2024

GoldStone Investment App

GoldStone Investment App is inspired by the issue of China's growing investment needs of exploring overseas markets.

By using this application, investors from China will be able to gain more insights into the international stocking market as well as learn more about the financial potential.

The project was completed individually for self-improvement. The prototype was built using Figma, Photoshop, Sketch, and other Adobe Creative Suites.

Self Improvement Project

ROLE

UI/UX Designer; Story Teller

DURATION

~3 months

TEAM

Me, Myself and I

Project Goal 🎯

The goal is to design a user-friendly financial trading app that empowers Chinese users to trade both US and HK stocks with ease, while also providing relative resources and real-time market insights to enhance users' understanding of the US and HK financial markets. The app aims to bridge the gap between market accessibility and informed decision-making for a global audience.

Problem Statement

“Chinese users often face challenges in trading US and HK stocks due to platform complexities, lack of educational resources, and inadequate support for market insights.”

PART I - USER PORTRAIT 🧑

Demographics:

Age: 35 – 65 years old, as this group obtains a strong desire to trade and is financially active.
Location: International users, primarily in Asia-Pacific, the US, and other markets interested in US and HK stocks.
Occupation: Working professionals, part-time traders, or aspiring investors.
Financial Literacy: A mix of beginner to intermediate-level traders looking for accessible tools and reliable information.
Tech Proficiency: Familiar with mobile and web apps but prefer simple, intuitive interfaces.

Goals

Expand their portfolio by trading in US and HK markets.
Access real-time stock market data and insights.
Diversify investments globally to reduce risk and maximize returns.
Gain a better understanding of financial markets through educational tools.
Use a platform that supports secure, seamless, and fast transactions.
Stay informed about market trends, stock performance, and key economic events in both regions.

Pain Points

Complex interfaces: Overly crowded dashboards make it hard to find essential features.
High fees: Hidden transaction fees or costs that reduce profitability.
Limited access: Lack of multi-market trading options or dual-market visibility.
Insufficient educational resources: Many platforms don't cater to beginners or provide context for market movements.
Language barriers: Inadequate support for multilingual users (e.g., Cantonese, Mandarin, English).
Inconsistent market insights: Real-time data and news are either absent or delayed.
Trust issues: Concerns over platform security or regulatory compliance for international users.

Personas

Assistant Manager
36 Years old

ALEX SU

According to my research, there has been a decrease in the number of these target user groups annually as after forming a family, their ability to risk-taking lowered, and as their work takes more majority of their time, they rarely can spend a large portion of time on the trading platform. Their investment choices switch from stocking to funding products.

Busy work / Switching to Funding products

MAX NIU

Creative Director
63 years old

For this type of users, the market shows a declining trend, the number of users decreased immensely in recent years. Have been exploring the investment field for quite some time and needed a good platform to use his knowledge.

User Decreasing / Mature Investors

RIVER WASTON

Head Designer
27 years old

At present, users of this age group are increasing. The main group of individual investors. Compared with the older generation, this generation has a higher level of knowledge and a certain degree of anti-risk ability.

Target Audience / Ability of Taking Risks

PART II - DESIGN OBJECTIVES⚓

Simplified Trading Experience

Create an intuitive interface that caters to both beginners and experienced traders.
Include a clean dashboard that highlights key account information (e.g., portfolio value, market watchlist).
Use consistent design patterns, icons, and layouts for easy navigation.
Implement progressive onboarding to guide new users through trading basics.

Accessible Real-Time Market Data and Analysis

Integrate real-time stock data for US and HK markets, presented in a user-friendly format like graphs, charts, and performance comparisons.
Add personalized notifications for stock price movements, news updates, and market trends.
Provide market analysis tools (e.g., technical indicators, stock screeners) with explanations for non-experts.

Personalization and Accessibility

Include customization options such as:
- A watchlist for favorite stocks.
- Notifications tailored to user preferences (e.g., price alerts, market news).
Offer dark mode and adaptable fonts for visual accessibility.
Ensure localization with multi-language support (English, Mandarin, Cantonese).

Trust and Security Features

Highlight robust security measures, including biometric login and data encryption.
Provide transparency about fees and charges with detailed transaction histories.
Include a clear overview of compliance with international trading regulations.

Competitive Analysis

PART III - IDEATION 💡

Through user research, I found that many international traders face significant barriers when trading US and HK stocks. Common complaints included overly complex interfaces, a lack of market-specific educational resources, and difficulty accessing dual-market trading platforms. This underscored a clear need for a streamlined, intuitive platform that made international trading more accessible and informed.

To address these challenges, I started with brainstorming sessions that focused on user-centered solutions. Using techniques like mind mapping, Crazy Eights, and HMW statements, I explored a wide range of ideas. The goal was to design features that not only meet user needs but also provide a seamless trading experience.

Iteration 1 - Define and Sketches

For example, many users mentioned feeling overwhelmed by complex dashboards in existing apps. I decided to simplify this by designing a customizable home screen. It would display real-time market data and essential trading tools at a glance, with additional features available through intuitive menus.

Another insight revealed that users wanted to stay informed and engage with peers in real-time. To address this, I envisioned a News and Community page. The News page would provide timely updates on US and HK markets, while the Community page would allow users to share insights, discuss trends, and collaborate on trading strategies

GoldStone App Map

Iteration 2 - Wireframing

GoldStone Wireframing

Through the discussions with peers I discovered the challenge of how to implement dual-market trading without overloading the user. A breakthrough came with the idea of a market toggle - allowing users to seamlessly switch between US and HK stocks while maintaining a consistent interface.

Given the project scope, I decided to defer advanced technical analysis tools for future iterations. Instead, I focused on real-time data, the News Page, and Community features to create a well-rounded MVP that balanced functionality and usability.

Iteration 3 - Reflecting and Conclusion

Through this ideation process, three guiding principles emerged: simplicity, accessibility, and empowerment. These drove the creation of a trading app that allows international users to confidently access US and HK markets while gaining valuable market insights and educational support.

The ideation phase reinforced the importance of iterative thinking and prioritizing user needs. By maintaining a strong focus on simplicity and adaptability, I ensured that the platform remained user-friendly while addressing critical pain points