A personal touch to BankingIn 2024 I was asked to submit a design proposal to Drogheda Credit union. Several proposals were submitted but my design was chosen as it captured ethos of community banking, emphasizing the humanistic side of financial services.
About the ProjectUnlike banks, Drogheda Credit Union is owned by their members, meaning they work solely for their benefit, not for profit. My task was to create a website design emphasising member ownership and the community-focused, non-profit structure, ultimately to get new members to join, apply for a loan and explore the range of services designed to empower their financial journey.
My TasksIntuitive Navigation: Create easy access to key features like "Join", "Apply for a Loan", and "Explore Services" ensures the user feels guided rather than overwhelmed.Responsive Design: Craft a mobile-friendly and accessible layout ensures that people from all walks of life can easily interact with the website on any device.Real Member Experiences: Highlighting testimonials or success stories from actual members could make the site feel more personal, focusing on the community rather than just numbers.
Empathy-Driven Visuals: Using soft, welcoming colors and friendly fonts to create a calm, trustworthy environment could reinforce the idea that Drogheda Credit Union is a safe place for people to manage their finances. Financial Wellness Tools: Offering easy-to-digest resources, such as budgeting calculators, guides on saving, or loan repayment schedules, can help members take control of their financial journey. Focus on Education: Promoting education like financial literacy showed the union’s commitment to member empowerment.Human Imagery: Featuring photos of real people rather than stock images to make the experience relatable and community-focused.Local Impact: Highlighting testimonials or success stories from actual members could make the site feel more personal, focusing on the community rather than just numbers.
Problem and SolutionsProblem: Striking the right balance between a visually appealing design and functional simplicity can be difficult. It’s important to ensure the website is beautiful and engaging but not at the expense of easy navigation. Solution: Prioritise user experience (UX) testing to ensure that users can quickly find the information or services they need, regardless of design complexity.Creating Clear Calls to Action (CTAs) Without Being Pushy
Problem: Encouraging new memberships and loan applications without making the site feel too sales-driven can be tricky, especially for a member-owned organization where trust is crucial. Solution: Craft CTAs that emphasize community benefits and member empowerment rather than hard-selling. Use inviting language like “Join the Community” instead of “Sign Up Now,” and offer educational resources to create a softer push.Balancing Functionality with AestheticsProblem: Credit unions offer a wide range of financial services, many of which can be complex. Breaking these down into easily understandable sections, without overwhelming the user, is a challenge. Solution: Use clear, non-technical language with visuals like infographics or short explainer videos. Having a dedicated FAQ or help section for each service can also reduce user confusion.Communicating Complex Financial Services in a Simple WayProblem: Drogheda Credit Union serves a broad demographic, including people of all ages, tech-savviness levels, and financial literacy. We Designed a site that works equally well for seniors, young adults, and everyone in between. Solution: We ensured a responsive and accessible design that caters to all user types. I included features like large, readable fonts, simple forms, and clear navigation to help less tech-savvy users, while advanced options like mobile banking for younger users should be easy to locate.Catering to Diverse AudiencesThe Design Process
Strategy and PlanningSite StructureContent StrategyUser FlowsLow-Fidelity WireframesDiscovery and ResearchStakeholder InterviewsAudience ResearchCompetitor AnalysisDefine Goals and KPIsVisual DesignMoodboards and Design ConceptsHigh-Fidelity MockupsResponsive DesignReview & FeedbackQuality AssuranceUser TestingFunctionality TestingPerformance TestingFinal Checks
