Chip-In:
A Group Savings App

A money management app for young people to save towards goals together; staying social whilst financially responsible.
Money Management
App design
Student project
Your alt text
My role

Research & Analysis
Branding
Wireframing & Prototyping

Tools

Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop

Timeline

8 weeks
Sept-Oct 2024

Type

Solo work
Student project

I wanted to design a solution that addresses a key challenge faced during group travel, with the aim of improving the experience for all parties involved.
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The Problem

Group trips can be a great way to connect, but managing shared expenses often causes stress — whether it's one person always paying or chasing others for their share.

There are tools that exist that can help groups split costs but that is always after the fact.

We found out that people don't actually think having that conversation is awkwward but we know shared goals build connection, especially when everyone feels included and in control.



The challenge

How might we design an app for a group of people to save money together, making travel feel fair, fun and friendship-first?

Our Solution

  • A shared money management app that helps friends save together towards a common goal.
  • Promotes smarter saving habits and financial responsibility.
  • Designed for fairness, transparency, and stronger friendships through collaborative planning.

Design Process

Academic Research
& Surveys
User Journey
& User Flow
Sketching
& User Testing
Wireframing
& Prototyping

Key features

Academic Research & Surveys
My research explored how money impacts friendships in group travel. I started with cost-splitting, but user feedback showed it wasn’t the real pain point and existing apps already cover it well.

Digging deeper into group dynamics and particularly income differences, I found the real tension happens during or after the trip.

So I reframed the problem:

How might we help groups save together beforehand to create a more equal, low-stress travel experience?
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User Journey & User Flow
We expanded our target audience beyond travellers to include socially active users who regularly chip in for group expenses like birthday presents, shared meals, and event costs.

Our user journey mapping revealed that the saving and coordination process could easily become complex without a clear structure.

To ensure a seamless experience, we carefully mapped out the user flow to reduce cognitive load and guide users through group
  • goal-setting
  • contribution tracking
  • spending
all in a way that felt intuitive and collaborative.
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Sketching & User Testing
My goal in the UI design phase was to make the experience as clear and actionable as possible. I focused on simplifying onboarding, creating shallow, action-oriented menus, and breaking down complex tasks into smaller, digestible steps.

I also prioritized integrating social features that reflect group dynamics and used goal-oriented visuals to motivate users.

User testing was a key part of this phase, it helped validate design decisions and ensure the interface felt intuitive and engaging across different use cases.
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Wireframing & Prototyping
This phase was where structure met style. I used wireframes to establish layout and functionality, but as I moved into high-fidelity prototyping, the focus shifted to bringing the brand to life visually.

While most existing apps leaned into dull, corporate blues, Chip-In is vibrant and encouraging in it's approach whilst still feeling age-appropriate. We wanted users to feel like they were joining something fun and collaborative, not managing a bank account.
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final design

Last project
SUA: A Rotuman Language Music App
filololo.design@gmail.com
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