SMARTIE — Teaching Kids Money the Smart Way
Overview
SMARTIE is a mobile banking app from 365.bank designed for kids
aged 8–15.
It helps children learn how to save, spend, and
manage money responsibly — with parental oversight built in.
The Challenge
365.bank wanted to introduce a product for young users —
something educational yet engaging.
We needed to
find the right balance between
real banking functionality and
playful, gamified learning.
Design Process
The project ran in two phases:
Phase 1 — MVP
We created the foundation: a banking app with a
payment card, transaction history, and savings goals.
Phase 2 — Gamification
After
testing the MVP, we added a financial literacy quiz that
rewarded kids with custom themes, avatars, and animations.
My Role
I designed user flows, interactions, and the gamification
system.
I created animated illustrations, built
prototypes, and prepared design documentation for
developers.
Outcome
SMARTIE launched for iOS and Android in September 2021.
Post-launch
research showed high engagement:
85% of kids would recommend the app to
friends, and 90% of parents would
recommend it to other families.
"Peter played a key role as product designer on our
SMARTIE mobile banking app for kids, demonstrating
exceptional expertise in UX/UI.
His proactive approach
went beyond simply executing requirements; he consistently
brought valuable recommendations to ensure the application
was both intuitive and engaging for young users, including
creative gamification elements.
Working with Peter was
an outstanding experience thanks to his dedication to
user-centric design and seamless collaboration."
Key Contributions
-
Designed UX, UI, and gamified interactions
- Integrated feedback loops between MVP and final release
- Created animated illustrations and reward visuals
Impact
- Helped introduce financial education to young users
- Strengthened 365.bank’s position as an innovative, family-focused brand
- Demonstrated how gamification can improve engagement and learning outcomes
Note
Read the full story on the Vacuumlabs case study page.
