotions at a given time for guided support.
Personalization
Goal Setting
Help users achieve goals related to financial wellness.
We created a flow for a user to set an intention for their finances.
We aimed to created a brand that is gentle and encouraging for our users. Consequently, some of our style choices were the following:
We created a feature prioritization matrix to help us decide which features deserved our attention. Ultimately, we determined the following features to be the most important:
Smooth Typography
Friendly and Cheerful Avatars
Relaxing Colors
3
4
3
2
Set Reminders
Select how often they would like to check in
1
Home Screen
User starts here
Set Pathways
Choose small actions user can take to achieve their goal
Set Intention
Select a goal to focus on
To create a functional product that meets users' needs we created the following:
  • Feature Prioritization Matrix
  • User Flows
  • Style Guide
  • Lo- and Mid-Fi Prototypes
Develop
Style Guide
User Flow
Feature Prioritization
3
Mentall Wellness
Focus on relieving the users' stress and anxiety related to finances.
Users can tailor their goals to meet their specific needs and input their emotions at a given time for guided support.
Personalization
Goal Setting
Help users achieve goals related to financial wellness.
We created a flow for a user to set an intention for their finances.
We aimed to created a brand that is gentle and encouraging for our users. Consequently, some of our style choices were the following:
We created a feature prioritization matrix to help us decide which features deserved our attention. Ultimately, we determined the following features to be the most important:
Smooth Typography
Friendly and Cheerful Avatars
Relaxing Colors
4
Deliver
To gain feedback and improve our existing design we did the following:
  • User Testiing
  • Iterations
  • Hi-Fi Prototyping
Iterations
Hi-Fi Prototype
  • We added a clear call to action in the "Today's To-Dos" section.
  • We clearly outlined the steps a new user can take to optimize their experience.
Mid-Fi Prototype
  • We separated various sections of the page to make it easier to digest and navigate.
  • While testing we found users preferred a tab bar with a straight line instead of a wavy one.
Lo-Fi Prototype
  • Users were unsure how to navigate this page.
  • The emotions check-in felt out of place and unnecessary.
We conducted three rounds of user testing and used the feedback and data we received to create the following iterations
Final Prototype
After our rounds of testing and iterations we completed our final prototype of Mind Over Money.
4
Deliver
To gain feedback and improve our existing design we did the following:
  • User Testiing
  • Iterations
  • Hi-Fi Prototyping
Iterations
We conducted three rounds of user testing and used the feedback and data we received to create the following iterations
Final Prototype
After our rounds of testing and iterations we completed our final prototype of Mind Over Money.
Lo-Fi Prototype
  • Users were unsure how to navigate this page
  • The emotions check-in felt out of place and unnecessary.
Mid-Fi Prototype
  • We separated various sections of the page to make it easier to digest and navigate.
  • While testing we found users preferred a tab bar with a straight line instead of a wavy one.
Hi-Fi Prototype
  • We added a clear call to action in the "Today's To-Dos" section.
  • We clearly outlined the steps a new user can take to optimize their experience.
What's next?
  • Implement a discussion forum where users could connect with others in similar financial circumstances.
  • More fully develop the financial portion of the app so users could do things like link their financial accounts.
  • Add eductional resources so that users would have tools to better handle their finances.
5
Reflect
Conducting more high-fidelity user tests to further refine and improve the apps core functionalities as well as the overall look and feel of the product.
Improvements
Designing with the user in the mind throughout the whole operation. Our user remained at the forefront of our entire process.
Successes
What's next?
  • Implement a discussion forum where users could connect with others in similar financial circumstances.
  • More full develop the financial portion of the app so users could do things like link their financial accounts.
  • Add eductional resources so that users would have tools to better handle their finances.
5
Reflect
Conducting more high-fidelity user tests to further refine and improve the apps core functionalities as well as the overall look and feel of the product.
Improvements
Designing with the user in the mind throughout the whole operation. Our user remained at the forefront of our entire process.
Successes
Made on
Tilda