International travelers arriving in Nigeria face a complex web of financial and logistical challenges that significantly impact their experience. Currency exchange processes are often opaque and inefficient, secure payment options are limited, and access to trusted local resources remains fragmented.
As Design Director, I led a cross-functional team to develop a platform that would simplify financial logistics while maintaining the security and transparency that international traveler's demand.
Research & Discovery Foundation
The initial phase centered on understanding the specific needs of international travelers to Nigeria through comprehensive user research. We conducted interviews with frequent travelers, analyzed existing market solutions, and identified key operational challenges that would impact platform scalability. This research revealed that travelers prioritized transparency in currency exchange, security in payment processing, and access to reliable local resources above all other features.
Service Blueprint & Operational Design
I developed a comprehensive service blueprint that mapped both online and offline user journeys, ensuring operational efficiency across all touchpoints. This blueprint addressed the unique challenges of serving international users while maintaining local relevance, creating processes that could scale effectively as the platform expanded to new markets.
Design System & Brand Identity Creation
The visual identity development began with creating a logo and loader animation that showcased major Nigerian landmarks, establishing an immediate connection between the platform and its geographic focus. I developed a modular, scalable design system that included comprehensive onboarding screens, mobile app interfaces, and landing page designs. The design system was built to accommodate future expansions while maintaining consistency across all user touchpoints.
Branding
Logo/Loader Animation Showcasing Major Landmarks in Nigeria
User Experience Optimization
Through iterative testing and stakeholder feedback, we refined the user experience to prioritize clarity and transparency. The onboarding flow was designed to reduce complexity while maintaining necessary security measures, and the mobile app interface was optimized for users who might be navigating unfamiliar financial processes in a new country.
Empty States
Onboarding Screens
Landing Page
Reflections & Conclusion
The Day One project reinforced several critical insights about designing for international fintech markets. First, the importance of building trust through transparency cannot be overstated – users needed to understand each step of the financial process to feel confident using the platform. Second, strategic partnerships with established service providers like Veriff and Paystack were essential to creating a credible platform that could compete with existing solutions.
The modular design approach proved invaluable, as it positioned Day One for expansion into additional African markets with minimal adjustments. This scalability was built into every design decision, from the service blueprint to the visual identity system.
Key learnings include the critical importance of balancing security requirements with user experience simplicity, the value of comprehensive research in understanding nuanced user needs, and the necessity of building operational efficiency into the design from the earliest stages.
Looking forward, the Day One platform represents a model for how fintech solutions can address region-specific challenges while maintaining global standards for security and user experience.