Glint case study
Glint is a UK-based fintech company that allows users to buy, save, spend, and send real, allocated gold through a multi-currency app and debit card. The platform combines the stability of gold with the convenience of modern digital banking, offering an alternative to traditional fiat currencies for both everyday transactions and long-term wealth preservation.
I was brought on board to redesign Glint’s native iOS and Android mobile apps. The primary goal was to improve and simplify the onboarding process ahead of the company’s launch in the United States, with a focus on integrating KYC requirements. I also contributed to refining the overall user experience, creating and testing interactive prototypes, and took full ownership of the final UI design.
Overview
Research
To kick off the project, I collaborated with another UX designer to run a workshop with Glint’s key stakeholders. Together, we defined high-level product goals and mapped out a clear design process. We explored what our users needed to accomplish within the app and identified areas that required simplification or clarification.
We also consulted Glint’s customer support team to better understand recurring pain points raised by users. This helped us frame early hypotheses, which we tested through interviews with existing customers. Our combined interview insights allowed us to establish clear user personas to guide the design moving forward.
Competitive analysis was also essential.
Glint offers a unique proposition compared to platforms like BullionVault or Revolut. We needed to find opportunities where Glint could stand out — with a modern, elegant experience that still felt trustworthy to more traditional gold investors.
Conceptual Design
At this stage, we explored several ideas for how the app might behave and feel.
One of the main UX issues centred on the dashboard. Users were struggling to link their debit card to a currency — the required interaction was hidden behind a swipe gesture, and the affordance simply wasn’t visible. This created unnecessary friction and frustration.
I identified that we needed clearer signifiers to guide the user and more prominent placement of primary CTAs. I sketched new dashboard concepts, focusing on improving clarity and discoverability.
Wireframes
After reviewing paper sketches with stakeholders, I translated key journeys into mid-fidelity wireframes. These focused on onboarding, dashboard navigation, and key account actions.
We tested the wireframes with users both in Glint’s London offices and remotely. Feedback was gathered from a mix of new users and existing customers. These sessions validated many of our changes and revealed subtle usability issues, which we incorporated into the next iteration.
UI Design
Once the wireframes were validated, I moved into high-fidelity UI design. My focus was on creating a clean, professional aesthetic that supported trust while enhancing usability. Visual language, component consistency, and accessibility were central to the design.
I worked iteratively, testing design directions and refining components. When we reached sign-off, I prepared detailed handoff files for the development team.