User Experience
CONSCIOUS FICTION
CONSCIOUS FICTION
The invisibility of digital transactions eliminates the psychological "pain of paying," trapping students in a cycle of mindless, impulsive consumption.
The invisibility of digital transactions eliminates the psychological "pain of paying," trapping students in a cycle of mindless, impulsive consumption.
Client :
PERSONAL PROJECT
Role:
Research, UX Strategy, Interaction Design
Year :
2025
Team Project:
Individual
OVERVIEW
Digital payments have become so seamless that we’ve lost the "pain of paying" that natural hesitation we feel when handing over physical cash. Features like one-tap checkouts and "Buy Now, Pay Later" make spending effortless, leading many students into debt and anxiety despite having access to budgeting apps.
Conscious Friction is a multi-touchpoint behavioural system that reintroduces intentional pause at the moment of purchase, forcing users to slow down and shifting users from a reactive (System 1) state to a reflective (System 2) state.
THE DEEP DIVE
To understand how people interact with money and spending decisions, the project involved a combination of primary and secondary research.
Research Methods
User interviews with young adults managing digital payments
Behaviour observation around everyday spending decisions
Review of existing financial applications
Study of behavioural economics and decision-making psychology
User Journey
Key Observations
Spending is often emotionally driven
Many purchases occur impulsively, triggered by mood, convenience, or social influence rather than deliberate financial planning.
Financial tools are rarely used proactively
Most participants reported checking financial apps only when reviewing past expenses rather than before making purchases.
Digital payments reduce spending awareness
Unlike physical cash, digital transactions lack tangible cues that help people mentally register spending.
Strategic Framework
Designing for "Mindful Resistance"
Instead of making the app faster, I explored how to strategically make it slower. I mapped out an ecosystem of "Conscious Nudges" that operate at three levels
The Solution
The proposed concept is a behavioural interaction system that integrates conscious friction within digital payment experiences. Rather than functioning as a separate financial application, the system works alongside existing payment flows and introduces reflective moments at key decision points.
These moments are subtle and contextual, appearing only when patterns suggest impulsive or habitual spending behaviour. By integrating these moments within the transaction flow, the system transforms financial tools from passive trackers into active behavioural companions.
DOCUMENTATION
More Projects
User Experience
CONSCIOUS FICTION
CONSCIOUS FICTION
The invisibility of digital transactions eliminates the psychological "pain of paying," trapping students in a cycle of mindless, impulsive consumption.
The invisibility of digital transactions eliminates the psychological "pain of paying," trapping students in a cycle of mindless, impulsive consumption.
Client :
PERSONAL PROJECT
Role:
Research, UX Strategy, Interaction Design
Year :
2025
Team Project:
Individual
OVERVIEW
Digital payments have become so seamless that we’ve lost the "pain of paying" that natural hesitation we feel when handing over physical cash. Features like one-tap checkouts and "Buy Now, Pay Later" make spending effortless, leading many students into debt and anxiety despite having access to budgeting apps.
Conscious Friction is a multi-touchpoint behavioural system that reintroduces intentional pause at the moment of purchase, forcing users to slow down and shifting users from a reactive (System 1) state to a reflective (System 2) state.
THE DEEP DIVE
To understand how people interact with money and spending decisions, the project involved a combination of primary and secondary research.
Research Methods
User interviews with young adults managing digital payments
Behaviour observation around everyday spending decisions
Review of existing financial applications
Study of behavioural economics and decision-making psychology
User Journey
Key Observations
Spending is often emotionally driven
Many purchases occur impulsively, triggered by mood, convenience, or social influence rather than deliberate financial planning.
Financial tools are rarely used proactively
Most participants reported checking financial apps only when reviewing past expenses rather than before making purchases.
Digital payments reduce spending awareness
Unlike physical cash, digital transactions lack tangible cues that help people mentally register spending.
Strategic Framework
Designing for "Mindful Resistance"
Instead of making the app faster, I explored how to strategically make it slower. I mapped out an ecosystem of "Conscious Nudges" that operate at three levels
The Solution
The proposed concept is a behavioural interaction system that integrates conscious friction within digital payment experiences. Rather than functioning as a separate financial application, the system works alongside existing payment flows and introduces reflective moments at key decision points.
These moments are subtle and contextual, appearing only when patterns suggest impulsive or habitual spending behaviour. By integrating these moments within the transaction flow, the system transforms financial tools from passive trackers into active behavioural companions.
DOCUMENTATION
More Projects
User Experience
CONSCIOUS FICTION
CONSCIOUS FICTION
The invisibility of digital transactions eliminates the psychological "pain of paying," trapping students in a cycle of mindless, impulsive consumption.
The invisibility of digital transactions eliminates the psychological "pain of paying," trapping students in a cycle of mindless, impulsive consumption.
Client :
PERSONAL PROJECT
Role:
Research, UX Strategy, Interaction Design
Year :
2025
Team Project:
Individual
OVERVIEW
Digital payments have become so seamless that we’ve lost the "pain of paying" that natural hesitation we feel when handing over physical cash. Features like one-tap checkouts and "Buy Now, Pay Later" make spending effortless, leading many students into debt and anxiety despite having access to budgeting apps.
Conscious Friction is a multi-touchpoint behavioural system that reintroduces intentional pause at the moment of purchase, forcing users to slow down and shifting users from a reactive (System 1) state to a reflective (System 2) state.
THE DEEP DIVE
To understand how people interact with money and spending decisions, the project involved a combination of primary and secondary research.
Research Methods
User interviews with young adults managing digital payments
Behaviour observation around everyday spending decisions
Review of existing financial applications
Study of behavioural economics and decision-making psychology
User Journey
Key Observations
Spending is often emotionally driven
Many purchases occur impulsively, triggered by mood, convenience, or social influence rather than deliberate financial planning.
Financial tools are rarely used proactively
Most participants reported checking financial apps only when reviewing past expenses rather than before making purchases.
Digital payments reduce spending awareness
Unlike physical cash, digital transactions lack tangible cues that help people mentally register spending.
Strategic Framework
Designing for "Mindful Resistance"
Instead of making the app faster, I explored how to strategically make it slower. I mapped out an ecosystem of "Conscious Nudges" that operate at three levels
The Solution
The proposed concept is a behavioural interaction system that integrates conscious friction within digital payment experiences. Rather than functioning as a separate financial application, the system works alongside existing payment flows and introduces reflective moments at key decision points.
These moments are subtle and contextual, appearing only when patterns suggest impulsive or habitual spending behaviour. By integrating these moments within the transaction flow, the system transforms financial tools from passive trackers into active behavioural companions.