Pigbud
Designing an MVP AI budget app to help users easily manage their finances.
Product Designer
User Researcher
UX designer
5 months, March'23
Figma
Figjam
UserTesting
01
Context
Problem statement
Many students, especially those from poor backgrounds and unsupportive circumstances, are struggling to pay their tuition fees and cover daily expenses. This financial hardship makes it extremely difficult for them to focus on their studies.
Goals
1.Create a system that is more personalized and helps users make wise decisions.
2. Understand AI and integrate it intelligently within the app.
3. Explore how I could scale this in the future as a company offering something different from competitors.
03
End result
Final flow
Over 5 months, I designed a simple yet powerful app to help users easily create and manage their financial budgets. By focusing on a clean, intuitive interface and essential features, the app provides a straightforward solution for streamlining personal finance management.
02
Process
Detailed process
I used the double diamond approach this project. This iterative process allowed me to understand user needs and continuously improve the app's design. Through multiple rounds of prototyping and user feedback, the app evolved into an intuitive financial management solution.
03
Principles
Building Principles
From my experience as a product designer, I have learned that establishing guiding principles can help me create value. I have adopted the Google AI Principles as a framework. These principles are quite insightful.
The app will prioritize the needs, well-being, and success of the individuals it serves.
Focus individual user preferences and financial goals, leveraging AI to provide personalized insights.
Ensure transparency in financial tracking and recommendations, empowering users to make informed decisions about their finances.
Image 1.0 - Interviewing participants
Image 2.0 - Competitor review document
Users divide or distribute costs with their friends and families.
Gen Z adopts budgeting tools at lower rates, compared to 42% of Millennials (survey).
Users uses AI's like chatGPT for their finances but they often find had to ask right questions.

Hypothesis 1 - Customized Focus Areas):
Users exposed to customized focus areas will have more effective budgeting conversations with AI compared to those without.
Hypothesis 2 - Predefined Prompts):
Users utilizing predefined prompts will have more effective budgeting conversations with AI compared to those without.

As a result of my process, I designed a seamless interactive experience that assisted users in searching for relevant prompts and insights tailored to their specific situations. This user-centric design achieved a high system usability score of 79 from testing, validating the efficacy of the approach taken.
01
Focus on simple things and get good feedback
Initially the scope was too broad, making it hard to focus. I loved exploring ambitious ideas, though reluctant at first to gather feedback.
02
Artificial Intelligence can simplify our life, by lessening complexities
The most meaningful AI provides simple solutions. Though AI evolves rapidly, proven technologies that simplify daily life have the greatest impact.