Redesigned Key Screens of the RBC Banking App to Enhance Usability and User Interface
Introduction About Project
This case study details the redesign of the RBC mobile banking app's home and payments screens. The project's goal was to improve user experience by streamlining navigation, prioritizing key actions, and integrating a new QR code payment feature to meet the demands of modern digital banking.
What is the problem?
Ineffective Home Screen Layout and Navigation
When I opened the RBC Mobile app, I wasn’t greeted by options that made me feel in control of my finances. Instead, I was met with a beautiful photo and a generic “Good Afternoon” greeting that, while warm, didn’t help me pay bills, check balances, or send money. It consumed precious space where function should lead.
That moment made me ask:
What if the RBC home screen prioritized action over aesthetics?
This question sparked a deep dive into how layout, hierarchy, and navigation can either empower or slow down users.
Following same boring steps everytime to send money to someone
The process of sending money in banking apps, is cumbersome due to the repetitive requirement of adding recipients to a contact list. This multi-step process is time-consuming and disrupts the seamless user experience expected in modern banking apps. Users expect a more streamlined and efficient way to transfer funds without the need for repetitive recipient management.
Imagine needing to send $50 to a friend something you’ve done dozens of times. You tap into the RBC app, only to face the same ritual: search → add recipient (again) → confirm details → finally, send.
GOAL
1. Improve the app's user experience by making the home screen and payment flow more intuitive.
2.Prioritize key actions on the home screen to provide users with immediate control over their finances.
3.Integrate a QR code payment feature to streamline money transfers and enhance user convenience.
USER RESEARCH
Uncovering Pain Points in User Process: Challenges in Banking App UI and Transaction Experience
To gain empathy and understand current banking experiences, I interviewed six people about their interactions with banking apps, focusing on UI design challenges and transaction-related frustrations. I took a qualitative, open-ended research approach to explore usability pain points, navigation difficulties, and areas where the user experience could be improved for smoother and more efficient transactions.
GUIDING OBJECTIVES
How do users typically navigate banking apps for transactions? Why?
What features are most important to users when making transactions? Why?
What are the common pain points users experience in the transaction process? Why?
How do users perceive the current UI design of banking apps? Why?
What improvements do users wish to see for a better transaction experience? Why?
WIREFRAME & PROTOTYPE
With fundamental concepts we sketched out some low fi-wireframes that helped us identify key elements.
LO-FI WIREFRAME
HI-FI WIREFRAME
FINAL DESIGN
KEY TAKEAWAYS AND LEARNING
This project reinforced the critical lesson that true design innovation comes from a deep understanding of user needs, not just a list of features. By directly addressing the user's struggle with a "complex" and "unintuitive" payment flow, I learned that a thoughtful, research-driven redesign can have a much greater impact than simply adding new functionalities. The key takeaway is that balancing aesthetics with a focus on core user tasks is paramount. By prioritizing essential actions and integrating a new feature like QR code payments into an existing mental model, the project demonstrated how strategic design decisions can directly transform a frustrating experience into a seamless and intuitive one.
