Tithe Box
A tithing management app that helps christians track their income and tithes, and calculate their tithes easily and accurately.
View Live Project
Role
User Experience Designer, Visual Interface Designer
Responsibilities
Conducting user research, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.
Tools
Figma, Figjam, Google suites, Slack, Jamboard.
Project duration
January 2022 - April 2022
Product overview
Tithing is a biblical principle that has been practiced by Christians for centuries. It is the act of giving 10% of one's income to God. Tithing is often seen as a way of showing gratitude to God for his blessings, and it can also be a way of supporting the church and its ministries.
However, tithing can be difficult to do consistently, especially for busy people. That's where the Tithe Box app comes in. Tithe Box is a mobile app that makes it easy for Christians to tithe consistently and track their income and profit.
The app is designed for users who believe in the covenant of tithing as defined by the Bible. It allows users to record and track their tithes, set up recurring tithes, and enter their income and expenses. The app also provides a variety of reports that users can use to track their financial progress.
The Problem
Many Christians find it difficult to keep track of their income and tithes due to their busy schedules. This leads to often inconsistency in tithing.
The Solution
The goal of the Tithe box app project is to design and develop a mobile app that helps Christians tithe consistently and track their income and profit.
The specific goals of the project are to:
- Make it easy for users to record and track their tithes.
- Set up recurring tithes.
- Enter income and expenses.
- Provide a variety of reports to help users track their financial progress.
My design process
To begin my design, I conducted user research by interviewing a few of my Christian friends who tithe regularly. This helped me understand their needs and pain points, which I used to create user personas and problem statements.
From there, I built on the user flows by working out the different steps users would take. I turned these into interaction points and made a paper Prototype.
After I was satisfied with my paper prototype, I digitized my wireframes. To ensure that the design was meeting the needs of my users, I conducted usability testing with real people and gathered their feedback. Their insights helped me improve the design even further.
1. Understanding the users
To understand the needs of my users, I conducted user research and created user personas. I also identified user pain points and developed problem statements. Lastly, i created a user flow from the insight i got.
User research: summary
The purpose of this user research was to understand the needs and wants of users who tithe, and to identify any pain points that they may be experiencing.
Methods
The following methods were used to gather user research data:
- Interviews: Interviews were conducted with 10 people who tithe regularly. The interviews were semi-structured and focused on the users' experiences with tithing, their needs and wants, and any pain points that they may be experiencing.
- Surveys: A survey was distributed to a larger group of people who tithe regularly. The survey asked about the users' experiences with tithing, their needs and wants, and any pain points that they may be experiencing.
- Empathy maps: Empathy maps were created based on the data gathered from the interviews and surveys. Empathy maps are a visual representation of the user's needs, wants, and pain points.
Key findings: I assumed that the primary user group would be busy Christians motivated to tithe by supporting their church. However, research showed a more diverse user group with different motivations.
My assumptions changed to designing for a wider range of users with different motivations. I believe the Tithe Box app will be a valuable tool regardless of motivations.
User research: pain points
80% of users forget to pay tithe because they are too busy and do not have a convenient way to calculate their tithe.
70% of users said that they would tithe more consistently if they could set up recurring tithes.
90% of users would be more motivated to tithe if they could track their tithes and see how much they were giving.
User personas
The purpose of this user research was to understand the needs and wants of users who tithe, and to identify any pain points that they may be experiencing.
Problem statements
- Sarah is a busy teacher who wants to tithe consistently, but she finds it difficult to remember to do it or find a convenient way to do it.
- John is a young software engineer who is new to tithing and doesn't know how to do it or find a convenient way to do it.
User flow
I created a visual representation of the steps that users take to complete a task. When designing the user flow for the Tithe Box app, I wanted to make it as simple and easy-to-use as possible.
2. Starting the design
After my research and gaining insight on the problem iām trying to solve, i brainstormed on different features that should be prioritized and Next, I sketched out some paper wireframes for the different screens of the app. I focused on creating a simple and intuitive interface that would be easy for users to understand and use. I also developed a low-fi wireframe and prototype which i used for usability testing.
Paper wireframe
The paper wireframe of the Tithe Box app is a simple sketch of the user interface. It shows the layout of the different screens and the placement of the different elements on each screen.
Low-fi digital wireframe
The low-fi digital wireframe is used in conjunction with the paper wireframe. The paper wireframe is a good way to iterate on the overall user experience and layout of the app, while the low-fi digital wireframe is a good way to test more specific details, such as the placement of buttons and other elements on the screen.
Usability study
Conducted a usability study on the Tithe Box app to test the user experience and identify any potential problems. The study consisted of 10 participants, who were all Christians who tithe regularly. Overall, the participants found the Tithe Box app to be easy to use and understand. They were able to complete all of the tasks that they were asked to perform without any major difficulties.
However, there were a few areas where the users suggested improvements:
- Users want ability to receive reminders.
- Users want more customization options.
- Some users wanted the ability to export their tithe data.
- Some users wanted the ability to add notes to their tithes.
3. Refining the design
Based on the findings of the usability study, I created high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes, incorporating accessibility considerations.
High-fidelity wireframe
The high-fidelity wireframe for the Tithe Box app is a digital representation of the app's screens that looks and feels like the final product. It includes all of the essential elements of the app, such as the layout, typography, colors, and images.
High-fidelity prototype
The high-fidelity prototype of the Tithe Box app is a digital representation of the final product. It looks and feels like the real app, with all of the same features and functionality. I designed this so stakeholders and users can have an iterative test of the user product and identify any potential problems.
Accessibility considerations
When designing the Tithe Box app, i factored in needs of users with disabilities. Here are some step i took to ensure accessibility.
Accessibility consideration:
- Color contrast: I ensured that all text has sufficient color contrast to be readable, even for users with visual impairments.
- I ensured that all images and non-text elements have descriptive alternative text.
- Incorporated icons to facilitate navigation.
4. Going forward
Following the completion of the high-fidelity prototype for this application, I received positive feedback from stakeholders and the engineering team. I have reflected on the impact of my design, the lessons I have learned, and my next steps for this project.
Impact
The Tithe Box app has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of Christians who want to tithe regularly. The app is easy to use and convenient, and it can help users to stay on track with their tithing goals.
Here is a positive quote from a study participant:
"The Tithe Box app has made it so much easier for me to tithe regularly. I used to forget to tithe sometimes, but now I can just set up a recurring tithe and I don't have to worry about it anymore. I also appreciate the ability to track my tithes. It's motivating to see how much I'm giving back to my church and my community."
Lessons
- User research is essential. By conducting user research, I was able to understand the needs and motivations of my target users. This information was invaluable in designing an app that would meet their needs.
- Accessibility is important. By considering accessibility early in the design process, I was able to create an app that is more inclusive and accessible to everyone.
- Communication is key. By communicating regularly with my team and stakeholders, I was able to keep everyone on the same page and ensure that the project was progressing smoothly.
Next step
- Conduct more user testing with a larger group of participants. This would help me to validate the design and identify any additional areas for improvement.
- Conduct more user testing with a larger group of participants. This would help me to validate the design and identify any additional areas for improvement.