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AkibaPlus Chama Management System
Designing for Financial Empowerment in Community Groups
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This case study details my approach to designing AkibaPlus, a comprehensive web-based platform for managing community savings and lending groups (Chamas). This product targets a traditionally underserved market, the project required a deep dive into user behavior, a focus on trust and transparency, and the creation of a robust, scalable system that prioritizes user empowerment.
The Challenge
Chama leaders face significant challenges in managing group finances: a lack of transparency, difficulty in tracking contributions and loans, and the manual overhead of record-keeping. The goal was to design a web-based solution that digitizes these processes, builds trust through clear reporting, and enables financial growth. My role was to design the web-based administrative view—the core engine used by Chairpersons and Treasurers to manage their group's financial life.
My Approach: A User-Centered and Data-Driven Design Process
To create a system that truly serves its users, I followed a rigorous, multi-phase design methodology.
Discovery & Research:
I began by understanding the target user. Through informal interviews and contextual inquiry with Chama leaders, I identified their primary pain points: trust, transparency, and administrative burden. This phase established the foundational requirements for the platform's core modules: Savings, Loans and Reports.
Information Architecture & User Flows:
With a clear understanding of the user's needs, I mapped out the entire system's information architecture. I created a detailed sitemap for the web view and user flow diagrams for critical administrative tasks, such as approving a loan or generating a financial report. This ensured a logical and intuitive navigation system.
Wireframing & Prototyping
I moved into low-fidelity wireframes, focusing solely on functionality and layout. The goal was to solve the core user problems before adding any visual styling. I created interactive prototypes for key admin-facing workflows, such as the Settings module, and conducted internal usability testing to refine the user journey.
UI Design & Systemization
Once the functionality was validated, I developed the visual design. This included a custom brand identity—a logo, color palette, and typography—designed to convey trust, professionalism, and approachability. I created a UI component library from scratch, ensuring consistency across all modules and preparing the design for scalable development.
High-Fidelity Mockups & Finalization:
I created high-fidelity mockups for all core modules, paying close attention to data visualization and information hierarchy. I designed smart, data-rich dashboards and customizable reports that provide a comprehensive view of the Chama's financial health. My final deliverable was a detailed, developer-ready file with a well-organized component library and clear documentation.
Key Design Decisions & Solutions
The KPI Dashboard
I designed a modular, at-a-glance KPI dashboard that presents critical information like Total Assets, Loan Default Rate, and Savings Growth using a mix of large number cards, colored text trends, and contrasting fonts. This immediately signals the Chama's financial health.
The Robust Reports Module
The Reports module was a core focus. I designed four distinct report types— Chama Group Contributions, Loans, Member Contributions, and Transaction History—each with granular filtering options and the ability to export data in multiple formats.
The Settings Module
By empowering administrators, I am recognizing the need for group autonomy and security, I designed a comprehensive Settings module. Its tabbed layout and clear, role-based permissions allow Chairpersons to control everything from loan rules to Chama group preferences, all from a single, intuitive interface.
Why this project demonstrates my value
Problem-Solving at Scale: I didn't just design a few screens; I designed a comprehensive, multi-module system that solves a complex, real-world problem.
User-Centric Methodology: My process was driven by user research and iterative testing, not by assumptions.
Strategic Thinking: I considered not only the immediate needs but also the long-term scalability of the product, including its potential future integrations and the creation of a reusable design system.
Holistic Design: I owned the project from research and wireframing to visual identity and developer handoff, showcasing a full-stack design skill set.
A Unique Value Proposition: This project tackles a niche market with a significant, unmet need, demonstrating my ability to find and solve unique design challenges.
The complete, organized Figma file for the AkibaPlus admin view is available for review upon request. This file showcases my meticulous attention to detail, my systematic approach to design, and my ability to produce developer-ready assets.
I am eager to discuss how my expertise in strategic product design can help your team tackle equally challenging and impactful projects. Please feel free to reach out.
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💡Accessibility is not a feature--it is the baseline!
Designed and organized by Mutai Kiprotich