GLOBALRATE
For my first UX design project in the Google UX Design Certification program, I designed a mobile app from the ground up, guiding it through the full design process from initial concept to high-fidelity prototypes. I conducted thorough user research, including interviews and usability testing, to identify user needs and pain points. Insights from this research informed multiple iterations of my design, allowing me to refine the user experience based on real feedback. This project gave me hands-on experience in applying user-centered design principles and reinforced the value of continuous testing and iteration.
TITLE: GLOBALRATE
ROLE: Project Lead
DURATION: May 2025 (2 months)
PROBLEM
Currency Conversion Apps Lack Real-World Utility
Most currency conversion apps on the market offer only basic functionality, typically just a simple calculator, without addressing real-world travel needs or offering a visually engaging experience. On the other hand, apps that focus heavily on visual design often lack practical utility, prioritizing aesthetics over usability. Travelers frequently need both up-to-date exchange rates and quick access to nearby currency exchange locations, yet few apps provide both in one seamless experience. This disconnect creates inefficiencies and frustration for users navigating unfamiliar areas.
SOLUTION
Streamlining Currency Conversion with Additional Features
I designed a mobile app that combines real-time currency conversion with location-based services, allowing users to find nearby exchange offices and navigate to them seamlessly. The app also uses gathered user data to warn about potential scams or high transaction fees, offering a safer, more informed experience. With its intuitive design and streamlined functionality, the app enhances travel efficiency by reducing the need to switch between multiple tools while ensuring a visually engaging and user-friendly interface.
Combines real-time currency conversion with location-based services in one app
Enhances efficiency by reducing the need to switch between multiple apps
Warns users of potential scams and high transaction fees at nearby exchange locations for a safer experience.
Offers a clean, modern, and intuitive user interface
RESEARCH
Online Articles
Conducted a comprehensive research overview to identify the pain points travelers face when dealing with foreign currencies.
Competitive Analysis
I analyzed leading companies in the currency conversion space and evaluated their platforms based on key factors such as usability, visual design, feature set, and overall user experience.
User Interviews
Interviewed a vetted group of co-workers, friends, and family members who had all traveled internationally within the past two years and had experience exchanging foreign currency.
"The median individual reported fraud loss by people 18-59 was $500 in 2021."
Source: FTC.gov
"I mean it sucks but I don't have the time to go to each location and check [exchange rates]"
Source: User Quote
USER INTERVIEWS
Overall, users seek a cost-effective way to exchange currency paired with a convenient and seamless user experience.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
USER A
USER B
USER C
"I get a lot of anxiety" [referring to finding a location to exchange currency]
"[I just need] something simple that shows me the best options nearby without all the clutter." [referring to the process of converting currencies when abroad]
"[Somewhere that] won't charge crazy rates" [referring to the process of converting currencies when abroad]
Reliable, but no mobile option
riddled with pop-up ads leading to an unpleasant user experience
Poor accessibility
Lacks location function
PERSONAS
FuRen Smith
"I have a passion for travel but don't want to hurt my wallet TOO much"
Age: 25
Education: BA
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Family: Single (living with one roommate)
Gender: F
Race: Chinese-American
FuRen is recently graduated from college and working as a Channel Operations Marketing Specialist at a mid-sized tech company. In her free time, FuRen enjoys traveling the world when finances allow for it. While abroad, FuRen becomes frustrated while trying to navigate local exchange rates and dealing with extreme up charges on transaction fees.
Rick Miller
"I don't like clutter. I like convenience"
Age: 67
Education: Masters
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Family: Wife and 2 children
Gender: M
Race: White
Rick is a recently retire professor at a college based out of San Francisco. He has acquired quite a sum of foreign currency on his previous travels and wishes to exchange it back to USD. He wants to find somewhere local that is the most convenient to exchange his cash back.
STORY BOARDS
FuRen is wandering around Chandni Chowk Bazaar in Delhi when a bag catches her eye. She notes the price of the item and wonders how much the cost is in USD. She opens the GLOBALRATE app to convert the price of the bag in Rupees to USD. She finds the item to be a reasonable price.
FuRen then goes to count her change. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough rupee to purchase the item. She then realizes that using GLOBALRATE, she can discover the closest location to exchange money. She navigates to the exchange location and returns back to the vendor at Chandni Chowk to purchase the bag. She is very thrilled with her new purchase.
USER FLOW
WIREFRAMES
USABILITY STUDY
After completing the wireframe prototype I conducted a moderated Usability Study with five participants. I summarized my findings and categorized them by theme. This led to some key insights, the largest one being:
Based on the theme that most users found it difficult to navigate to other sections on the app from the 'FIND' page, an insight is that there should be a quick/intuitive navigation point from this page.
VISUAL GUIDE
HI-FI MOCKUP
USER TESTING v2
After conducting the second user study I changed the user flow to be more streamlined
"Having this is both places seems counterintuitive..."
SOURCE: USER C
NEW
Changed navigation bar to include 'History' option
Added 'History' page
HI-FI MOCKUP v2
Edits based on second user study
INTERACTIVE PROTOTYPE