Tikkie

Enhancing an existing app

Role

Product Design (UX/UI)

Timeline

3 weeks (2023)

Tools

Figma, Miro, Optimal

Student project at designlab

  • Background

    Tikkie, facilitate easy peer-to-peer transactions & simplifies the process of managing shared expenses. The goal was to improve the app by adding customized features that enhance user experience and increase engagement.

  • Challenge

    The initial challenge was centered on identifying a crucial problem to be solved or find an opportunity for improvement.

  • Goal

    My goal was to analyze Tikkie's user experience, identify improvement areas, and implement design and feature updates within 3 weeks to elevate user satisfaction and engagement.

Research

The goal of the research was

Secondary research

While waiting for survey feedback, I browsed Reddit to find out what Tikkie users were chatting about. One request that caught my eye was users from non-Dutch banks want to use Tikkie, especially when visiting friends in the Netherlands. Given the complexity of international banking, tackling this wasn't within my project's scope.

Screening survey

92% of users reported a smooth, problem-free experience with the app. That’s right, no major issues!

Here's a breakdown of some other key findings:

“ Reminders when people don’t pay „

“ Extending the period a payment link is valid, in case of expiring „

“ Having the option to split an amount evenly within the app itself „

“ A function where different amounts could be sent within the same Tikkie „

Competitive analysis

To get a handle on the peer-to-peer payment app market, I analyzed Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App, chosen for their popularity and various features. Their unique appeals guided my design, steering me towards a feature-rich yet user-friendly app.

Venmo

strengths

Wide user base, integration with PayPal, intuitive design, social aspect.

weakness

Public by default privacy settings, only available in the U.S.

special feature

Social feed for shared payments, supports in-app purchases in other apps.


Zelle

strengths

Quick transfers directly to bank accounts, widely trusted due to bank integration.

weakness

No option for money storage within the app, lacks a social aspect.

special feature

Embedded within various banking apps, instant transfers without the need to cash out.

Cash App

strengths

Offers wider financial services like stock and Bitcoin investing, customizable debit card.

weakness

Fees for instant transfers, some features only available in the U.S.

special feature

Cash Card" debit card, investing options, option to receive a paycheck directly into the app.

Define & Ideate

Building empathy

From my research, I identified two main opportunities for improvement: users forgetting to pay their share in Tikkie, and potential enhancements in the process of sending payment requests.

  • POV : Research shows Tikkie users often forget payments and the request process could improve.
  • HMW : How can we help users remember payments and enhance the request process in Tikkie?

Optimizing User and Task Flows

The presented User Flow outlines the path within Tikkie, tracing the steps from initiating the app to dispatching reminders or payments, thus aiding in creating a seamless user experience.

Prototype & Test

Sketching the First Draft

Here are the wireframes illustrating Tikkie's new features – a neatly organized contact list and a useful reminder system. These foundations set the stage for a more user-friendly Tikkie experience.

Test Run #1

I tested the final designs with 3 users.
Initially, I wanted to see if they would open the "WHAT'S NEW" section! Considering its importance for demonstrating the new feature

The Results:

  • Users often overlook the 'What's New' button, indicating a need for more intuitive feature discovery.

Test Run #2

I was observing overall reactions and how smoothly these two tasks went this time :

1. Requesting a Tikkie
2. Setting a reminder for that Tikkie

The Results:

  • Users prefer to see a transaction summary page detailing the recipient and the amount after sending a Tikkie.
  • Users desire an immediate reminder set-up option after a transaction, rather than being rerouted to the main page.

Final Test

The final usability testing turned out to be a clear winner. Our users navigated the new features with ease, proving the effectiveness of the design updates. No issues were found during testing, affirming that the enhancements are intuitive and user-friendly.

Wrap up!

The project centered around the successful enhancement of the Tikkie app by integrating new features such as an in-app contact list, a request feature, and a reminder function. This progression was guided by comprehensive research, structured design thinking, and user-oriented information architecture. Through iterative testing and refining, a satisfactory final product was developed that significantly improved user experience.

With More Time, What Would I Do?

Expand User Testing: I'd conduct more rounds of user testing to gain even more insights that could lead to further product refinements.

Back up!