Industry
Fintech, Gaming, Mobile App
Client
Mana Interactive Inc.
Mana — Fintech Rewards App for Gamers
Designing a Fintech Rewards App that Speaks to Gamers
Mana is a fintech mobile app built for gamers, combining banking with a rewards-driven debit card and gamified features. Users earn points from daily spending, unlock exclusive gaming perks, and track finances in a sleek, gaming-inspired UI. I was hired as Lead UX/UI Designer to shape the full user experience and visual identity, including card management, rewards, quests, and perks. I worked with product and development teams to design a mobile-first app that feels like a game but functions as a solid banking tool. From the ground up, I created user flows, screen designs, and interactive prototypes in Figma, collaborating with a junior UX/UI designer I onboarded. We ran 1-on-1 user testing with clickable Figma prototypes—first with gamers from Discord opening their first checking accounts, then with active users post-launch—to polish the experience. The app had to be intuitive for young gamers despite complex banking tasks. I simplified spending tracking and rewards management while crafting a visual style that fit the gaming aesthetic. Early on, I set up a design system in Figma to keep the look consistent as we iterated based on user feedback and dev needs.
Team Leadership, VR, and Project Outcome
I also managed and coached a junior marketing designer who produced business development slideshows, social post graphics, Instagram stories, and other marketing materials. I kept her work aligned with Mana’s brand while driving the app’s design forward. We worked on a VR app for Quest, and I designed the MVP version, which reached development. It didn’t go further due to resource constraints. Near the end, I began designing an AI onboarding flow—swapping long legal forms for a conversational AI assistant—but it was only in early testing when the project stopped. Mana shut down after our banking partner, MVB Bank, needed replacing. Switching to another partner was too costly compared to the app’s revenue, so leadership ended the project. Key contributions: - Designed Mana’s entire mobile experience and visual identity from scratch - Led user testing with gamers using Figma prototypes before and after launch - Built a consistent design system in Figma with a junior UX/UI designer - Mentored a junior marketing designer on brand materials - Designed an MVP VR app and early AI onboarding concept Tools used: Figma (design & prototyping), UX/UI Design, User Testing, Mobile App Design, VR Design, Mentorship.
