Context

After seeing a pitch that included a prototype I designed, Sallie Mae selected Stable|Kernel to design and build their first native mobile and watch app. Our task was to create a mobile app that makes the loan repayment process as quick and simple as possible so that borrowers would be less likely to have delinquent accounts.

Solution

A native app that prioritizes getting users through payment completion in seconds.

Phase 1: Discovery

We kicked off the project by spending two days workshopping with Sallie Mae. We talked users, pain points and student loan complexities. We took a deep dive into user behavior within the existing website. Together we worked through multiple user scenarios and loan states until we came up with a feature list for our MVP.

Key Insights

• Many users have more than one loan, each with different due dates, states and interest rates

• The current payment system on web is confusing and time consuming

• Many users let loans go into delinquency possible because the current payment system is not user friendly

• Success means take out the guess work for the user

Phase 2: Documenting the User Flow

Documenting the User Flow got everyone - myself, project management, developers and Sallie Mae stakeholders on the same page and able to move forward quickly. Keeping in mind how and when users would access the app, we designed a simplified user experience that allows customers to access loan information and make payments in a matter of seconds.

Phase 4: Visual and Interaction Design

In creating the final visual design, I opted for a sleek, minimal visual style, blending existing brand identity with simplicity—unifying the interface across all areas for an intuitive user experience.