Methods Used:
User Research, Competitive Analysis, Information Architecture, Wireframing, Prototyping, Usability Testing
Tools:
Figma, Notion, Google Forms, Miro
Retail traders in India often find it hard to trust the trading calls they receive, navigate cluttered dashboards, and interpret scattered financial advice. TradePeeps was envisioned as a solution that connects users with SEBI-registered experts, providing real-time trade calls, synced portfolios, and performance dashboards all within a mobile-first app.
This self-initiated UX project involved a full design cycle: research, ideation, prototyping, and testing. My goal was to simplify the way users discover expert traders, act on trade calls, and track performance without feeling overwhelmed.
Goals & Challenges
The project set out to empower retail investors by solving three major pain points:
Lack of Trust: Users didn’t know who to follow or how credible they were.
Disorganized Data: Trade calls were often scattered across Telegram, WhatsApp, or PDFs.
Poor Portfolio Visibility: Users couldn’t track how their decisions or expert calls impacted their profit/loss.
The biggest design challenge was communicating complex financial data clearly while maintaining an engaging and actionable experience. I also needed to create a platform that builds credibility through transparency.
Research & Discovery
To better understand the mindset of beginner to intermediate traders, I conducted user interviews and distributed surveys using Google Forms. I also analyzed competitors like StockEdge, Zerodha Varsity, and small-cap Telegram and Reddit communities to study what they lacked particularly around trust and usability.
Workshops using Miro helped define the tone and visual identity of the app. The team aimed for a credible, clean, and data-forward look that appealed to both cautious investors and fast-paced traders.
UX Strategy & Design Process
I structured the process into four phases:
1. Information Architecture
Using card-sorting and flowcharts, I defined key screens like Experts, Dashboard, Trade Channels, and Performance Analytics. The goal was to keep navigation lean yet powerful.
2. Wireframing & Prototyping
Low-fidelity sketches in Figma helped explore multiple layouts for expert cards and dashboards. After quick feedback loops, I developed a clickable prototype that mapped all major user journeys from syncing their demat account to reacting to a trade signal.
3. UI Design
The final UI had a minimal, data-first aesthetic, using subtle gradients and curved cards to emphasize key numbers. Performance charts were designed for instant clarity, while trade calls were delivered with bite-sized instructions and visual cues.
4. Usability Testing
Using moderated sessions, I tested the prototype with 5 users who had trading experience. Insights led to a few key changes:
Enlarging profit/loss indicators
Clarifying button hierarchy
Rewriting financial jargon into simpler action-based language
Key Features
Dashboard
The dashboard syncs with the user’s demat account to visualize real-time profit/loss (PNL). It separates Equity and Mutual Fund data, with intuitive tabs and a CTA for syncing accounts.
Experts Screen
Users can browse SEBI-verified trading experts, view performance stats, and bookmark their favorite calls. Tags, filters, and trust badges help users quickly identify credible voices in the community.
Trading Channels
Each channel provides trade calls with entry, stop-loss, and target levels. Users can react, bookmark, or track signal history, making it easy to follow or ignore specific strategies.
Outcome & Impact
The project significantly increased confidence and control for users who wanted to follow expert-led trading strategies. Users reported:
Clearer understanding of trade performance
Less noise when choosing who to follow
Better tracking of historical calls and success rate
What’s Next
In future iterations, I’d love to explore:
Live chat with experts
Advanced analytics and trade history filters
Global trading channel integration (e.g., US stocks, crypto, NFT)
Final Thoughts
TradePeeps is about bringing structure, trust, and clarity to the fast-moving world of retail trading. By blending real-time data with thoughtful UX, the app gives users more than just trade ideas, it gives them confidence and control in their financial decisions.
