CIBC Banking App Capstone — Matteo's Portfolio

02 — Research and Discovery

Fast, focused, and immediately actionable

With only two weeks from brief to delivery, there was not time for extended discovery. Research had to be fast, focused, and immediately actionable.

We started by understanding the landscape from multiple angles. Members of our team logged into their own personal banking apps to see firsthand what other institutions were already doing with gamification. We supplemented that with secondary research, combing through Reddit threads and user testimonials to understand how people actually felt about gamification in financial products, and drawing on scholarly articles and industry reports on how gamification mechanics can drive meaningful behaviour change.

For a two week sprint, the goal was not exhaustive research. It was getting directionally confident fast enough to start designing.

"Two weeks meant every day counted. We could not afford to spend time on research that did not directly inform a design decision. Every insight had to earn its place."

03 — Process

Build, test, refine, repeat

The sprint was structured to simulate how a real client engagement actually runs. Each day had weight to it because there were no buffer days built in. Research, ideation, design, testing, and iteration all had to happen within the same two week window, often overlapping.

Throughout the sprint we had weekly contact with a representative at CIBC. That touchpoint kept the work honest. It meant we were designing for a real client with real expectations, not just completing an academic exercise.

1

Research and competitive landscape

Personal banking app walkthroughs, Reddit and community sentiment, scholarly and industry research on gamification mechanics. Fast and focused.

2

Ideation and feature definition

Team ideation to identify which gamification concepts were most appropriate for a banking context. Prioritizing features that drove real financial behaviour over surface level engagement.

3

Prototyping in Figma

High fidelity prototypes built quickly and designed to be testable. Not waiting for perfection before putting work in front of users.

4

Two rounds of usability testing

13 participants across two iterations. The first round surfaced the initial friction points. The second validated that our changes addressed them. That before and after gave us confidence in the final output.

5

Final iteration and delivery

Incorporating the second round of feedback into a polished final prototype, ready for client presentation before the deadline.

04 — The Solution

Three features, one connected system

We designed three interconnected features that together formed a complete gamification system for the CIBC mobile app. The key design decision was making sure they did not work in isolation. Savings goals feed into badges, badges generate points, and points redeem for real world rewards. That loop was intentional. Every behaviour we wanted to encourage had a visible payoff attached to it.

Feature 01

Savings Visualizer

A guided goal-setting flow where users choose what they are saving for, set a target amount, define a timeline, pick a contribution frequency, and optionally automate their payments. At the end of setup, the app generates a personalized savings plan with an estimated completion date. Completing a goal unlocks badges tied to that milestone.

Feature 02

Badges and Rewards

A recognition system that rewards users for positive financial behaviours including opening a savings account, reaching contribution milestones, staying on track, and completing goals. Each badge has a point value and unlocks progressively as users engage more deeply with the app.

Feature 03

Point Redemption

The payoff layer of the system. Points accumulated through badges are redeemable for real world rewards including gift cards from Best Buy, Amazon, and Tim Hortons, as well as discounts on everyday purchases. Making the rewards tangible and recognizable was a deliberate choice. Abstract points feel hollow, but a $100 Best Buy gift card feels earned.

The screens below show the full flow across all three features, from setting up a savings goal for the first time, through the ongoing tracking experience, to earning badges and redeeming points for rewards.

"The system only works if every part of it connects. A badge that does not lead anywhere is just decoration. A savings goal without a reward is just a number. We designed these features to reinforce each other so that every positive financial action had a visible, meaningful consequence."

Screen 01 — Savings Goal Creation

The goal creation flow walks users through choosing what they are saving for, setting a price, selecting a timeline and contribution frequency, and optionally automating payments. The final screen generates a personalized savings plan with an estimated completion date, giving users a concrete picture of what achieving their goal actually looks like.

Screen 02 — Savings Goal Experience

The ongoing goal view shows progress toward the target with a visual progress bar, badges earned along the way, and weekly savings challenges. When a goal is completed, a badge achievement screen celebrates the milestone and prompts the user to set a new goal, keeping the engagement loop active.

Screen 03 — Badges and Rewards

The badges view shows all available badges, which ones have been earned, and how many points each is worth. Badges are tiered progressively so there is always something to work toward. The system is accessible directly from the main navigation, making it a first class feature rather than something buried in settings.

Screen 04 — Point Redemption

The redemption flow shows the user's current points balance and a catalogue of available rewards. Selecting a reward shows its full description and point cost before confirming. A confirmation screen closes the loop with a clear message that the reward is on its way.

05 — Outcome and Reflection

What the sprint taught me

At the end of the two weeks, our team presented the final prototype to CIBC. The work was well received and we were commended for both the innovation of the concept and the quality of execution given the timeline. For a project that started with a blank brief and ended ten working days later with a fully prototyped, user-tested gamification system, that was a meaningful result.

The three features came together as a coherent system that addressed the original brief without compromising the tone and trustworthiness a major financial institution requires. The two rounds of usability testing gave us confidence that what we shipped was not just visually compelling but actually worked for the people we designed it for.

That ability to maintain pace and make good decisions quickly without sacrificing quality is something I carry into every project since. It is a different kind of skill from deep research or careful craft. But in the real world, you need both.

"The biggest thing I took away from this project is something that sounds simple but only really sinks in when you have lived it. When you are working in a tight timeframe, there is no room to fall behind. Not a day, not a decision. You learn very quickly how to move with purpose, making calls confidently, keeping momentum, and trusting the process even when there is not much time to second-guess it."

CIBC Banking App

My Role

Timeline

Team

Tools

Methods

Outcome

Making banking worth coming back to

Fast, focused, and immediately actionable

Build, test, refine, repeat