Barclays Mobile App

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Designed the mobile app for Barclays mobile services.
Client

Barclays

Role

Lead Mobile Designer

year

2021

Service

UX Design, Creative Direction, Marketing

Context

Barclay’s mobile and gadget insurance was managed by Likewize (formerly Brightstar). My team was tasked with rebuilding and enhancing their mobile app to incorporate additional features that provide users with greater control, streamline mobile services, and reduce call-in costs.

The Problem

The old online portal prioritized functionality over usability.

Brightstar’s original Barclays app, built with Xamarin, prioritized functionality over user experience. Designed as a one-stop shop for device support and mobile services, it instead became a direct pipeline to the customer support call center, as users struggled to find meaningful solutions within the app.
Problems

I worked with PMs, BAs, and stakeholders to identify business and design challenges

Data provided wasn’t useful

The user was frustrated with meaningless information and jargon.

Confusing interface

We needed to optimize this app to streamline services. And fix a bunch of UI mistakes.

Hard to find what you’re looking for

The navigation was in dire need of an overhaul.

High call volume for support

We wanted to route people from call ins, which costs the client on every call, to the app.

Technical Constraints

The app was redeveloped in Xamarin, streamlining the codebase for deployment on both iOS and Android. While Xamarin enables cross-platform compatibility, it struggles with features unique to one platform that can’t be universally applied.

Collaborations

Solutioning Across Teams

I engaged with engineering team members to ensure our solutions were technically feasible. My goal was to provide team members opportunities to input during whiteboard sessions and iterative design rounds. These sessions were especially helpful when solutioning workarounds for several unsupported features, including .svg rendering issues, loading problems with gradients, and glitches in third-party integrations.

After extensive research and brainstorming, our efforts centered around 4 key areas:

Improve the data we provide

Accuracy is vital for data-sensitive issues, so I prioritized making the information both clear and visually appealing.

Improve navigation

Navigation was restructured, allowing users to explore the app more freely beyond the dashboard.

Improve actionability

We optimized the app to engage users with features like phone tips and a speed test, even when the app or dashboard data is unavailable.

Improve notifications

We enhanced communication to keep users informed about milestones like phone shipments or upgrade eligibility.

Design Solutions

Here are a few highlighted features from the app:

A Personalized Dashboard

The dashboard included a dynamic panel that automatically updated with real-time data relevant to the user’s services.

Support features embedded in the design

From the navigation bar, users can quickly access support services through a chatbot or live agent, which led to a reduction in call volume and overall costs.

A simplified experience that provides users with step-by-step guidance

Given the app’s support-oriented nature, users often arrive with phone issues and potential frustration. Our priority was to provide a reassuring and calming experience.

Dark Mode Support

Personalization is key—offering dark mode gives users more control over how they interact with the app, making it feel modern, adaptable, and visually appealing.

WEB APPLICATION

We also created a dedicated web experience

Post Deployment

We tracked metrics to validate user improvements

92%

User satisfaction rate across 100,000+ downloads

21%

Reduction in call volume over 3 month period