Branding, UX + UI for the first 100% online mortgage provider
Fintech start-up bijBouwe offers consumers the opportunity to apply for a mortgage directly online, easily and inexpensively. Together with my design buddy Durk Hattink, we helped them from the start to design the branding and developed the UI / UX design language.
- Research & Analysis
- Wire-framing & Prototyping
- Art Direction
- Branding & Identity
- UX/UI/IA
Our process
The start
We won this project by giving our design vision for the next fintech mortgage company bijBouwe. By designing a clickable prototype and a solid presentation with visual design explorations.
The brand
Hello Yellow
bijBouwe believes the process of getting a mortgage online is broken. So they’re fixing it. Disrupting the mortgage industry, bijBouwe needed a bold identity. This bold new way of thinking is reflected in the brand strategy and identity we created for them. We compared and analyzed the industry leaders, and researched the color palettes they where using. Lot’s of blue, purple, boring “banking” colors. For us, it was a logic step, to make something new and exciting. Yellow was born.
The brand
The branding
In combination with a simple icon and a friendly open typeface, the brand came alive. Apart from the logotype and icon, we also helped the team on developing taglines, tone of voice, and online communication for the brand. And of course we also made a set of business cards and a brand manual covering the use of color, typography and illustration.
Color Palette
A monochromatic palette is perceived as minimalistic, and modern. It can be both adaptable to the themes and throughout the product. Together some some strong yellow accent colors the palette is complete.
Creation of a ‘design system’ specification
To ensure that our UI elements were well-defined and looked and acted the same way everywhere, I took a systematic approach to outlining our design system. Always thinking responsively, I outlined the look, feel, and behavior of elements like forms, buttons, navigation items, and other responsive modules that were more specific to our web app.
Fast iterations
It was a great challenge for us to make the visual language, branding and user experience work and feel right for the current user base and all stakeholders alike. We produced fast, high-quality iterations to reach that goal.
Bringing it all to life
As bijBouwe started to come to life we handed the foundation and visual language over to the Bikkelhart’s internal creative and development team; challenging them to continue the bijBouwe commitment to open the mortgage market.
Via bijBouwe.nl consumers can purchase a mortgage directly online and gives customers immediate feedback.
Customers have the option to submit their mortgage application themselves, assisted by a bijBouwe consultant or by hiring an external adviser.
Conclusion
Being invited from the early stages of the birth of this exciting company, to design both the brand and the UI as one complete package is a great experience. With todays online tools, communication with the team worked fantastic even while we were spread out in different locations, and we truly enjoy seeing the project and the brand continue to grow and develop.