2020-22
Designing for Gratitude: Fin-Tech With a Human Touch
Dailyhuman
CASE-STUDY
In fall 2020, I joined Dailyhuman as the product designer, collaborating with Jose and Josh, former colleagues from New York City. The app aimed to make gratitude an everyday habit, with its strongest use case emerging as an HR tool for workplace appreciation. Inspired by personal experiences—like my parents sending food to show care—we focused on designing a simple and meaningful way to express appreciation.
Designing a Solution for Appreciation
Dailyhuman enabled users to send small monetary gifts for restaurant use, turning gratitude into a tangible experience. However, blending financial transactions with emotional design required careful UX decisions to ensure trust, security, and engagement.
The Problem: A Gap in Workplace Recognition
While many companies had peer recognition programs, our research showed that most felt impersonal and lacked consistent engagement. Employees wanted a natural, effortless way to express appreciation without rigid HR structures.
Discovery
Blending FinTech and Social Apps
FinTech apps prioritized security but lacked warmth, while wellness apps encouraged engagement but struggled with transactions. Our goal was to merge the best of both—creating a secure yet inviting platform for workplace appreciation.
Understanding User Needs
Interviews with HR professionals revealed that existing recognition tools lacked personalization and emotional depth. Employees preferred an easy, structured way to give and receive appreciation without feeling forced.
Research
Designing for Engagement and Completion
Once both partners completed their interaction, they unlocked pre-allocated funds from their group leader. This reward system reinforced participation, turning workplace gratitude into an engaging, repeatable experience.
What is Round Robin?
To make appreciation a habit, we introduced “Round Robin,” a feature that randomly paired employees each week for structured gratitude exchanges. Users responded to guided prompts, making recognition feel organic rather than obligatory.
Creating Round Robin
Removing Vanity Metrics
To avoid financial pressure, we downplayed monetary amounts and focused on the emotional value of gratitude. The interface prioritized warmth and simplicity, creating an environment where users felt safe expressing appreciation.
Designing Financial Transactions with Emotional Sensitivity
Since users were handling real funds, we needed a secure yet friendly UI. We incorporated clear transaction histories, subtle animations, and soft visual elements to ensure a reassuring experience.
FinTech + Emotions
PROJECT OVERVIEW
ROLE:
Product Designer
DURATION:
Two years
Figma
Illustrator
Readymag
TAKEAWAYS
Dailyhuman was more than just an app—it was a platform built on the principles of gratitude and emotional well-being. Designing for psychological safety taught me the importance of intentional UX choices in making abstract emotions tangible. Moving forward, I see opportunities to expand the concept with deeper personalization, AI-driven gratitude insights, and integrations with workplace productivity tools to further enhance engagement. This project reinforced how thoughtful design can turn a simple gesture into a meaningful experience.
IN CONCLUSION
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