Greenhouse

Accelerating time to market while enhancing the user experience across platforms

Project overview

Greenhouse was a mobile-first banking app designed to help underserved consumers—those with irregular income, new to banking, or managing money primarily with cash—take control of their finances through simplified, intuitive money management. Greenhouse wanted to empower its users to budget weekly, save for specific goals, and avoid overdraft penalties—helping financially vulnerable consumers build stability and confidence.

Greenhouse was preparing to expand its reach by developing a native Android experience. To support a nationwide rollout, the team needed to accelerate Android development—going beyond simply replicating the iOS app and instead delivering a platform-appropriate, user-centered solution.

I was brought in to lead the UX effort to adapt the iOS experience to Android, with the goal of accelerating delivery while improving usability, accessibility, and scalability.

Challenge

The client wanted more than a simple iOS port—they needed a native Android experience that could:

Support an aggressive timeline for launch
Address technical limitations from legacy backend systems
Comply with ADA accessibility standards
Align with Android-specific usability and visual expectations

Business Goals:

Acquire and retain new customers by addressing a gap in the market (57% of Americans struggle financially; 44% can't cover a $400 emergency)
Build long-term relationships that expand into other services like investing
Shift users from "rear-view mirror" money management to proactive financial control

Role

I was responsible for driving the Android adaptation from strategy to delivery:

Led the UX effort to adapt the GreenHouse iOS app to Android
Translated iOS components into Android-native experiences using Material Design guidelines and Android developer standards
Conducted analysis and mapped feature parity, system behaviors, and user journeys
Collaborated with development, Business Analysts, and QA teams to define interface functionality and resolve system behavior ambiguities
Maintained ADA compliance through accessible design specifications
Designed wireframes with detailed specifications for navigation, interaction, animation, and accessibility
Delivered high-fidelity mockups and UI assets for implementation
Developed feature maps, information architecture, and user flows
Updated the style guide and documentation for long-term scalability
Informed design improvements through user interviews transcript analysis.

Design Process

Discovery & Analysis

Audited the iOS app to identify components requiring adaptation
Analyzed backend behaviors and technical constraints
Reviewed user interviews and transcripts to understand core needs

Planning & Architecture

Developed feature maps, and user flows tailored to an Android experience
Identified and addressed areas of ambiguity in backend behavior with the BA/QA teams

Design & Prototyping

Created wireframes and prototypes covering all key flows and microinteractions
Delivered detailed design specs supporting accessibility, animation, and interaction design
Used Material Design principles to align the product with Android-native behavior and visual consistency
Produced high-fidelity mockups and visual assets for efficient dev handoff

Collaboration & Delivery

Worked closely with developers to define functionality and resolve implementation issues
Partnered with QA to verify behavior matched expectations across devices
Updated documentation and internal guidelines to support ongoing iteration and scalability

Disclaimer: In my role as a UX consultant under NDA agreements, I'm limited in how much I can visually disclose. While I can't show full-resolution designs or detailed project visuals, I’ve highlighted key insights and outcomes to showcase my thinking and contributions.

Wireframe with user flow and annotations

Outcome

Successful platform launch: Android app released as planned
Enhanced Android UX: Delivered a native experience that felt intentional and intuitive
Compliance with ADA standards: Ensured inclusive access for users of all abilities
Faster time to market: Efficient design documentation and collaboration reduced implementation delays
User-informed improvements: Research insights contributed to features tailored to Android users
Stronger design operations: Updated documentation and scalable components improved team efficiency

This project reminded me that speed and quality don’t have to be mutually exclusive. By staying grounded in user needs, respecting platform standards, and maintaining strong cross-functional alignment, we delivered an Android experience that was both timely and thoughtfully designed—improving on the original iOS version while enabling a successful national launch.