Apollo Global Management is a big investment company based in New York. Started in 1990, it helps wealthy people and organizations invest their money in different ways, like buying companies, lending money, and investing in real estate. Apollo is known for finding unique investment opportunities that others might miss.
As a major player in the finance world, Apollo deals with complicated money matters every day. This means they need good computer systems and easy-to-use tools for their staff and clients. These tools help everyone understand and manage the complex investments Apollo handles.
01 Role
I spearheaded the task of creating high-fidelity mockups for Apollo's new mobile investment app and designing its email newsletters.
02 Final Designs
Apollo Invest:
Mobile App Overview
The final product included high-fidelity mockups for Apollo's new mobile app, illustrating the initial version's look and functionality. This app was designed to provide Apollo employees with an intuitive, user-friendly tool for managing their investments in company funds.
I prioritized clear data visualization, ensuring complex financial information was presented in an easily understandable format. The app empowers users to make informed decisions about their investments through a streamlined, visually appealing interface.
Email Newsletter Overview
The second key component was the design for investment update emails. These responsive email templates focused on clearly communicating investment progress and providing actionable insights to Apollo employees.
The designs were crafted to present complex financial data in a digestible format across various devices. By emphasizing visual clarity and information hierarchy, the email newsletters serve as an effective tool for keeping employees informed about their investments and prompting timely actions when needed.
03 The Task
Design high-fidelity mockups for the MVP launch of Apollo's employee investment mobile app, along with responsive email templates (for mobile, tablet, and desktop).
I worked with a senior UX designer and a project manager.
04 Approach
To achieve this:
To tackle this project, I first collaborated with my senior designer and project manager to prioritize MVP features for the Apollo app. I then created a Figma design system with design tokens, ensuring consistency across all elements. Using this foundation, I developed high-fidelity mockups for both the app and responsive email newsletters. Throughout the process, I iteratively refined the designs based on regular feedback from key stakeholders, ensuring the final product met user needs and project goals.
Step 1: Prioritize the MVP features
In prioritizing the Apollo app MVP features, we focused on core investment management tools essential for employee users. This included portfolio overviews, fund performance tracking, and basic transaction capabilities. We emphasized clear data visualization and intuitive navigation, ensuring easy access to crucial investment information.
Less critical features were earmarked for future updates, allowing for a streamlined initial release that met immediate user needs while setting the stage for future enhancements.
Step 2: Create the design system
I developed a Figma design system with design tokens, establishing a consistent visual language for the Apollo app and emails. As the project evolved, I continually expanded the system, adding new components to meet emerging design needs requested by the project manager. This adaptive approach ensured the design system remained comprehensive and relevant throughout the project's lifecycle.
Step 3: Create the high-fidelity mockups
Leveraging the established Figma design system, I developed high-fidelity mockups for the Apollo mobile app and responsive email newsletters. Starting with wireframes, I iteratively refined the designs, focusing on intuitive user flows and clear data visualization.
Throughout the process, I maintained close collaboration with the senior designer and project manager, regularly presenting work and incorporating feedback. This iterative approach allowed for progressive enhancement of the user experience, resulting in a comprehensive and effective design solution.
Step 4: Beta Testing and Developer Collaboration
As part of the design process, we utilized TestFlight for beta testing the Apollo app. In this phase, I took an active role in quality assurance, meticulously identifying and reporting UI inconsistencies and UX issues. I created detailed reports for the development team, highlighting areas needing improvement.
To ensure clear communication and swift resolution of issues, I engaged in direct conversations with developers, addressing their questions about my findings. This hands-on approach to testing and close collaboration with the development team was crucial in refining the app's user experience and interface before its official release.
05 Solutions
The Mobile App
The mobile app helps Apollo employees keep track of their investments and be notified of available offerings for employees to select a fund to invest in. The app also gives information about the funds such as the minimum investment, employee net target return, and its fund type.
Investment Dashboard
The app features a comprehensive dashboard that provides users with a real-time overview of their investment portfolio. It displays key metrics such as total investment value, performance over time, and allocation across different funds.
Fund Selection and Analysis
Users can explore available investment opportunities through a curated list of Apollo funds. Each fund listing includes detailed information such as minimum investment requirements, expected employee net target return, fund type, and historical performance data.
Email Newsletter
The email newsletter helps Apollo employees keep track of their investments and be notified of new funds and offerings. The email newsletter templates and components are responsive to mobile, tablet, and desktop devices. It also assists employees in tracking their subscription progress for offerings, ensuring they complete the investment process.
Personalized Investment Updates
Tailored summaries of each employee's investment portfolio, featuring key performance indicators and recent changes. Uses clear, visually appealing charts for easy comprehension across all devices.
Action-Oriented Fund Notifications
Highlights new fund offerings with brief overviews and prominent call-to-action buttons. The responsive design ensures easy access and interaction on any device, encouraging employee engagement with investment opportunities.
07 Impact
Process
I enhanced cross-functional collaboration by effectively balancing business goals with technical constraints, leading to more efficient and aligned product development cycles. I accelerated product development by driving 20%+ faster design timelines through my implementation of a reusable component library and standardized templates.
Business
The finished app resulted in a 65% employee adoption rate within the first six months. We saw a 30% increase in fund engagement and doubled the speed of investment completion processes.
Product
I elevated user experience across multiple platforms by spearheading the UX design for Apollo's responsive app and email channels, resulting in a cohesive and user-friendly suite of consumer fintech products.
08 Challenges
Complexity of Financial Data Visualization
I struggled at first with designing intuitive interfaces to present complex financial information in a clear, easily understandable format for users with varying levels of financial literacy.
Rapid Iteration and Scalability
I faced the challenge of balancing the need for rapid development of numerous mockups (30+) while ensuring the design system I created remained scalable and adaptable to evolving project requirements.
Cross-Platform Consistency
I grappled with maintaining design consistency and functionality across multiple platforms (web app, mobile app, and email) while optimizing for each medium's unique constraints and opportunities.
09 Future Strategies
Personalization and AI Integration
I propose implementing AI-driven personalization to tailor investment recommendations and content delivery, enhancing user engagement and decision-making across both the mobile app and email newsletters.
Expanded Data Visualization Tools
I recommend developing more advanced, interactive data visualization tools for the mobile app, allowing users to dive deeper into their investment performance and market trends, with simplified versions for email digests.
Improve Self-Management and Documentation Practices
I suggest creating a seamless cross-platform experience where actions initiated in email newsletters can be completed in the app without friction, and app activity can inform more relevant, timely email content.
