Chillar Case Study.pdf
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HOW DID I
Turn tiny transactions into fearless savings & investing for young adults
FinTech
Chillar
2 Weeks
A finance app designed to make saving and investing effortless. It automates micro-savings from daily transactions, helps users track their progress, and introduces low-risk investments building confidence and better money habits every day.
Aditi Karthikeyan
Unitedworld Institute of Design
it started with a simple question
investing feels like that one gym membership you know it’s good for you, but you just never start?
When I started off I wondered, am I the only one who finds the idea of investing intimidating, even when I want to do it? Or is it everyone? Among 50 participants, I found that many fear losing their money while trying to figure out investing, especially when saving it in the first place feels impossible.
What is the biggest challenge you face while investing?
Do you think it’s easier to start investing with a small amount?
How much do you save from your monthly allowance/budget?
Age group
18-25
total samples
50
insights
What I found out from surveys
It was clear that while people wanted to invest, most simply didn’t have enough money to start as daily expenses left little room for saving. Even those who managed to save, did so with great difficulty and were reluctant to risk it all, fearing their lack of knowledge could lead to losses.
want to start investing
want to start with small amounts
Often End up broke
beyond numbers
what do people really think?
With these results in hand, I wanted to talk to people in person to see if the numbers reflected reality. I also wanted to understand their mental models and attitudes toward saving and investing.
Investing sounds great, but what if I lose the little I’ve managed to save?
I wish there was a way to save money without consciously thinking about it daily?
I barely manage to save anything after my monthly expenses how am I supposed to invest?
Most investment options expect you to have a lump sum I can barely save a few hundred bucks?
Age group
18-25
total samples
15
re-defining the problem
Then what Is the Actual Problem?
Young adults typically aged 18-25 struggle to balance daily expenses while overcoming their fear of investment risks, making it difficult to start saving and explore safe investment opportunities.
ideation
How can we help out??
Since our users are hesitant about saving and investing, the last thing I wanted was for them to feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the process.
INTRODUCING CHILLAR
Building Better Money Habits Without Even Thinking About It!
Chillar automates micro-savings from daily transactions and lets users split their savings part into a secure savings fund and part into low-risk mutual fund investments. By turning spare change into smart savings, Chillar helps build financial confidence, step by step, without the hassle!
USER INTERFACE
How The Users Are Going
To Updated
All sensors connect to a companion app that provides instant updates, real-time readings, and quick alerts to keep users informed and protected.
AUTOMATED ROUND-UP SAVINGS
Every transaction rounds up to the nearest ₹5 by default, but users can set a custom amount from which the spare change is automatically saved
CUSTOMISABLE SAVINGS SPLIT
Users decide how their savings are divided one half stays in their account, while the other half is allocated for investment once the set duration is complete.
REAL-TIME SAVINGS TRACKING
Users can monitor their accumulated savings at any time, ensuring full visibility into their progress
GUIDED INVESTMENTS
Once savings reach a threshold, users can explore low-risk investment options tailored to their financial goals.
INVESTMENT CALCULATOR
Users can estimate potential returns based on their savings and time period, helping them choose the right mutual funds that match their risk preference
USER TESTING
Putting It To The Test
To ensure the experience felt intuitive and seamless, I conducted user testing among my target audience (18-25). Observing their interactions, challenges, and feedback helped refine the flow. Here's what I learned.
"I’d prefer not to show my balance to everyone; authenticating first makes more sense."
Bank balance can only be viewed with authentication
Bank balance being displayed out
"I don’t know my total savings so far. A section to track past savings would be helpful."
Not able to check savings history
Dedicated section for saving history
"After the minimum value, allowing users to enter their own investment amount would be better than pre-set options."
Limited choice for initial amount
Option available for custom amount
WHAT I LEARNT
What Worked & What Didn’t
This project challenged me to simplify complex financial behaviours. It wasn’t just about making an app look good; it had to feel effortless, guide users seamlessly, and help them build better money habits without overwhelming them.
Balancing automation with user control, and trust with transparency, was a challenge, but the process was incredibly rewarding. Through research, iteration, and refinement, I learned that great design isn’t just about usability it’s about empowering users to make confident financial decisions, one small step at a time.