INVSTR was a 72-hour design challenge I completed as part of a job application. The brief was to design a homepage and dashboard for a trading platform aimed at everyday investors — people interested in stocks, ETFs, and crypto, but who often feel overwhelmed by cluttered, data-heavy interfaces.
I focused on making something clear, simple, and confidence-boosting. I handled everything from basic research and user needs to wireframes and final UI.
InVSTR
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UX/UI Designer
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72 Hours
what’s our problem?
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First-time and everyday investors often feel overwhelmed when using trading platforms due to data-heavy layouts, complex terminology, and non-intuitive interfaces designed with professional traders in mind. These users seek to manage their investments in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies with confidence, but the lack of clarity and user-friendly guidance creates barriers to entry, increases cognitive load, and may lead to poor decision-making or disengagement.
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Design a trading dashboard tailored specifically for novice and casual investors that simplifies complex financial data into clear, digestible visuals and language. The interface will prioritise intuitive navigation, personalised insights, and minimal jargon, while still providing essential features like portfolio overview, market trends, asset performance, and basic trading actions. Through clear information hierarchy, contextual tooltips, and mobile-first design principles, the dashboard will empower users to make informed investment decisions with ease and confidence.
As a UX researcher, my goal is to understand how first-time and everyday investors use trading platforms. What they need, what confuses them, and what helps them feel confident. This research will guide the design of a simple, easy-to-use dashboard that supports their investing goals without overwhelming them.
Meet our user
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Demographics
Age: 29
Occupation: Marketing Coordinator
Location: Sydney, Australia
Income: $70,000/year
Tech Comfort: Moderate
Investment Experience: Beginner to intermediate -
goals
Build long-term wealth by investing in stocks, ETFs, and crypto
Easily understand how his investments are performing
Make informed decisions without getting overwhelmed
Invest consistently, even with a busy schedule -
Frustrations
Overwhelmed by charts, jargon, and cluttered interfaces
Most apps feel tailored to pros and day traders
Hard to tell what information actually matters
Doesn’t always understand why his portfolio went up or down -
Behaviours
Checks his portfolio once a day during his commute
Follows finance influencers on YouTube and Instagram
Likes visual summaries more than spreadsheets -
Needs
Clean, easy-to-read portfolio overview
Simple performance charts (not overcomplicated)
Clear categorisation of investments (Stocks, ETFs, Crypto)
Watchlist and educational tips to help him learn as he goes
Ability to act quickly (buy/sell/add funds) without digging through menus -
Device
Mobile (Primary) – iPhone
KEY INSIGHTS
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#1
Users want a clean, simple interface that doesn’t overwhelm.
Convenience and speed outweigh advanced features.
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#2
Trust is built through clarity and plain-language explanations.
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#3
Mobile-first design is essential for daily on-the-go access.
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#4
Quick access to key actions like checking or trading is vital.
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#5
Users value seeing both short-term and long-term performance.
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#6
Convenience and speed outweigh advanced features.
DESIGN PROCESS
Low fidelity
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Rough brainstorm of INVSTR app
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(1) Rough ideation of what the app would look like
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(2) Rough ideation of what the app would look like
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Rough ideation of “learning resources” to ensure INVSTR is a beginner friendly app
Mid fidelity
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Building off stuff that already works and taking cues from cool designs to make a user interface that’s easy and chill for anyone to use.
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To keep the INVSTR app simple and user friendly, especially given the fact that it is aimed at beginners, these sorts of graphs are not going to be part of the final design
Final prototype
Final prototype
INVSTR was a focused 72-hour design challenge completed during a job application process. The project involved creating a homepage and dashboard for a trading platform targeting everyday investors who seek a simple, trustworthy interface amidst complex and data-heavy options. The approach emphasized clear, intuitive design throughout the entire process, from research and user needs analysis to wireframing and final interface development.