Design of Nova Personal Finance Tool

David

David Ajayi

Overview

Nova is a personal finance tool that helps people track every transaction instantly in one place. The goal was to design a clean, intuitive platform where users can budget smarter, monitor spending, and start building long-term wealth.

Problem Statement

Most budgeting tools are either too complex or too fragmented. Users often juggle multiple apps for tracking expenses, monitoring bank accounts, and planning budgets. This makes it hard to stay consistent and gain a clear picture of financial health.
How Nova helps
How Nova helps

Research & Discovery

I looked at how people currently manage their money: spreadsheets, apps, and even manual notes. I also analysed competitor tools to understand where they fall short. From this, it became clear that users wanted simplicity, automation, and trust. They did not want another dashboard full of graphs, they wanted answers at a glance.
Connect accounts
Connect accounts
Track easily
Track easily
Personalized tips
Personalized tips

Key Insights

People lose interest in tools that require too much manual input.
Financial apps often overwhelm users with data instead of guiding them.
Trust and transparency are non negotiable when dealing with money.

Design Approach

The design focused on clarity and ease of use. A simple, minimal interface allows users to see their financial situation instantly. I prioritized real-time updates, smart categorization of expenses, and visual cues that highlight important insights without overwhelming the user.
Track everything you need in your pocket
Track everything you need in your pocket
Nova charts
Nova charts

Challenges & Solutions

One major challenge was balancing detail with simplicity. Too much data would feel heavy, while too little would feel incomplete. The solution was progressive disclosure, showing high-level numbers first with the option to dive deeper only if needed.

Results & Impacts

The final product allows users to track spending instantly and budget more confidently. By removing unnecessary complexity, Nova gives people the tools to actually stick with their financial goals. Early feedback highlighted how effortless the platform felt compared to existing options.
Nova user testimonial
Nova user testimonial

Conclusions

Nova proves that financial tools do not have to be complicated to be powerful. By focusing on simplicity, real-time tracking, and thoughtful design, it helps users make smarter decisions with their money and feel more in control of their financial future.
Like this project

Posted Aug 25, 2025

Designed a clean, intuitive personal finance tool for Nova to simplify budgeting and spending tracking.

Likes

2

Views

2

Timeline

Jul 22, 2024 - Jul 31, 2024

Clients

Nova