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Accessibility Redesign

Wealthsimple Trade

Accessible & Inclusive Design Challenge

Reducing barriers to fintech apps for users with seeing disabilities by exploring solutions using other sensory methods like sonification.

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Objective: INF 2165 Accessibility and Inclusive Design Challenge - Wealthsimple Trade App

Platform: Mobile App

Tools: Figma

Duration: 8 weeks

Team: Eleen Gong (me), Samantha Balajadia, Francis La Rosa, Murtaza Kerani, Sana Javeed

My Role: Conducted secondary research, developed usability testing protocol, created sketches and mid-fi prototype, and analyzed data collected

Problem Statement

Wealthsimple Trade is a completely mobile Canadian fintech application that allows “everyone” to start trading at a low cost. The company claims to empower all users to trade easily but with the shift from in-person financial services to online spaces, many users are being left behind. This forces many users to depend on robo-advisors as human advisors are only for high net worth clients with an account of a minimum of $100,000.

Our design focuses on persons who are blind, have low vision, or are partially visioned. We found that there is a lack of compatibility between the app and assistive technologies as well as various complaints surrounding the difficulties with contacting customer service. This prevents “everyone” from using their app.

How can we make stock trading and fintech applications more accessible to individuals who have a seeing disability?

The Solution & Impact

Our design targets navigation, system feedback, and accessible charts associated with purchasing a stock. This facilitates a more personalized user experience and allows users to interact with stock data using sonification.

With our design, users with seeing disabilities may have more control over their personal finances and achieve independence. Additionally, Wealthsimple may be able to grow its business impact by attracting more clients from the previously excluded communities.

mockup of redesign

Empathize

Who is Excluded?

Once we identified the main areas of opportunity, we generated a total of 24 ideas. We then voted on these ideas based on impact and feasibilty and decided to focus on 3 ideas that best resonated with our user pain points

Persons who are blind, low vision, or partially visioned

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Persons with hearing disability

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Baby Boomers & Generation X (56-75 years). Older Adults (>60)

Our target audience

What we learned

  • Many assistive technologies are already built-into everyday smart mobile devices i.e. Zoom, screen readers

  • Charts and diagrams are difficult to access and understand

  • Concerns for security regarding observation attacks and accessing private financial-related information in public spaces

  • Intersectionality i.e. low income, aging, financial literacy

Research

Barriers Identified

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No resizing text

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Chart labels not accessible

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No alternative input methods i.e. voice

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No video content descriptions

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Incorrect rendering of rise and fall of stock prices

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Stock values not available in alternative formats i.e. table form

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Not in accordance to ARIA. Lack of screenreader compatibility

Target User Flow

target user flow graph
search page

Search Page

stocks page

Stocks Page

Design

new search page sketch

  • Allows for voice input

  • Decluttered Search page

new sonification page sketch

  • Clickable interactive chart

  • Audible feedback upon each selected data point

new stocks page sketch

  • User controlled sound intervals

  • Live non-speech audio sonification

  • Double tap to elicit an action corresponding to existing accessibility interactions

Evaluate

Usability Testing

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Who?​​

  • Persons with low vision

  • Have experience with fintech applications

  • No prior experience with screenreaders

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How?

  • Used the Wizard of Oz technique to emulate a real screen reader experience

  • Encouraged participant to think aloud

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What?

  • Use screenreader to navigate through the search screen

  • Analyze stock page using interactive chart feature

  • Analyze stocks using sonification

  • Exit sonification mode

  • Purchase stock

Findings

Likes

👍 Screenreader increased ability to navigate
👍 Audible feedback followed a logical content order
👍 Seamless transition in/out of sonification mode

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Dislikes

👎 Sonification without context was hardly understood
👎 Intersectionality persists - visible and audible
discomfort with sonification sound chosen
👎 Was not able to read the text and relied on
screenreader

Our Limitations

  • Not enough participants due to time constraints and lack of connections with individuals in the community

  • Lack of primary research prior to designing. No consultation with users who have lived experiences

  • Missing details in usability testing protocol that led to participant confusion

Moving Forward...

  • Recruit more participants with diverse experiences and consult with members from the community

  • Research and better understand how intersectionality comes into play

  • Connect with Wealthsimple stakeholders for feedback and insights on implementation and feasibility

  • More research on sonification and CSV/tables

  • Explore screen magnification/zoom features

  • Test, and reiterate on design

Reflection

  • Designing for inclusion is not about a one-size-fits-all solution

  • Language plays an important part in the cycle of exclusion.

  • Intersectionality is an important consideration.

  • Leave bias and assumptions at the door.

  • Design for people with people. There will always be limitations to our understanding as able-bodied individuals, so it is important to consult and co-design with members from within the community.

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