Project Overview
Bankshi is a speculative mobile banking concept that uses augmented reality (AR) and gamification to help young adults build healthy saving habits. Developed in collaboration with Gloria Jing and Syash Gupta during graduate study, the project aimed to make financial literacy approachable by turning banking into a habit-forming experience with emotional value.
At the heart of Bankshi is a virtual Shiba Inu companion, offering real-time encouragement as users set and achieve savings goals. Bankshi transforms personal finance into an interactive journey, blending financial wellness, behavioral psychology, and playful motivation.
❓ Problem Space
Many younger users struggle to connect with traditional banking tools. Static dashboards, financial jargon, and lack of feedback can make managing money feel impersonal.
Opportunity: How can banking systems encourage habit-building through emotional engagement, not just passive tracking?
Target Audience:
First-time banking users, especially young adults.
Users who respond to interactive self-care apps like Finch or Forest.
Financial literacy: Low to moderate, prioritizing education through experience.
Working prototype showcasing Bankshi’s AR interface for immersive savings interaction.
👥 Team & Role
As UX Designer and Researcher, I led:
Interaction Logic & System Design
Mapped out how users would interact with Bankshi over time, focusing on feedback loops, motivation patterns, and pet-care metaphors from gaming systems.
Explored scenarios where the system might fail – what happens when users feel pressure or disengage?
Gamified UX Strategy
Researched virtual pet models from games to understand retention mechanics.
Developed habit-forming flows that promote saving without guilt, using positive reinforcement.
Prototyping & Development Support
Collaborated with our engineer (Syash) to ensure AR functionality worked in Unity.
Validated system behaviors through real-device testing to assess technical feasibility.
Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Google Suite
Unity
C#
C++
Draw.io
Visual design explorations for Bankshi's interface and pet companion, blending playful UX with financial tools.
Visual research into app aesthetics and color psychology for trust and engagement.
Design Process
1. Research & Behavioral Psychology
We analyzed mobile apps across sectors — banking, gaming, social media — to extract principles for user retention and engagement.
Cool tones (blues/greens) = trust and calm
Warm accents = highlight CTAs
Gamified patterns (XP bars, daily check-ins) = drive repeated use
2. Interaction Logic & Conceptual Framing
The team developed Bankshi, an app where users care for a virtual pet as they build financial habits.
The Shiba Inu reflects user progress and emotional cues
AR overlays let users visualize savings goals in real space
Users can “check in” with Bankshi daily, track savings, and receive encouragement
3. Prototyping & AR Integration
Built flows in Figma and Unity. Key design moves included:
Savings goal setting tied to pet growth
Pet animations that respond to financial milestones
Modular interface allowing toggles between playful and traditional views
System mapping Bankshi's logic, feedback cycles, and gamified user flows.
Bankshi helped me explore emerging design tools like AR in UX and gamification as a behavioral driver. It sharpened my ability to:
Design emotionally supportive systems that build positive financial habits.
Collaborate with engineers on cross-disciplinary prototypes bridging design and code.
Think critically about how systems scale emotionally, and what drives user return? What causes friction?
Bankshi sparked deeper questions:
Could AR evolve into a coaching tool for personalized financial growth?
How might machine learning tailor Bankshi's encouragement based on user behaviors?
What if small wins in financial tools were celebrated as much as major goals?
“Bankshi isn't about money. It's about making progress feel personal.”
