FINTECH
Designing Inclusion: Redesigning Digital Solutions for MSME Microfinancing
COMPANY
Multisys Technologies Corporation
AppendPay
ROLE
Lead Product Designer
EXPERTISE
UI/UX, Design Audit, Design System
YEAR
2020
Background
AppendPay is a microfinancing solution company that offers a wide array of eCommerce channels to MFIs and micro, small, and medium scale entrepreneurs.
This project focused on designing a full digital experience for a financial platform supporting micro-entrepreneurs. Originally intended as a loaning portal, the app quickly evolved into a feature-rich mobile wallet. It now allows users to pay bills, buy load, send and receive money, and even shop — all within a single, seamless platform.
The goal was to create not just a functional tool, but an accessible and empowering financial ecosystem wrapped in thoughtful, user-centered design ✨
Things to do:
Change the current look and branding of the project
Attract users outside the previously set market
In one verified account, users can have multiple bank (MFI) accounts (each with a different loan and e-wallet balance), which they should be able to switch back and forth between easily depending on what they prefer to use
Create a CMS, customer web app, and a web-based help center.
Understanding the users
Who are the users?
The target users of AppendPay are the older generation that loans for their needs. But today, even younger people are interested in applying for loans, so we wanted to make the aesthetics of the UI appealing to younger users, too.
The original design was clean but overly saturated. I replaced the cobalt blue with a blend of electric indigo and violet for a more balanced look, and added a lighter mustard tone as a secondary gradient.
What did we do?
Improving UX
The goal was to make the product feel more alive and modern — something that users would feel comfortable using, with a smoother onboarding experience. Getting there took multiple drafts, lots of trial and error, and feedback from both designers and non-designers alike. Finalizing the app’s brand identity took time, but once that was locked in, everything flowed more easily.
I rolled out the updates across all design assets — mobile app, website, CMS, and even pubmats. The mobile app alone has over 150 screens, the CMS over 100, and yes — I even designed the email layout! ✉️ Whew.
Here’s a peek to the version 1 and version 2 designs respectively:
Beyond updating the look of buttons and input fields, the user flow also changed. Instead of showing an intro screen with login and register options after the splash screen, users are now taken directly to the login screen. We’ve also removed the password step — users can now log in using their registered MPIN or biometrics for a faster, more seamless experience.
In version 1, newly registered users were welcomed with a “Get Verified Now” button, a list of modules, and a reminder to complete their profile to unlock additional features.
In version 2, users are first shown an introduction slider (visible only once after installation), followed by an intro dashboard that highlights what the app has to offer. Once the account is created, users are directed to their main dashboard. We also introduced an easier way to switch between MFIs (Microfinance Institutions) via a dropdown in the loan balance section.
