Changing the way Aussies manage their retirement // Superhero

Product Design

2023

Changing the way Aussies manage their retirement // Superhero

Product Design

2023

Changing the way Aussies manage their retirement // Superhero

Product Design

2023

Team

2 product designers, 2 product manager, 4 engineers.

Overview

The end-to-end research and design of a new superannuation (retirement) platform for users that resulted in over 15,000 new customers on launch and an 10% increase in existing customer engagement within the first month of launch.

Background

Superhero is an online investment platform that commenced operations in 2020, enabling users to invest in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). By 2021, the mobile application was introduced, rapidly ascending to become one of the top 10 finance applications in Australia, gaining over 10,000 users within a span of three weeks.


Fast forward to 2021, Superhero successfully launched its superannuation (retirement) account, affording customers the opportunity to not only diversify their superannuation investments across various portfolios but also allocate a portion of their superannuation to the ASX. Users gained the capability to register and oversee their investments seamlessly through the platform, accessible via both mobile devices and computers.

Superhero is an online investment platform that commenced operations in 2020, enabling users to invest in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). By 2021, the mobile application was introduced, rapidly ascending to become one of the top 10 finance applications in Australia, gaining over 10,000 users within a span of three weeks.


Fast forward to 2021, Superhero successfully launched its superannuation (retirement) account, affording customers the opportunity to not only diversify their superannuation investments across various portfolios but also allocate a portion of their superannuation to the ASX. Users gained the capability to register and oversee their investments seamlessly through the platform, accessible via both mobile devices and computers.

Our Goal

The team aimed to understand how users interact with their retirement accounts on the Superhero platform and to minimize the confusion associated with managing investments in these accounts.
The team aimed to understand how users interact with their retirement accounts on the Superhero platform and to minimize the confusion associated with managing investments in these accounts.

The Problem

Given the surge in investment interest during the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus swiftly shifted towards optimising the management of superannuation (retirement) accounts and their associated investments. Users expressed a demand for increased flexibility and a broader array of investment options tailored to their specific requirements.

We encountered the challenge of delivering a comprehensive level of detail and diversity, all while adhering to a cost-effective solution that caters to the needs of both seasoned investors and those who are progressively directing more attention towards their superannuation.


The team had recently visually uplifted the Trading platform, so it was important to maintain the visual language used there in the new product. It posed a challenge in how we introduce new features while maintaining the consistency across the design for Superhero.

Given the surge in investment interest during the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus swiftly shifted towards optimising the management of superannuation (retirement) accounts and their associated investments. Users expressed a demand for increased flexibility and a broader array of investment options tailored to their specific requirements.

We encountered the challenge of delivering a comprehensive level of detail and diversity, all while adhering to a cost-effective solution that caters to the needs of both seasoned investors and those who are progressively directing more attention towards their superannuation.


The team had recently visually uplifted the Trading platform, so it was important to maintain the visual language used there in the new product. It posed a challenge in how we introduce new features while maintaining the consistency across the design for Superhero.

Research and Discovery

User Interviews and Surveys
We conducted in-depth interviews (12 participants) and coordinated surveys with a diverse group of users to gather qualitative data on their experiences, pain points, and expectations when managing retirement accounts, focusing on identifying specific areas of confusion and the most frequently encountered challenges.

Usability Testing
We performed usability tests to observe current patterns while users navigate their retirement accounts, monitoring tasks such as viewing account balances, making contributions, adjusting investment portfolios, and understanding fees and performance metrics. In addition, we presented basic prototypes to highlight new flows and receive feedback where possible.
User Interviews and Surveys
We conducted in-depth interviews (12 participants) and coordinated surveys with a diverse group of users to gather qualitative data on their experiences, pain points, and expectations when managing retirement accounts, focusing on identifying specific areas of confusion and the most frequently encountered challenges.

Usability Testing
We performed usability tests to observe current patterns while users navigate their retirement accounts, monitoring tasks such as viewing account balances, making contributions, adjusting investment portfolios, and understanding fees and performance metrics. In addition, we presented basic prototypes to highlight new flows and receive feedback where possible.

Iterations

Utilising the data obtained from a survey distributed to customers and conducting interviews, I successfully identified the key priorities for users seeking a new superannuation fund and the crucial aspects they consider when monitoring and updating their investments. Users expressed a desire for an extensive range of investment options, emphasising the importance of clear fund performance metrics and the ability to easily compare with other investments.


In response to these findings, we implemented a broader array of investment options, empowering users to diversify their portfolios. Simultaneously, we maintained accessibility by allowing users to invest a portion of their portfolio in the ASX for a nominal fee of $1 per week. Additionally, a new page was introduced to provide users with a centralised platform for managing their investments, offering enhanced control over their superannuation.


The introduction of a new product required the team to develop and maintain a new design system that allowed us to maintain a consistent design language that could scale up as the Superhero product suite grows.

Utilising the data obtained from a survey distributed to customers and conducting interviews, I successfully identified the key priorities for users seeking a new superannuation fund and the crucial aspects they consider when monitoring and updating their investments. Users expressed a desire for an extensive range of investment options, emphasising the importance of clear fund performance metrics and the ability to easily compare with other investments.


In response to these findings, we implemented a broader array of investment options, empowering users to diversify their portfolios. Simultaneously, we maintained accessibility by allowing users to invest a portion of their portfolio in the ASX for a nominal fee of $1 per week. Additionally, a new page was introduced to provide users with a centralised platform for managing their investments, offering enhanced control over their superannuation.


The introduction of a new product required the team to develop and maintain a new design system that allowed us to maintain a consistent design language that could scale up as the Superhero product suite grows.

Adding shares

We allowed users to take control of their own retirement by having the power to start trading Australian shares and ETFs. However, we do not force this on our users.

We allowed users to take control of their own retirement by having the power to start trading Australian shares and ETFs. However, we do not force this on our users.

Easily track performance

A simplified dashboard adopts the layout of our trading app, displaying important data points that users are interested in while providing easy access for them to delve into further details of their retirement investments and performance.

A simplified dashboard adopts the layout of our trading app, displaying important data points that users are interested in while providing easy access for them to delve into further details of their retirement investments and performance.

Switch your investments

Switch between investments at your convenience. We introduced this feature to address a common pain point in the current retirement industry. Previously, once users selected an investment, there was no easy method to transfer a lump sum from one investment to another without rebalancing the entire portfolio.

Switch between investments at your convenience. We introduced this feature to address a common pain point in the current retirement industry. Previously, once users selected an investment, there was no easy method to transfer a lump sum from one investment to another without rebalancing the entire portfolio.

Conclusion

By focusing on user-centered design principles and actively engaging with our users, the Superhero team successfully addressed the challenges associated with managing retirement accounts. The redesigned navigation, enhanced information clarity, guided processes, and personalized dashboard collectively contributed to a more user-friendly experience, empowering users to confidently manage their retirement investments on the Superhero platform.

By focusing on user-centered design principles and actively engaging with our users, the Superhero team successfully addressed the challenges associated with managing retirement accounts. The redesigned navigation, enhanced information clarity, guided processes, and personalized dashboard collectively contributed to a more user-friendly experience, empowering users to confidently manage their retirement investments on the Superhero platform.

Alex Nettleton

alexnettleton43@gmail.com

Alex Nettleton

alexnettleton43@gmail.com

Alex Nettleton

alexnettleton43@gmail.com