Phase 1: Rapid Launch
CONTEXT
HausMoney provides instant tip payouts to restaurant employees. Their entire business depends on uninterrupted card infrastructure and app access, so when both were sunset in mid-2024, it wasn't just a technical problem. It was an existential one. As the sole designer, I owned it end to end. It was Upward's first native app and first Mastercard labeled card product, a new category that came with real banking relationships, compliance requirements, and KYC flows baked into every design decision. I worked alongside CEOs and PMs from both companies, shipping a product that went live on the App Store and Google Play.
BUILDING FROM SCATCH
I started where the industry did. Researching Chase and other traditional banks gave me a baseline for transfer flows and transaction history. The goal wasn't just familiarity, it was trust. For users accessing their pay through a new product, the design needed to feel like it belonged alongside the banks they already relied on.
From there I worked closely with our COO to map out everything the product needed, building a wishlist that became the foundation for the full flow architecture. Wireframes came next, then hifi designs, then a full presentation to the client before locking anything down. Feedback was folded in, final UI was locked, and I handled all UX copy throughout, working with our legal team to make sure disclosures were visible without overwhelming the experience.
The goal for onboarding was simple: get users through it as fast as compliance would allow. Every step had to earn its place.
The product launched in December 2024, on time.
WHAT IT BECAME
The HausMoney launch proved that Upward could build and ship a card product at speed, and the market noticed. Partner after partner signed on. The card product became Upward's core offering, exponentially expanding reach and establishing the company as a serious player in the embedded credit builder card space.
Phase 2: Product Expansion
A year in, the product was trusted. But there was a meaningful gap between what it was and what users needed it to be. Through support calls, user group sessions, and an internal beta program I ran myself, a clear picture emerged: users needed faster transfers, better visibility into their transaction history, and more value from everyday card use. I completed the full redesign in one month, then led the rollout end to end, working directly with our frontend engineer to cut tickets and phase the expansion across Q1 2026.
REFLECTION
This is the project I am most proud of. Building an entirely new product category from scratch, with real stakes for real users, and watching it put Upward on the map is not something I expected this early in my career. It was also one of the most collaborative projects I have worked on, across two companies, multiple stakeholders, and a tight-knit engineering team that made the whole thing possible.
Phase 2 taught me a lot about what it means to lead through a product, not just design one. Running beta sessions, synthesizing feedback, and working closely with our frontend engineer to plan and execute the rollout showed me how much of good product work happens in the spaces between the screens.
