Freecoin TFM
Master’s final project consisting of the comprehensive design of a functional MVP through the Design Thinking process
Date
07-09/2024
Category
UX/UI Design
Role
Product designer |
UX Researcher
Freecoin is a proposal to rethink financial freedom through design: simple, inclusive, and visually coherent.
01. Academic Context and Objectives
The Freecoin project arose as a Master’s Final Project with the goal of applying the Design Thinking process to the development of a realistic digital product. The challenge was to design a functional MVP with a comprehensive approach—from the idea to brand creation, user research, interface, and prototyping. The project had to meet criteria in research, concept validation, brand and product design, and professional visual presentation.
02. Visual Identity Design
Freecoin is the name of an app for free exchange and management of currencies, both traditional (FIAT) and cryptocurrencies. The idea emerged from reflecting on the growing fragmentation of personal financial systems, where one person may have bank accounts, digital wallets, and crypto wallets across multiple platforms, without an easy way to integrate, manage, or use them with true freedom.
The name “Freecoin” was chosen for its double meaning: on one hand, it suggests financial freedom—an individual’s ability to decide how, with what, and when to operate. On the other, it establishes a link to the world of digital currencies while keeping an identity that is simple and universal. Brand creation involved designing a visual identity that reflects dynamism, autonomy, transparency, and forward-thinking. The logo is based on a circular, geometric, and open figure symbolizing connection, exchange cycles, and stability. The chosen typeface, Work Sans, provides a contemporary, clear tone adaptable to digital environments. A neon green was defined as the primary color to create a distinctive presence on dark backgrounds, reinforcing associations with technology, innovation, and energy.
03. App Design Process with Design Thinking
The app design phase was structured entirely around the Design Thinking process, allowing progress from initial intuition to a visually validated concept product. First, a research stage was conducted to understand how current users manage their digital personal finances, what barriers they encounter, and what they value in terms of clarity, control, and security. Real cases of financial platforms, digital wallets, and crypto solutions were reviewed to identify patterns and opportunities.
Next, the product’s key features were defined: balance visualization in different currencies, transaction history, linking external accounts, instant exchanges, movement notifications, and usage reputation. These functionalities were organized into navigation flows that facilitated understanding and minimized cognitive friction. From these flows, medium-fidelity wireframes were built, progressively evolving into a high-fidelity prototype in Figma, in line with the established visual identity principles.
At all times, the focus remained on designing an intuitive and trustworthy experience, where financial information is presented clearly and the design reinforces the perception of control and freedom. The visual system was designed for scalability, incorporating reusable elements, modular components, and a flexible color logic adapted to different usage contexts.
Screens
04. Personal Reflection
Developing Freecoin from scratch allowed me to deeply experience what it means to build a digital product from the ground up—merging strategic vision, brand identity, user experience, and interface.
It was an exercise in synthesis, where every decision had to serve not only an aesthetic but also a functional purpose and systemic logic. Working across all phases—from research to delivery—gave me a global perspective on the design process and made me more aware of how brand identity and app architecture must speak the same language.
On a personal level, Freecoin is one of the most complete projects I’ve developed in an academic setting. It allowed me to question existing economic models, visually explore the future of personal finance, and most importantly, solidify my profile as a holistic designer capable of thinking beyond the visual surface.
This project reinforces my belief that well-conceived design can offer real, understandable, and desirable alternatives—even within systems as complex as the economy.