CASE STUDY
Tailored UX for the One Percent
Precision Product Design for High-Net-Worth Clients
-
Client:
A Century-Old Investment & Wealth Management Firm -
Role:
Lead Product Designer -
Team:
Private Wealth Management -
Duration:
2022
-
Client:
A Century-Old Investment & Wealth Management Firm -
Role:
Lead Product Designer -
Team:
Private Wealth Management -
Duration:
2022
-
Client:
A Century-Old Investment & Wealth Management Firm -
Role:
Lead Product Designer
-
Team:
Private Wealth Management -
Duration:
2022
Embedded UX Leadership in Action
In early 2021, I led the UX design for a high-stakes Android app targeting high-net-worth individuals—users who demand speed, polish, and absolute confidence in the tools they use.
The project came with intense expectations and a tight timeline. We were tasked with designing an Android app from scratch, training the internal design team, and delivering a reusable component library—without disrupting the firm’s established iOS experience or compromising on quality.
This was a defining moment for me as a product designer and leader. It also helped shape the foundations of The UX Leadership Lab: providing embedded, outcome-driven design leadership that integrates seamlessly into teams and delivers results under pressure.
The Challenge
The client—one of the most respected names in global finance—needed an Android experience that matched the polish of its iOS counterpart while honoring the platform’s native behaviors.
But designing for this audience meant we couldn’t rely on large-scale user testing or broad behavioral data. The stakes were high, the users were discerning, and the margin for error was slim.
Goals and Objectives
- Deliver the Android app in under 9 months
- Build a reusable Android design system
- Train internal designers to maintain and evolve the product
- Match iOS features while optimizing for Android users
- Surface and resolve legacy UX issues in the existing experience
Research & Discovery
Methods:
- Competitive benchmarking of apps used by high-net-worth users
- Deep analysis of Android UI patterns and gesture behavior
- Comparative study of iOS-to-Android interaction models
- Multiple rounds of usability testing with target users
Key Insights
- Users expected cross-platform consistency without compromise
- Android users had strong mental models for navigation and behavior
- The iOS app had known friction points we could improve upon
- Visual clarity and task efficiency directly influenced trust
Design Process
Strategic Planning & Ideation:
- Developed an Android-native experience using Material Design
- Synthesized iOS feedback to proactively solve known issues
- Aligned design goals with stakeholder and user priorities
Wireframing & Prototyping:
- Built low-fidelity flows to align on structure
- Created high-fidelity prototypes in Figma for testing and handoff
Iterative Testing & Refinement:
- Refined navigation, iconography, and flows based on feedback
- Used Android UX improvements to inform updates later applied to iOS
Challenges & Solutions
Build Trust on a Tight Timeline
Structured planning, clear documentation, and regular check-ins kept momentum high and surprises low.
Deliver Value Beyond Android
Solved iOS usability issues during Android design—raising quality across the ecosystem.
Create a Shared Design Language
Developed a robust, reusable component library for future Android work.
Empower the Internal Team
Equipped in-house designers with rationale, tools, and documentation to own the product going forward.
Final Solution
- Fully customized Android app aligned with Material Design
- Streamlined navigation and a refined visual system
- Reusable pattern library for future enhancements
- Platform-native interaction logic with seamless feature parity
Results & Impact
Delivered on time and on budget
Earned strong internal praise, leading to additional work
Helped establish Android UX standards across the org
Increased trust, engagement, and usability among HNW users
Showcased the kind of embedded leadership that defines The UX Leadership Lab
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just about shipping an app—it was about delivering confidence at every level: for users, for stakeholders, and for the internal team.
It taught me how embedded UX leadership can transform not just products, but the people and processes behind them. That’s the mindset I bring into every engagement today through The UX Leadership Lab—clarity in the chaos, momentum in the complexity.