FINRA X SCADPro
As part of a SCADPro collaboration with FINRA, a major U.S.-based FinTech organization, we were tasked with making finance more approachable and accessible for our target Gen Z and Millennial users. The project had two key objectives:
Create a nuanced risk tolerance assessment tool and develop a custom, stakeholder-friendly accessibility guide grounded in WCAG standards. As the UX Lead, I led the end-to-end experience design process, from user research and archetype creation to accessibility system design, ensuring both inclusivity and practicality.
Client
Finra X SCADPro Industry Collaboration
Timeline
JAN 2025 - MAR 2025
Skills & Methods
UX Research
Inclusive Design
UX Writing
Accessibility Strategy
Systems Thinking
A/B Testing
Sensory Cue Workshops
Archetype Development
Empathy Mapping
WCAG Breakdown
Design + Dev Onboarding Flows
UX Management
Team
Prathamesh Patil (Experience Design Lead) + 17 SCAD Students + Prof. Christine Fish
PROBLEM
FINRA was facing two challenges:
Gen Z and Millennials lacked financial literacy tools tailored to their values and behaviors, especially for understanding investment risk.
Design teams struggled to apply complex WCAG accessibility guidelines during product development due to technical overload and lack of practical integration into workflows.
SOLUTION
Our dual-deliverable solution included:
Risk Tolerance Assessment Tool
A responsive web tool to help young investors assess their risk mindset
5 non-judgmental archetypes developed based on deep user research and reframing risk profiles as balanced, human-centered personas
Interactive quiz with dynamic UX writing, guided flows, and positive user feedback
Emphasis on clarity, neutrality, and emotional safety
Custom WCAG Accessibility Guide
A web-based, stage-specific toolkit tailored to FINRA’s digital workflows
Filtered WCAG 2.1 AA and AAA guidelines mapped to roles: Designers, Developers, PMs
Built for reference at any stage of a project (onboarding, in-progress, testing)
Delivered with onboarding assets and use-case walkthroughs
VALUE DELIVERED
The archetypes were adopted as an internal standard by FINRA for future financial literacy tools
Increased stakeholder confidence by demystifying accessibility and making it actionable across teams
Delivered user-centered solutions backed by real testing, interviews, and behavior-based insights
Successfully balanced regulatory complexity with Gen Z empathy
APPROACH
As Experience Design Lead, I designed and directed both solution tracks in parallel:
Track 1: Risk Assessment Tool
User Research: Deep-dive interviews with Gen Z and Millennial users to uncover financial attitudes
Empathy Mapping & Testing: Used sensory cue workshops and A/B tests to refine UI flow
Archetype Creation: I led the development of 5 neutral, relatable archetypes that defined users by behavior and not bias
UI & UX Writing: Designed a seamless quiz experience with emotionally intelligent feedback
Track 2: WCAG Accessibility Guide
WCAG Analysis: Filtered relevant accessibility rules for FINRA’s digital product landscape
System Design: Created a modular guide system with usage mapped to design stages
Stakeholder Mapping: Defined responsibilities for designers, developers, and PMs to integrate accessibility from day one
Onboarding Material: Designed companion pitch deck and usage scenarios
SUMMARY
The FINRA X SCADPro project highlights how inclusive design and compliance can be transformed from afterthoughts into strategic assets. By building emotionally safe tools for young investors and demystifying accessibility for digital teams, we helped FINRA scale its user experience maturity while keeping empathy and clarity at the core.
FINRA X SCADPro
As part of a SCADPro collaboration with FINRA, a major U.S.-based FinTech organization, we were tasked with making finance more approachable and accessible for our target Gen Z and Millennial users. The project had two key objectives:
Create a nuanced risk tolerance assessment tool and develop a custom, stakeholder-friendly accessibility guide grounded in WCAG standards. As the UX Lead, I led the end-to-end experience design process, from user research and archetype creation to accessibility system design, ensuring both inclusivity and practicality.
Client
Finra X SCADPro Industry Collaboration
Timeline
JAN 2025 - MAR 2025
Skills & Methods
UX Research
Inclusive Design
UX Writing
Accessibility Strategy
Systems Thinking
A/B Testing
Sensory Cue Workshops
Archetype Development
Empathy Mapping
WCAG Breakdown
Design + Dev Onboarding Flows
UX Management
Team
Prathamesh Patil (Experience Design Lead) + 17 SCAD Students + Prof. Christine Fish
PROBLEM
FINRA was facing two challenges:
Gen Z and Millennials lacked financial literacy tools tailored to their values and behaviors, especially for understanding investment risk.
Design teams struggled to apply complex WCAG accessibility guidelines during product development due to technical overload and lack of practical integration into workflows.
SOLUTION
Our dual-deliverable solution included:
Risk Tolerance Assessment Tool
A responsive web tool to help young investors assess their risk mindset
5 non-judgmental archetypes developed based on deep user research and reframing risk profiles as balanced, human-centered personas
Interactive quiz with dynamic UX writing, guided flows, and positive user feedback
Emphasis on clarity, neutrality, and emotional safety
Custom WCAG Accessibility Guide
A web-based, stage-specific toolkit tailored to FINRA’s digital workflows
Filtered WCAG 2.1 AA and AAA guidelines mapped to roles: Designers, Developers, PMs
Built for reference at any stage of a project (onboarding, in-progress, testing)
Delivered with onboarding assets and use-case walkthroughs
VALUE DELIVERED
The archetypes were adopted as an internal standard by FINRA for future financial literacy tools
Increased stakeholder confidence by demystifying accessibility and making it actionable across teams
Delivered user-centered solutions backed by real testing, interviews, and behavior-based insights
Successfully balanced regulatory complexity with Gen Z empathy
APPROACH
As Experience Design Lead, I designed and directed both solution tracks in parallel:
Track 1: Risk Assessment Tool
User Research: Deep-dive interviews with Gen Z and Millennial users to uncover financial attitudes
Empathy Mapping & Testing: Used sensory cue workshops and A/B tests to refine UI flow
Archetype Creation: I led the development of 5 neutral, relatable archetypes that defined users by behavior and not bias
UI & UX Writing: Designed a seamless quiz experience with emotionally intelligent feedback
Track 2: WCAG Accessibility Guide
WCAG Analysis: Filtered relevant accessibility rules for FINRA’s digital product landscape
System Design: Created a modular guide system with usage mapped to design stages
Stakeholder Mapping: Defined responsibilities for designers, developers, and PMs to integrate accessibility from day one
Onboarding Material: Designed companion pitch deck and usage scenarios
SUMMARY
The FINRA X SCADPro project highlights how inclusive design and compliance can be transformed from afterthoughts into strategic assets. By building emotionally safe tools for young investors and demystifying accessibility for digital teams, we helped FINRA scale its user experience maturity while keeping empathy and clarity at the core.
FINRA X SCADPro
As part of a SCADPro collaboration with FINRA, a major U.S.-based FinTech organization, we were tasked with making finance more approachable and accessible for our target Gen Z and Millennial users. The project had two key objectives:
Create a nuanced risk tolerance assessment tool and develop a custom, stakeholder-friendly accessibility guide grounded in WCAG standards. As the UX Lead, I led the end-to-end experience design process, from user research and archetype creation to accessibility system design, ensuring both inclusivity and practicality.
Client
Finra X SCADPro Industry Collaboration
Timeline
JAN 2025 - MAR 2025
Skills & Methods
UX Research
Inclusive Design
UX Writing
Accessibility Strategy
Systems Thinking
A/B Testing
Sensory Cue Workshops
Archetype Development
Empathy Mapping
WCAG Breakdown
Design + Dev Onboarding Flows
UX Management
Team
Prathamesh Patil (Experience Design Lead) + 17 SCAD Students + Prof. Christine Fish
PROBLEM
FINRA was facing two challenges:
Gen Z and Millennials lacked financial literacy tools tailored to their values and behaviors, especially for understanding investment risk.
Design teams struggled to apply complex WCAG accessibility guidelines during product development due to technical overload and lack of practical integration into workflows.
SOLUTION
Our dual-deliverable solution included:
Risk Tolerance Assessment Tool
A responsive web tool to help young investors assess their risk mindset
5 non-judgmental archetypes developed based on deep user research and reframing risk profiles as balanced, human-centered personas
Interactive quiz with dynamic UX writing, guided flows, and positive user feedback
Emphasis on clarity, neutrality, and emotional safety
Custom WCAG Accessibility Guide
A web-based, stage-specific toolkit tailored to FINRA’s digital workflows
Filtered WCAG 2.1 AA and AAA guidelines mapped to roles: Designers, Developers, PMs
Built for reference at any stage of a project (onboarding, in-progress, testing)
Delivered with onboarding assets and use-case walkthroughs
VALUE DELIVERED
The archetypes were adopted as an internal standard by FINRA for future financial literacy tools
Increased stakeholder confidence by demystifying accessibility and making it actionable across teams
Delivered user-centered solutions backed by real testing, interviews, and behavior-based insights
Successfully balanced regulatory complexity with Gen Z empathy
APPROACH
As Experience Design Lead, I designed and directed both solution tracks in parallel:
Track 1: Risk Assessment Tool
User Research: Deep-dive interviews with Gen Z and Millennial users to uncover financial attitudes
Empathy Mapping & Testing: Used sensory cue workshops and A/B tests to refine UI flow
Archetype Creation: I led the development of 5 neutral, relatable archetypes that defined users by behavior and not bias
UI & UX Writing: Designed a seamless quiz experience with emotionally intelligent feedback
Track 2: WCAG Accessibility Guide
WCAG Analysis: Filtered relevant accessibility rules for FINRA’s digital product landscape
System Design: Created a modular guide system with usage mapped to design stages
Stakeholder Mapping: Defined responsibilities for designers, developers, and PMs to integrate accessibility from day one
Onboarding Material: Designed companion pitch deck and usage scenarios
SUMMARY
The FINRA X SCADPro project highlights how inclusive design and compliance can be transformed from afterthoughts into strategic assets. By building emotionally safe tools for young investors and demystifying accessibility for digital teams, we helped FINRA scale its user experience maturity while keeping empathy and clarity at the core.