BUX
Simplifying stock trading for everyone
The challenge
It’s 2016. BUX had the ambition of launching a new commission-free investing and become the European mobile-only broker.
The goal was to make something as exciting as the financial markets, without the usual friction and complexity.
Finance is a highly regulated industry and keeping the experience engaging wasn’t easy, But with the right principles, visual language and a strong focus on usability, we created something that stood out.
My role
As the main Product Designer from day one, I was responsible for the overall experience and design of the BUX app. My role spanned from early concept creation to high fidelity designs. I collaborated defining the strategy and structure of the product to meet both business goals and user needs.
I worked closely with the Product Owner and developers, using tools like Flinto, Sketch, Figma, Principle, and After Effects (and even Keynote) to prototype and validate ideas early and often.
The approach
We set up a fast-paced, sprint-based design process that enabled quick iterations without sacrificing quality.
I created and maintained a comprehensive Design System to ensure visual and interaction consistency across platforms. Also worked closely with the dev team to integrate it as part of the style guide of the app projects. This helped us ship MVP features faster and more efficiently.
Research and user testing were integral from the start, shaping the product while balancing strict legal and business requirements.
Platform-specific patterns (like haptics on iOS and ripple effects on Android) and thoughtful micro-interactions helped bring the experience to life in a way that felt truly native.
Outcome and impact
BUX Zero (later to be rename as just BUX) launched as a fresh, user-friendly alternative in a market dominated by complex financial tools. The intuitive design and commission-free model helped attract a younger, mobile-first audience across Europe.
The result:
Over 1 million users across multiple countries
A 4.1★ rating on Google Play
A 4.5★ rating on the App Store
Even after a full redesign, the core foundation of the app, simplicity, clarity, and a smooth user experience, remains intact.
