Visual Budgeting Assistant (VBA)
VBA empowers Splinde users of all financial literacy levels to manage finances effortlessly, transforming complex budgeting data into clear, actionable insights through AI-driven visual storytelling.
Role
Researcher
UI/UX Designer
Timeline
3 months - summer 2024
Tools
Figma
Adobe Firefly
Notion
Perplexity
Research through Design
Secondary Research
Competitor Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Interview
Research Question
Persona Development
Brainstorming
Possible Future
Mind-Mapping
Sketch
AI Character
Design System
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Feedback & Iteration
The Challenge
I took the initiative to find a way to enhance the user experience for Splinde. The primary challenge was to make complex budgeting and financial management tasks intuitive and accessible to users with varying levels of financial literacy. Many users found it difficult to interpret intricate data and perform financial planning effectively without advanced knowledge. To address this, I introduced the Visual Budgeting Assistant (VBA), an AI-powered feature that simplifies data through engaging data visualisation.
Key Results
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Introduced a new feature to the platform
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Made complex financial data more accessible and engaging
What makes Splinde unique?
Splinde is a B2B SaaS fintech platform designed to simplify budgeting and financial management for businesses. With its no-code budgeting capabilities, real-time collaboration features, and dynamic AI-powered insights, Splinde aims to replace traditional, complex tools like Excel. The platform empowers organizations and individuals to efficiently create, compare, and manage budgets, making financial planning both accessible and secure.
The Solution
VBA unlocks new possibilities for users through a personalized, visually immersive experience. By leveraging AI-driven insights, it empowers users to make data-informed financial decisions, fundamentally transforming the way organizations approach budgeting on the Splinde platform.
Empathize
Uncovering User Needs
To streamline the budgeting process, I conducted initial research through interviews with the CEO, complemented by competitor analysis and a SWOT assessment. These discussions offered valuable insights into the future of Splinde and underscored the importance of a customized budgeting assistant, enabling me to develop a deliverable that can be further refined.
Competitor Analysis
Key Findings
Market Opportunities:
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Expand into new areas like HR and operations.
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Enhance AI for smarter recommendations and task automation.
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Improve collaboration for distributed teams.
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Offer flexible deployment options (e.g., hybrid cloud).
Strategic Implications:
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Invest in AI and natural language processing for intuitive experiences.
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Broaden integrations for a cross-functional platform.
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Prioritize customization, security, and compliance for large enterprises.
To succeed in this competitive market, continuous innovation is essential.
SWOT analysis
The SWOT analysis provided valuable insights into the competitive landscape of AI assistants for each website.
Decoding Interviews
I tried to decode the interview through identifying the key themes. I organized the highlighted insights and quotes into 5 categories.
Define
Research Question
How can AI-powered visual storytelling techniques enhance the user experience and engagement within a budgeting management platform?
Persona Development
To understand the diverse user’s expectations and preferences when developing ideas at the next step, I created two primary and two secondary personas, each representing a unique part of our target audience. Primary personas are based on previous user research and secondary personas are based on hypothetical users who might interact with our product.
Ideate
Concept Development
In this phase, I focused on generating a wide range of ideas without initial evaluation, using Notion for brainstorming and the Possible Future technique to combine existing technologies into a potential solution.
Brainstorming
Possible Future
Mind-mapping
Mind Mapping for AI assistant concept for budgeting management website
Initial Sketches
Prototype
AI Character
I created an AI character, Bryan, for professional consultancy, using Adobe Firefly to generate a visually appealing, functional avatar for the platform.
Design System
I developed a design system using the atomic design methodology. This approach deconstructs the interface into smaller components, ensuring consistency and flexibility.
Prototyping
Test
Usability Testing
I conducted usability testing with master’s students of design on the Figma prototype, observing their interactions and gathering feedback to refine the user flow.
Insights from participants
Interested in Splinde as an Excel alternative, valuing the AI assistant's potential.
Thanks to making it to the end!
Reflection & learnings
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Explored the integration of AI-powered visual storytelling in UX design, highlighting the impact on financial management through the VBA prototype.
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Identified improvement areas for VBA, such as enhanced AI-driven analysis, a neutral AI character interface, and customizable visualization options to support diverse user needs.
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Emphasized the value of continuous user feedback for ongoing development, aiming to make VBA an accessible and inclusive tool in financial management.
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Recognized the importance of multimodal AI in future financial tools, with continuous user feedback guiding VBA’s development toward greater inclusivity.