Challenge
Validate concepts for a "super app" to introduce a fully featured banking and lending platform, and design a fully clickable vision prototype to align internal teams and secure buy-in from key stakeholders.
Overview
I was brought in to lead design on a new strategic product initiative for Lending Club. The goal was to create a product that could capitalize on their existing customer base and diversify their offerings beyond lending. In an extremely consolidated timeline, we delivered a highly detailed, interactive prototype that laid the groundwork for a scalable, competitive product.
Throughout the engagement, I worked closely with executive leadership—partnering with the C-suite and key stakeholders—to ensure our work aligned with strategic business goals. This included regular working sessions, strategic reviews, and co-creation workshops. At the same time, I facilitated deep collaboration across product, engineering, marketing, and design teams. This multi-level alignment not only sharpened our solutions but also fostered a unified vision and accelerated decision-making. The environment we cultivated encouraged contribution, transparency, and excellence across organizations, helped unlock individual and group potential in ways that truly moved the work forward.
Throughout the engagement, I worked closely with executive leadership—partnering with the C-suite and key stakeholders—to ensure our work aligned with strategic business goals. This included regular working sessions, strategic reviews, and co-creation workshops. At the same time, I facilitated deep collaboration across product, engineering, marketing, and design teams. This multi-level alignment not only sharpened our solutions but also fostered a unified vision and accelerated decision-making. The environment we cultivated encouraged contribution, transparency, and excellence across organizations, helped unlock individual and group potential in ways that truly moved the work forward.
Results
• Delivered a fully clickable prototype encompassing major features and functionality
• Defined and validated key customer needs through qualitative and quantitative research
• Instilled a high-performing, collaborative design culture across teams
• Provided a strategic roadmap and design system foundation for future development
• Received strong cross-functional stakeholder alignment and executive endorsement
(Although the project was put on hold due to shifting economic conditions and rising interest rates, the strategic foundation we built was ready for activation)
Industries
Banking, Lending/Borrowing, Financial, Fintech, Neo Banks, Saving, Credit, Debit Cards
Banking, Lending/Borrowing, Financial, Fintech, Neo Banks, Saving, Credit, Debit Cards
Roles & Services
Design Leadership, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Research, Functional Design, Roadmapping, Information Architecture, User Testing & Interviews, Stakeholder Alignment, Design Systems
Design Leadership, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Research, Functional Design, Roadmapping, Information Architecture, User Testing & Interviews, Stakeholder Alignment, Design Systems
Website
Ethnographic Research
We began with deep ethnographic interviews with Lending Club customers to uncover unmet needs and opportunities. I led the effort alongside a strategic designer, guiding the research plan, participant recruiting, and synthesis. Within weeks, we surfaced actionable insights that shaped the core of our product vision.
Concept Testing
With early concepts shaped by research, we tested various product directions and feature ideas with customers. These sessions helped refine our value proposition and prioritize features. I oversaw test material designs, session facilitation, and synthesis workshops with the team.
Quantitative Testing & Market Validation Testing
To complement our qualitative work, we launched survey studies and ran real-world validation through ad testing on social and search platforms. This data triangulated our direction and gave business stakeholders the confidence to move forward. I coordinated closely with marketing and data teams to define test parameters and interpret the results.
Below are number of assets from all our research efforts, interviews, exercises, and more.
Below are number of assets from all our research efforts, interviews, exercises, and more.
Massive Design Sprint
Typically during this phase, we would deliver a high-level vision prototype—meant more as a directional north star than a near-term build. But in this case, we went far beyond. We designed a fully clickable prototype that encompassed many of the core features and functionality envisioned for the product. We mapped detailed flows, interaction patterns, and UX decisions that were comprehensive enough to hand off to engineering with only a few alternate states remaining.
One of the most rewarding aspects was fostering a high-performing design culture. I created a rhythm of daily critiques, design sessions, and structured cross-functional check-ins. This not only helped the team move faster, it also empowered junior designers to contribute meaningfully. The culture of openness and shared ownership was one of the key reasons we were able to achieve so much so quickly.
Impact & Strategic Foundation
This effort resulted in strong alignment and meaningful contributions across all levels of the organizations. In just a few months, we laid the foundation for what could have become a powerful standalone product. The vision was clear, the market validation was strong, and the execution plan was in place.
We handed off a fully articulated strategy, prototype, and roadmap that Lending Club could either develop in-house or continue building with our support. Unfortunately, the project was paused due to macroeconomic shifts and rising interest rates that affected the broader lending market. Still, the clarity, cohesion, and momentum we achieved serve as a strong example of what focused, cross-functional collaboration can achieve in a short time.
We handed off a fully articulated strategy, prototype, and roadmap that Lending Club could either develop in-house or continue building with our support. Unfortunately, the project was paused due to macroeconomic shifts and rising interest rates that affected the broader lending market. Still, the clarity, cohesion, and momentum we achieved serve as a strong example of what focused, cross-functional collaboration can achieve in a short time.
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