BANKING FOR EVERY BRAIN
BANKING FOR EVERY BRAIN
BARCLAYS
Banking for every brain means throwing out normal conventions and designing an app that is inclusive, accessible, and easy to use for every individual.
With intuitive navigation, user-friendly features, and personalized customization, this suite of features for Barclays provides a seamless banking experience for every brain. Say goodbye to the frustration and stress of traditional banking. Take a look at how we helped Barclays empower neurodiversity in the financial world.
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Barclays wants to use technology and innovation to develop a new digital experience, service, or tool (such as apps or in-app functions) that can help Barclays meet the banking needs of neurodivergent individuals.
With digital-first solutions, try to consider how digital meets real-world experiences and how an idea could improve how neurodivergent people manage their finances.
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To develop the solution, we consulted with experts in the field of neurodiversity, conducted preliminary user research and focused on studies that highlighted methods that support the needs of individuals with neurodivergent conditions. The resulting app includes features such as a simple interface with minimal distractions, clean visual representations of financial information, and the option to customize the interface to suit individual needs.
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UI-UX
User Research
Prototyping
Product Strategy + Thinking
Visual Identity
Broadcast + Online Video
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Figma
Affinity Designer
Final Cut Pro + Motion
Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
When designing user interfaces for neurodiversity, it's important to keep in mind that individuals with neurodiverse conditions may have unique cognitive and sensory processing abilities. This means that the design of the interface should be as simple, intuitive, and predictable as possible. This can help reduce cognitive load and make the interface easier to navigate for individuals with neurodiverse conditions.
After conducting our research, we developed 4 pillars of how we wanted to design our new app…
1.
Use clear and simple language: Avoid using jargon or complex language in your interface. Instead, use clear, simple language that is easy to understand.
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Use consistent design elements: Using consistent design elements, such as colors, fonts, and layout, throughout the interface to help users navigate it more easily.
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Provide clear visual cues: helps users understand the purpose and function of different elements in the interface.
4.
Allow for customization: Allow users a preference when it comes to visual elements that make the interface more accessible to them.
TO START
PICK A CARD. ANY CARD.
Users should never be confused or overwhelmed when interacting with their accounts. To achieve this, we decided to separate each account into its own segment within the app.
In the main menu of the app, users can now see a clear list of all of their accounts, including all cards. This makes it easy for them to quickly identify which account they want to interact with individually.
A balance progress interface allows customers to quickly glance at each account and see how much they’ve spent. This can optionally be disabled.
ONE COHESIVE DASHBOARD
SEE BANKING DIFFERENTLY
The stack
We sat down and thought about how you look at your financial information. Traditional banking apps are not intuitive and often take digging to find the information you value most. So we designed a stack system that shows valuable information right up front.
The layers feature allows for hierarchy so users can decide what’s most important to them and place it right up front (more on how to do this later).
A BANKER WHO CAN HELP 24/7
One module stays ever present on the dashboard, The Search Module.
In search, users can type for a specific tool or page, choose from frequently accessed panels, or activate the brand new Barclays Assistant, Powered by AI.
Barclays Assistant is a secure, personal, and intelligent banker that lives on device. Here are some ways it can help everyone who banks on Barclays:
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Simplifies banking tasks
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Tailored recommendations
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Low-pressure communication
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Helps customers stay organized and on time
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Saves time - No more menus of FAQs
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Reduces errors
YOUR MODULE, YOUR WAY
There’s no one right way that information should be displayed. We know users prioritize different things on their financial journey — so we created the ability to change module positions and added the option to remove a module altogether. We believe this is the first step towards designing for preferences.
EASY AS 🥧
MORE SPENDING. LESS WORRYING.
With a simple and intuitive layout, you can now quickly see your most recent purchases and payments with friends & family, all in one convenient place. Plus, our new interface makes it easy to search and filter your transactions, so you can find exactly what you're looking for in no time.
SEE WHERE IT’S GOING.
With just a few clicks, you can see exactly where your money is going and make informed decisions about your finances. The informational graphs and charts make it easy to quickly identify any areas where you may be overspending, allowing you to take control of your finances like never before. Whether you're a seasoned budgeter or just starting out, the user-friendly interface makes managing your money a breeze.
New features like recurring charges and a utilization bar allow you to stay financially healthy and make the best choices when it comes to your finances.
WHEN IT COMES TIME, PAY YOUR WAY.
Designed to keep you on top of your credit card payments and financially responsible - the payment bar gives you markers on minimum payments, monthly payments, or full payments. Or, if you prefer, use the keypad to quickly visualize and enter a number. Either way, you'll always be in control of your finances and ability to make informed decisions about how much you pay.
Plus, with the app's powerful reminder feature, you'll never miss a payment again.
Settings open up a 🌎 of possibilities.
We wanted to include as much customization as possible, to truly make banking personal.
To do this, we made a settings page that was intuitive to navigate and presented two new options up top. Take a look at how they work below.
Phrasing PReferences
We know how overwhelming it is to open your app and be shown big numbers and words. We wanted to solve this problem and create an inviting dashboard.
To achieve this, we created a Phrasing Preferences panel in Settings to allow users to choose how the interface displays words and numbers. The three options provided allow users to find their preferred look and bank efficiently.
Color Options
Banking can feel distant. To bridge the gap, we carefully chose a predefined amount of color themes so users can change their app’s palette to whichever one fits them the best.
We had to carefully navigate our way around brand identity vs customization. We ultimately created a system that gives users the freedom to choose a theme that represents them while respecting how the app functions and feels.
We determined that color contrast and other a11y would be managed by the user’s system preferences on their OS.
GIVE IT A GO!
We made a fully functioning prototype in Figma. Take a look behind the scenes.
