Nancial
/23
Challenge
South Africa's financial literacy crisis required more than just another educational platform. Our research showed that existing solutions were failing because they focused on information delivery rather than behaviour change. We needed to create an experience that could bridge the gap between knowledge and action.
Market Context:
70% of South Africans struggle with basic financial concepts
Existing platforms see 80% dropout rates
Mobile-first access is crucial for reach
Traditional approaches aren't engaging young users
Deep Discovery
We approached this challenge through a comprehensive research program that looked beyond just educational needs to understand the cultural and behavioural aspects of financial learning.
Research Process:
Our three-week discovery phase included:
20+ user interviews across diverse demographics
6 competitor platform analyses
Financial behaviour pattern mapping
Educational journey tracking
Through this process, we uncovered crucial behavioural insights:
Learning happens most effectively in moments of need
Peer experiences drive stronger engagement
Progress visibility is crucial for motivation
Mobile access isn't optional – it's essential
Design System & Visual Language
Our design system balanced educational clarity with emotional engagement, built to scale across multiple learning formats.
Visual Elements
Vibrant yet trustworthy palette (Crayola Red #FF0053, Mango Tango #FF853A)
Heebo typeface for optimal readability
Consistent spacing and hierarchy for clear information flow
Component Architecture:
Built on atomic design principles:
Core elements (buttons, cards, forms)
Learning modules (video containers, quizzes)
Navigation patterns (breadcrumbs, learning paths)
Each component was designed for accessibility and mobile-first interaction, ensuring our platform could reach users across all devices and abilities.
Solution: The Learning Ecosystem
Rather than building just another course platform, we created an adaptive learning ecosystem that grows with users' needs and capabilities.
1. Personalised Learning Pathways
The platform adapts to each user's context and goals:
Skill-based progression system
Real-life application focuses
Culturally relevant examples
Bite-sized learning modules
2. Community Integration
Learning becomes a shared journey:
Peer success stories
Group challenges
Mentor connections
Local community integration
3. Progress Visualisation
Making progress tangible:
Achievement tracking
Skill tree development
Impact measurement
Goal celebration
Continuous Evolution
Our journey with Nancial continues as we:
Expand content based on user needs
Develop more interactive learning tools
Build stronger community features
Scale our impact across different demographics