Zirtue
Peer-to-peer lending app
Removing the awkwardness of lending
to friends
After discovering that a UI reskin wouldn’t fix the underlying problems, I advocated for and redesigned the entire experience from restructuring the core loan flows to improving repayment clarity and edge-case handling. This approach strengthened user trust and set the foundation for a more consistent, dependable product that better supports real relationships.
Fintech
P2P
UX/UI
Cross-platform
Prototyping
⟡ Loading ⟡
Role / Scope:
Lead Product Designer. Owned app and website redesign, aligning design strategy with user research insights. Partnered closely with the UX researcher, PM, and cross-functional stakeholders (CEO, PO, engineering team) to transform Zirtue’s complex, compliance-heavy lending flows into a trustworthy, relatable experience.
Timeframe
2020–2021 (7 months)
MVP
Continuous iteration across app and web.
Constraints
High sensitivity: Money between friends/family demanded UX that balanced empathy, trust, and accountability
Business pivot: Initially scoped as a “UI reskin,” expanded to a full UX overhaul under tight deadlines.
Compliance & partnerships: Integration with Synapse banking, Plaid verification, Mastercard, and direct-bill partners (AT&T, Toyota, UT Southwestern)
Low financial literacy & tech anxiety: Users struggled with jargon and unclear repayment terms, requiring simplified language and transparent microcopy.
Key decisions
1.
I designed a guided, plain-language flow clarifying verification (KYC/AML) steps and security rationale. Replaced confusing mascots with meaningful metaphors of “helping hand” to establish trust .
Before
First redesign
The iterated screen
2.
Introduced a clear home dashboard that replaced the confusing opening screen with organized loan activity and intuitive navigation.
First redesign
First redesign
First redesign
4.
Forgive-loan and counteroffer features Collaborated with developers to map edge cases (failed payments, forgiveness, partial repayments) for real-world scenarios, maintaining usability across technical limitations.
Loan to Tom
Total loan amount
$96.80
Paid off
0%
Repayment date is June 16
June 16
Repayment plan
Loan summary
Your repayment plan
Sit back and relax while we take care of business! Your repayments from Tom will be automatically paid to your linked account during each cycle.
receveing money to
Dbs Ltd
••• 3243
Change
✌️ No fee applies
upcoming repayments
1st month
April 23
They owe $331.93
Including $4.18 interest
They pay back $336.11 in total
Report issue
View all
more actions
Forgive entire loan
You can forgive all or a portion of this loan.
The borrower will be notified about this.
They owe $1,008.34
Including $8.38 interest
You forgive $1,008.34 in total
Forgive $1,008.34
3.
Introduced fee visibility, step indicators, and repayment previews, ensuring borrowers always knew where they stood.
First redesign
First redesign
Total interest
paid to lender for 3 months
$20
Total loan cost
for 3 months
$120
Borrowing from
@Jane Doe
$
100
3 months
Set your payback period
Monthly
One-time
Set your payback period
Next
First redesign
Borrowing $1,000 from Jane
When can you pay Jane back?
Choose a payback period between 3 to 36 months.
Monthly
One-time
3 months
Total loan cost
For 3 months
$1,008.34
Total interest
Paid to Jane
$8.34
Payback period
Apr 23
1st monthly payment
You pay $336.11 in total
with $4.17 interest
may 23
2nd monthly payment
You pay $336.11 in total
with $2.78 interest
June 23
3rd monthly payment
You pay $336.11 in total
with $4.18 interest
Next
Results
Increased engagement through intuitive, trust building design.
Enhanced user confidence, visible in increased app conversions.
Direct impact on business strategy by implementing design solutions informed by user research.
Impact
Redefined how Zirtue communicates trust in peer-to-peer lending. The redesign turned a confusing, transactional experience into one that feels secure, human, and transparent, increasing user confidence while supporting business goals like repeat lending and bill-pay expansion.
Zirtue
Peer-to-peer lending app
Removing the awkwardness of lending to friends
After discovering that a UI reskin wouldn’t fix the underlying problems, I advocated for and redesigned the entire experience from restructuring the core loan flows to improving repayment clarity and edge-case handling. This approach strengthened user trust and set the foundation for a more consistent, dependable product that better supports real relationships.
Fintech
P2P
UX/UI
Cross-platform
Prototyping
Role / Scope:
Lead Product Designer. Owned app and website redesign, aligning design strategy with user research insights. Partnered closely with the UX researcher, PM, and cross-functional stakeholders (CEO, PO, engineering team) to transform Zirtue’s complex, compliance-heavy lending flows into a trustworthy, relatable experience.
Timeframe
2020–2021 (7 months)
MVP
Continuous iteration across app and web.
Constraints
Low financial literacy & tech anxiety: Users struggled with jargon and unclear repayment terms, requiring simplified language and transparent microcopy.
High sensitivity: Money between friends/family demanded UX that balanced empathy, trust, and accountability
Business pivot: Initially scoped as a “UI reskin,” expanded to a full UX overhaul under tight deadlines.
Compliance & partnerships: Integration with Synapse banking, Plaid verification, Mastercard, and direct-bill partners (AT&T, Toyota, UT Southwestern)
1.
I designed a guided, plain-language flow clarifying verification (KYC/AML) steps and security rationale. Replaced confusing mascots with meaningful metaphors of “helping hand” to establish trust .
Before
First redesign
The iterated screen
Key decisions
2.
Introduced a clear home dashboard that replaced the confusing opening screen with organized loan activity and intuitive navigation.
First redesign
First redesign
First redesign
3.
Introduced fee visibility, step indicators, and repayment previews, ensuring borrowers always knew where they stood.
First redesign
First redesign
Total interest
paid to lender for 3 months
$20
Total loan cost
for 3 months
$120
Borrowing from
@Jane Doe
$
100
3 months
Set your payback period
Monthly
One-time
Set your payback period
Next
First redesign
Borrowing $1,000 from Jane
When can you pay Jane back?
Choose a payback period between 3 to 36 months.
Monthly
One-time
3 months
Total loan cost
For 3 months
$1,008.34
Total interest
Paid to Jane
$8.34
Payback period
Apr 23
1st monthly payment
You pay $336.11 in total
with $4.17 interest
may 23
2nd monthly payment
You pay $336.11 in total
with $2.78 interest
June 23
3rd monthly payment
You pay $336.11 in total
with $4.18 interest
Next
4.
Forgive-loan and counteroffer features Collaborated with developers to map edge cases (failed payments, forgiveness, partial repayments) for real-world scenarios, maintaining usability across technical limitations.
Loan to Tom
Total loan amount
$96.80
Paid off
0%
Repayment date is June 16
June 16
Repayment plan
Loan summary
Your repayment plan
Sit back and relax while we take care of business! Your repayments from Tom will be automatically paid to your linked account during each cycle.
receveing money to
Dbs Ltd
••• 3243
Change
✌️ No fee applies
upcoming repayments
1st month
April 23
They owe $331.93
Including $4.18 interest
They pay back $336.11 in total
Report issue
View all
more actions
Forgive entire loan
You can forgive all or a portion of this loan.
The borrower will be notified about this.
They owe $1,008.34
Including $8.38 interest
You forgive $1,008.34 in total
Forgive $1,008.34
Results
Increased engagement through intuitive, trust building design.
Enhanced user confidence, visible in increased app conversions.
Direct impact on business strategy by implementing design solutions informed by user research.
Impact
Redefined how Zirtue communicates trust in peer-to-peer lending. The redesign turned a confusing, transactional experience into one that feels secure, human, and transparent, increasing user confidence while supporting business goals like repeat lending and bill-pay expansion.
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