Summary:

Retriew Gear will empower users to effortlessly track their Crypto and Stocks Portfolios while staying updated with real-time Weather data. My role as the Lead Visual Designer on this project involved creating an intuitive and visually appealing companion app for both web and mobile.

Problem Statement:

The challenge was to design and develop "Retriew," a multifunctional device and companion app that allows users to efficiently track their Crypto and Stocks Portfolios, as well as stay updated with real-time Weather data. We aimed to provide a seamless user experience, making portfolio management accessible to a diverse user base, from novice investors to finance professionals. Additionally, we sought to infuse a vintage aesthetic into the product while maintaining compactness and legibility in the device's 3-row LED display.

To address these challenges, the project encompassed comprehensive user research, competitor analysis, and a user-centric approach to design the companion app for web and mobile. The goal was to ensure that users could easily manage their portfolios, switch between tracking modes, record transactions, and customize data display using Sets. Furthermore, we aimed to design a Master Panel for monitoring and provide investors with detailed documentation.

Research and Analysis

Gear Design:

In terms of product design, our goal was to infuse it with a vintage charm, resembling an old radio but featuring a 3-row LED system instead of a traditional grill. Our challenge was to maintain a compact form factor while ensuring readability, limiting us to displaying three rows of information at any given time. However, we introduced a feature that allows users to create additional sets to showcase more currency-related data if desired.

The device features three knobs— one for changing mode, one for toggling between Sets and the other for switching between Categories. The final design for the gear is currently in progress.

Market Study

I studied popular portfolio tracking apps such as CoinMarketCap, CoinStats & CoinGekpo Apps for Crypto, Investing.com App, Google Finance, Real Time Stocks Track & Alert & TradingView App for Stocks and AccuWeather & The Weather Channel for Weather to understand how data is displayed, quantity, and usability. This research helped in defining feature sets for each category - Crypto, Stocks, and Weather.

Features Study

Our intended users ranged from young investors to seasoned finance professionals. To understand their preferences better, we conducted a short survey to gauge the importance of each feature.

Key Design Challenges and Solutions

Companion App Design:

I designed a companion app for web and mobile, enabling users to manage their portfolios and device settings. Keeping the UI minimal and clean simplified the portfolio creation process.

Portfolio Flexibility:

Users could seamlessly switch between Portfolio Tracking and Currency Tracking, catering to both beginners and experts. Users could create portfolios by manually inputting purchase amounts, recording transactions (Buy, Sell, Transfer), and viewing a detailed transaction history.

Custom Data Displays:

The challenge of showcasing extensive data on a compact Retriew gear was resolved with "Sets." Users could create multiple sets of three inputs each, offering a high degree of data tracking.

Master Panel for Monitoring:

A Master Panel was designed to keep users informed about user accounts, active devices, bug reports, and the most tracked Crypto and Stock Holdings.

Conclusion

In summary, "Retriew" represents an ambitious fusion of vintage design and modern functionality, tailored to cater to users with varying levels of financial interests. The project involved a rigorous process of research, analysis, and design to create a companion app that simplifies portfolio management and offers an engaging user experience. The introduction of Sets for data customization, a clear distinction between Portfolio and Currency Tracking, and the integration of a Master Panel for monitoring all contribute to making "Retriew" a robust and user-friendly tool for tracking investments. While the app designs have been delivered, the final gear design is still in progress, marking the impending launch of this innovative portfolio tracking solution.

Disclaimer: The project discussed herein was undertaken as a part of the Little Studio team. The rights to this project are jointly owned by the client and the studio. This case study is presented solely to showcase my individual contributions to the project.