Overview
In the rapidly evolving landscape of finance, the way consumers make purchases has become increasingly diverse. With options ranging from in-store to online shopping, and even through vending machines, today’s buyers have the flexibility to choose how they wish to obtain products. One particular trend that has gained significant traction, especially in recent years, is the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model. Companies such as Klarna, AfterPay, and QuadPay have demonstrated the value of BNPL services, especially during the pandemic, offering users an accessible payment structure for their purchases.
Objective
The focus of this project was to explore the integration of BNPL within a traditional banking system, particularly with a prominent institution like Chase Bank. The core idea was to allow users to break down their purchases into manageable installments while still receiving their items immediately. This approach provides consumers with financial flexibility, paying in smaller increments over a set period, without the burden of paying in full upfront.
For merchants, the advantage lies in receiving the full purchase amount upfront, ensuring cash flow stability. For users, this model offers the convenience of splitting larger purchases into installments, reducing financial strain, and offering a sense of security. Given that users already trust their bank with their finances, the concept of paying via a trusted financial institution adds an extra layer of comfort and security.
Design & Solution
This project aimed to design a streamlined, secure, and user-friendly BNPL experience within a bank’s ecosystem. Key considerations included user trust, seamless integration with existing banking apps, and ensuring that both banks and customers felt confident in the system. The solution explored the possibilities of enabling users to instantly divide payments into equal installments while still ensuring their immediate receipt of the purchased goods.
Outcomes & Insights
Through research, analysis, and iterative design, the concept aimed to bridge the gap between traditional banking systems and emerging BNPL trends. The vision was not just to introduce a payment method, but to establish an ecosystem that offered enhanced flexibility, security, and convenience for all parties involved—shaping the future of personal finance and retail interactions.
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Persona
This is one of the rare instances that I started my designs without sketching first, I was at a family gathering without paper and pencil when I first started designing. Since I wasn't going to be doing any sketching, I felt that it was very important for me to create a persona before I dove in too deep.
*I eventually circled back and decided to do a few sketches the next day for further clarity*
This is the persona that I created to guide me throughout my design
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Sketches
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Problem Statement
Zach's main issue is that he needs a way to comfortably pay off purchases in installments. So how do we do solve his problem? Provide him with the exact services that he's been yearning for.
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Journey Map
From the persona, I wanted to create a journey map so I can visualize the users' feelings as they are introduced to the Chase Pay feature and then as they move along through it.
This would help me later down the line when I am prioritizing design features that would be most beneficial to the user.
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Prototype
Once you complete the checkout process, make sure to click "Visit Chase" so that you can see the Chase Pay dashboard!
