Grace Kwak Portfolio

Pluto Pay – Finance App

A financial app that goes beyond basic payment services.

Designed and iterated a financial app by conducting user research, creating personas, analyzing competitors, and developing prototypes.

Project Summary

Objective

To design a comprehensive financial app that empowers users to manage their cash flow, track expenses, and make smarter financial decisions—all in one place.

Problems

Users are frustrated by having to switch between multiple apps to manage payments, track expenses, and monitor their budgets. This fragmentation leads to confusion, missed payments, and difficulty planning for short-term and long-term financial goals.

Solutions

Pluto Pay consolidates essential financial functions—like instant payments, budget tracking, and goal setting—into one seamless, user-friendly experience. Features were refined based on user interviews and usability testing to ensure clarity, confidence, and convenience.

Design Goals

Create a clean and intuitive interface that supports easy navigation across mobile and desktop.

Prioritize mobile usability as mobile sessions increase year over year.

Help users quickly understand their cash availability, spending habits, and financial goals.

Build trust through transparency, clear flows, and helpful features like review pages and advisor support.

Use user-centered design to continually refine features based on feedback and behavioral data.

User’s problem and needs

Scattered payment records

“I switch between apps to track what I’ve paid—it’s time-consuming and messy.” Solution: Unified transaction view, with category-based tracking and recurring payment options.

Uncertainty around cash flow

“I want to invest, but I’m never sure if I have enough after bills.” Solution: Real-time budget overview that updates automatically when transactions post.

Low motivation and poor visibility

“I wish there was an app that made saving feel doable—like a fitness app but for money.” Solution: Goal-setting with visual progress bars and optional advisor support.

Competitive Analysis

Cash App

Strengths: User-friendly interface, fast payment. Weaknesses: Lacks budgeting tools, and customer service

PayPal

Strengths: Widely accepted, global reach Weaknesses: High fees, account freezing risks

Monarch

Strengths: Full-featured financial platform Weaknesses: Subscription required; higher barrier to entry

Wireframe

Product Requirement & Low-Fidelity Wireframes

Add Accounts

One of the first and most essential steps. I designed a flow that allows users to: - View recognizable institution names/logos - Select account types (e.g., bank, credit, investment) - Sync accounts securely with visual confirmation

Pay or Request

I designed a streamlined payment flow: - Users choose a recipient first - Then enter the amount - A review screen ensures users can double-check details before confirming

Set Goals

I created a modular goal-setting process: - Users choose a predefined goal type - Allocate monthly contributions - Track progress visually on the goal dashboard

Usability Test Report

Users wanted a review screen before confirming payments—this was added.

Users had difficulty identifying financial institutions by logos alone—institution names were added.

These insights shaped every major flow in the app, improving usability, trust, and satisfaction.

High-Fidelity Design

Add Account Flow

The user clicks the '+' icon to begin the process.
The user is shown a list of account types they can add.
The user selects their financial institution from the list.
The Account Sync page directs the user to the login screen.
A confirmation message is displayed once the account is successfully linked.
The user clicks the '+' icon to begin the process.
The user is shown a list of account types they can add.
The user selects their financial institution from the list.
The Account Sync page directs the user to the login screen.
A confirmation message is displayed once the account is successfully linked.
The user clicks the '+' icon to begin the process.
The user is shown a list of account types they can add.
The user selects their financial institution from the list.
The Account Sync page directs the user to the login screen.
A confirmation message is displayed once the account is successfully linked.
The user clicks the '+' icon to begin the process.
The user is shown a list of account types they can add.
The user selects their financial institution from the list.
The Account Sync page directs the user to the login screen.
A confirmation message is displayed once the account is successfully linked.

Send a Payment Flow

The main ‘Pay’ page displays recent transactions and the primary payment account.
The user selects a recipient or scans a QR code.
The user enters the payment amount and reviews the payment details before submitting.
A payment confirmation page is displayed.
The 'Pay' and 'Request' features are located in the main bottom navigation.
The main ‘Pay’ page displays recent transactions and the primary payment account.
The user selects a recipient or scans a QR code.
The user enters the payment amount and reviews the payment details before submitting.
A payment confirmation page is displayed.
The 'Pay' and 'Request' features are located in the main bottom navigation.
The main ‘Pay’ page displays recent transactions and the primary payment account.
The user selects a recipient or scans a QR code.
The user enters the payment amount and reviews the payment details before submitting.
A payment confirmation page is displayed.
The 'Pay' and 'Request' features are located in the main bottom navigation.
The main ‘Pay’ page displays recent transactions and the primary payment account.
The user selects a recipient or scans a QR code.
The user enters the payment amount and reviews the payment details before submitting.
A payment confirmation page is displayed.
The 'Pay' and 'Request' features are located in the main bottom navigation.

Goal Setting Flow

To add a new goal, users tap the ‘+’ icon.
They choose the type of goal they want to set.
Users enter target amount and monthly contribution.
A confirmation screen is displayed.
A new progress bar appears on the ‘Goal’ page to track progress.
To add a new goal, users tap the ‘+’ icon.
They choose the type of goal they want to set.
Users enter target amount and monthly contribution.
A confirmation screen is displayed.
A new progress bar appears on the ‘Goal’ page to track progress.
To add a new goal, users tap the ‘+’ icon.
They choose the type of goal they want to set.
Users enter target amount and monthly contribution.
A confirmation screen is displayed.
A new progress bar appears on the ‘Goal’ page to track progress.
To add a new goal, users tap the ‘+’ icon.
They choose the type of goal they want to set.
Users enter target amount and monthly contribution.
A confirmation screen is displayed.
A new progress bar appears on the ‘Goal’ page to track progress.

Results & Reflection

What I Learned

Designing financial tools requires a deep understanding of trust, clarity, and emotional reassurance.

Small UX tweaks—like a confirmation page—can significantly reduce user anxiety around payments.

Personal finance is deeply emotional. Clear visuals and motivational features improve user confidence and retention.

Next Steps

A strong mobile-first foundation designed around real user needs

Positive feedback from testers on ease of use and clean layout

Plan to test the rewards feature, including gift cards and free financial advice

Potential future features: AI-based insights and advanced saving recommendations