Soln -- Personal Finance App

Overview

Soln (short for Solution) is a mobile app designed to make financial literacy accessible to everyone.
It helps users understand their spending, savings, and overall financial health through analytics, education, and personalized goals.

Role: Lead UI/UX Designer
Responsibilities: User Research, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Prototyping & Testing
Timeline: January 2022
Tools: Figma, SurveyMonkey

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The Challenge

Many Canadians struggle to manage their personal finances.
Complex tools, financial jargon, and a lack of guidance make it difficult to stay in control.
Soln was designed to simplify financial management and help users build financial confidence through education and insight.

“We live in one of the wealthiest countries, yet many people still struggle to understand their own finances.”

Background

According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada,

• 62% of Canadians experienced higher financial stress during the pandemic

• Only 47% describe themselves as financially knowledgeable

Debt has become normalized, while financial literacy remains low.
Soln aims to change that by using simple, conversational language and visual analytics.

Target Audience

Who: Canadian consumers aged 18–55
Challenges:

• High personal debt and unclear budgeting habits

• Lack of confidence in managing money

• Overwhelm from technical or jargon-heavy finance tools

Insight:
Users don’t just want to track their money—they want to understand it.

Research

The project began with a survey to explore how Canadians feel about their finances and what kind of tools they currently use.
Using SurveyMonkey, I gathered responses from 10 participants and analyzed their answers using a tally method.

Research Goals

1. Understand attitudes toward financial literacy.

2. Identify the solutions users are looking for.

3. Determine whether people would use an app to manage their financial health.

Findings

• Participants want guidance and education, not just numbers.

• Safety and long-term planning matter more than short-term profits.

• Most respondents said they would use an app if it simplified learning about money.

Problem Statement

Canadians need a simple, engaging way to evaluate their financial health and learn basic money management without feeling overwhelmed.

Concept

Soln provides an interactive “financial physical” — a guided experience that helps users:

• Assess their current financial health

• Identify areas to improve (spending, saving, debt)

• Set realistic goals based on personalized insights

Ideation & Sketches

I started with quick sketches to visualize the structure and layout of the app.
The focus was to keep it approachable, with fewer words and more intuitive visuals.

Design Priorities

1. Clear navigation and simple dashboard

2. Visual storytelling instead of text-heavy explanations

3. Smooth and consistent user interactions

Information Architecture

The app is organized around four key areas:

• Home: Overview of financial status and progress

• Analyze: Insights into spending and savings

• Learn: Educational modules for financial literacy

• Goals: Personalized financial targets and actions

Design System

Typography: Roboto
Colors: Neutral and calming tones, designed to evoke clarity and trust.

High-Fidelity Design

After initial testing, users shared the following feedback:

• Reduce text and increase visual guidance

• Add more interactive elements

• Simplify the call-to-action buttons

These insights led to a refined prototype that feels more approachable and practical.

Testing & Outcomes

User testing confirmed that simplifying the layout improved engagement and understanding.
Participants appreciated the use of visuals and straightforward explanations of complex topics.

Deliverables

• Interactive prototype

• UI style guide and design system

• Research documentation and insights summary

Lessons Learned

Designing Soln taught me that accessibility and empathy are key to meaningful financial education.
By combining design with my background in financial coaching, I created a tool that helps users feel capable and informed—without the pressure of traditional finance apps.

“Designing for understanding is harder than designing for aesthetics—but it’s also far more rewarding.”

Let’s Connect

Email: denisepbusiness@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/denisepadernilla
Instagram: @denise.eriiika
Facebook: facebook.com/denise.rikki.7