Gamifying Financial Education on Snapchat
Client
Invstr & Snapchat
Type of Project
Fintech
Category
UI / UX Design
Role
Lead Designer
BRIEF
How can financial literacy be transformed from a daunting task into an exciting game for young Snapchat users? With Stockstars, we crafted a unique experience that bridges the gap between fun and finance, empowering a generation to make informed financial decisions through play.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Snapchat’s younger audience (ages 15–25) lacked financial literacy but resonated with gaming and social content. Invstr sought to address this by creating an engaging, educational game that simplified complex financial concepts while teaching investment strategies and risk management.
Users and Audience
Stockstars targeted Snapchat’s core demographic of tech-savvy users aged 15–25. These young users preferred quick, immersive experiences and sought engaging ways to learn financial concepts through gamified content.
Roles and Responsibilities
As the Lead UI/UX Designer, I:
● Directed the design process from user research to the final prototype.
● Developed personas, wireframes, and prototypes.
● Collaborated with Snapchat’s team to ensure seamless integration.
Scope and Constraints
The project’s goal was to create an engaging, educational game that simplified financial concepts. Time and budget constraints necessitated a focus on impactful features that balanced education with entertainment.
Research
Research involved:
● Analyzing Invstr’s core features.
● Competitive benchmarking.
● Conducting user surveys.
Insights revealed a strong preference for gamified tools and simplified financial education.implified financial education.
User Persona and Journey
Personas represented playful, tech-savvy individuals exploring financial concepts for the first time. Their journey emphasized:
● Seamless onboarding.
● Interactive gameplay introducing core financial principles in a fun and accessible manner.
Design Process
● Low-fidelity wireframes prioritized simplicity and reduced cognitive load.
● High-fidelity prototypes incorporated vibrant, Snapchat-aligned aesthetics.
● Iterative testing ensured the final design met user expectations for engagement and usability.
Style Guide
The style guide featured:
● Bold colors and playful typography consistent with Snapchat’s branding.
● Visual appeal and intuitive design elements to captivate the young audience.
Final Prototype & Features
The final design included:
● An interactive glossary.
● Real-time price alerts.
● Tools for analyzing stock performance.
Features like carousels and stats encouraged users to engage deeply with the app’s financial tools.
User Insights
User Personas
Low Fidelity Designs
Style Guide
Outcomes
Stockstars achieved widespread success, reaching:
● 1.25 million users globally.
● Positive media coverage and expansion to seven languages.
Key Takeaways
The project highlighted:
● The importance of balancing engaging gameplay with educational value.
● The necessity of continuous user feedback.
● Adaptability in refining the product to meet user needs and platform constraints.