This talk is all about ReadyForZero: Our story, some design challenges we've faced, how we've approached them, and lessons learned from doing UX at an early stage startup.

1. Designing a Way Out of Debt
Loren Baxter, Director of UX

2. Loren Baxter
Director of User Experience, Founding Team
@lorenbaxter

3. Today’s Talk
1. Our Story
2. Challenges
3. Lessons

4. Our Story
ReadyForZero is a tool that helps people get
themselves out of debt.

5. It’s also a financial program, and is
designed to help people make the best
choices.
Here’s a quick overview:

6. (there was a video here, but you
should just go to readyforzero.com
and try it)

7. Our Story

9. Our Story

10. Our Story

11. *
* well, more than 100 million Americans

12. Our Story

13. Our Story

14. Our Story

15. Our Story

16. Today (April 1, 2012):
$200 mm $13 mm 2x
debt tracked debt paid down speed of debt
paydown by regular
users

17. Challenges

18. Q: How do we put the user in
control and de-stress, fast?

19. Q: How do we put the user in
control and de-stress, fast?
A: Simplify. Clarify. Empower.

20. Q: How do we keep the user

21. Q: How do we keep the user
A: Reward and show progress (in-context).

22. Q: How do we keep the user
A: Intelligent, well-timed suggestions.

23. Q: How do we keep the user
A: Be flexible.

24. Q: How do we help people when
they’re not on a computer?

25. Q: How do we help people when
they’re not on a computer?
A: Mobile is important, but also think about other
contexts.

26. Q: How do we build good habits?

27. Q: How do we build good habits?
A: Structured goals. A: Great feedback loops.

28. Lessons

29. Read up on behavior change &
persuasive design techniques.
BJ Fogg Stephen Sebastian Dustin
Anderson Deterding DiTomasso

32. Work with people who have

33. Work with people who have
strong values
... especially with friends

34. Work with people who have
strong values
... especially with friends
... and let them shine through

35. and most of all...

37. Thank You
@lorenbaxter