Absa.co.za | 2015-2017
BACKGROUND | UX/UI DESIGNER
I started at Absa in the African Design Studio I had a couple of months left in my internship, shadowing the most talented designers (UI/ UX/ CX), working on the website, the new Barclays/Absa website, by far the most exciting time of my life getting actually, realize my dreams.
Absa/Barclays is a merger of two banking websites that provides users with financial solutions through their digital platform namely the websites for customers to be able to open accounts, open credit cards, and open loans (home, car, etc). It solves the traffic that we face at the branch for problems we can solve digitally while keeping our client’s money safe by creating compliance-driven technological features to solve business and client-driven problems. My role was to research, design, and test all UI. I collaborated with design, product development, and engineering to launch this project.
Worked on user testings ( interviews), wireframing, UI component designs, iconography & image treatment. Worked on user testing creating questionnaire templates for the user. Designing prototypes seeing the users understand and use your App/ website getting insight from their feedback and working to create the best solution for our users.
DISCOVERY PHASE: User Testing
After distilling the wireframes, I used UT report templates from the UX designer and observed to take feedback notes. Working with the UX designer who created the wireframes, we used the feedback from UT to create the best experience for the user.
DISCOVERY PHASE: Competitive research
After the BA meeting discussion, I researched and went on competitive bank sites to see what I needed to definitely add learn from, and improve, also went to Dribbble and Pinterest for component research, noun project, and Freepik for illustration research using Sketch and illustrator to find the best solution for your client and the best solution in the business. Working with the UX designer and other UI designers, we use the screenshots or images from the research and find the best solutions.
DESIGN PHASE: Wireframing
After creating the UI components, I created low-fidelity wireframes using Sketch to iterate through design options quickly. Working with the UX designer, we used the wireframes to discuss product strategy.
DESIGN PHASE: UI design
After going through the wireframes, I designed the UI screens from the wireframed screens, researching UI component design using Sketch to iterate through design options quickly with the opportunity to make changes and tweaks. Working with the UX designer and the developers, we used the UI screens to discuss product strategy.
DESIGN PHASE: Prototype
After the UI components are created and approved, seeing is believing, the user was not struggling to click through the medium-fidelity prototypes using Sketch and InVision to iterate through design options quickly. They were also used in the UserTesting with 8 users to gauge between two final design options. Working with the product manager and The design team, we used the wireframes to discuss product strategy.
Summary
My learnings?
That there are challenges with any project but with dedication and hard work, a team can achieve the big things. UI makes a big impact on the user’s experience by adding the right level of delight when the user might have otherwise been frustrated. Helping guide the users along with a new user journey flow. I learned about the process of creating and updating a banks’ website and all the logistics that go into approval from the relevant departments and stakeholders. Web development is both complex and fun!
Were there any insights from user research that surprised you?
How users interact with colors especially colorblind users. How easier this new feature will make the users experience.
What was the most challenging thing about this project and how did you overcome it?
The deadline pressures as an intern, but we worked long hours to ensure we do not miss the deadline and our objectives.
What quantitative data can you show to measure the success of the product?
We received multiple awards for our work. Namely, The Gold for customer experience design, 2017 Africa Digital Awards, Gold and Silver, 2017 Bookmarks awards for absa.co.za
What part of the design process did you particularly enjoy?
I honestly enjoyed every part of the process especially because everything was a learning experience for me while working with so many talented team members. I enjoyed the traveling as well because we worked between the JHB and CPT headquarters.
UI screens
