Design Trends That Will Attract the Next Generation into the Office 

Gone are the days of grey spreadsheets in banking apps. Today, fintech has changed the way people manage their money by putting simplicity, trustworthiness, and aesthetic appeal at centre stage. Digital wallets, e-wallet services, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options are what lead the young into a fintech revolution that is, above everything else, convenient, flexible, and stylish.

In fact, according to a recent Global Payments study found that Millennials and Gen Z are not only setting the pace for fintech adoption but also gives the direction for the future of payments with a strong preference toward digital and contactless.

Today’s young generation doesn’t merely want functionality-they want style, simplicity and an experience that feels made for them. So, what changed?

Bold, Vibrant Colour Palettes – Goodbye to Bland, Hello to Bold

Finance applications are no longer just something that serves a purpose today but must be new and exciting. Specifically, the majority of users, especially the younger generation, are keen on dynamic colour combinations that resemble or represent their personality, thus making it appealing to the user.

With over 75% of BNPL users in the UK between the ages of 18 and 36, they clearly show a strong appetite for payment options that feel modern and personalised. Imagine a savings app coming to life with bright coral highlights or an electric green notification when it hits you with a milestone.

This type of bold visual design makes the financial journey feel approachable and inspiring – a far cry from the traditionally muted look of banking apps.

Customisable Dashboards – Finances, Tailored to You

Personalisation is a huge draw for young users who want control over their financial data. Apps with customisable dashboards let users create layouts that suit their unique needs, whether that’s prioritising loan repayments or tracking monthly spending at a glance.

Picture this: Tom, a recent graduate managing his student loan repayments and everyday expenses. By organising his dashboard to display loan repayment progress first, he gets a financial snapshot that’s directly relevant to him.

With smartphone consumption nearly universal among Millennials and Gen Z in the UK, these mobile-first, customisable solutions provide a level of flexibility that aligns with their mobile-first lifestyle.

Gamified Features – Because Learning Can Be Fun

One of the strongest trends in fintech today is gamification, which has brought an element of fun to financial management. For example, imagine an app that rewards users with points or badges as they reach savings targets or cut down spending on takeaways.

For Gen Z, who favours real-time, easy-to-use financial solutions, this type of interactive reward system can make the journey towards better financial habits feel more engaging and rewarding. Sarah, a young professional, might log in just to see her progress and earn her next badge – a clever way fintech is encouraging positive financial habits.

Interactive Visuals – Clarity at a Glance

Younger generations want clear, fast access to data, especially as 84% of UK Gen Z respondents reported a preference for digital financial management via e-wallets. This is where interactive visuals, like charts and graphs, come into play. Instead of wading through rows of data, users can quickly assess where their money is going with visuals like pie charts or spending summaries.

For example, Jake, who’s curious why his pay seems to disappear each month, can easily see how much goes to subscriptions, takeaways, or travel. It’s instant clarity that matches their expectation for intuitive, accessible information.

Dark Mode – Easy on the Eyes, Anytime

Beyond being aesthetically pleasing, dark mode is designed for functionality and comfort, especially for those who often check their finances in low-light settings. Picture an app that automatically shifts to dark mode in the evening – not only does this feature save battery life and reduce eye strain, but it also makes the app feel more polished and intentional. Younger users who expect such conveniences from their digital experiences appreciate the effortless transition.

Conversational Tone – From Jargon to Genuine Connection

Gone are the days of impenetrable financial jargon. Today’s fintech brands are adopting a friendlier, more conversational tone to bridge the gap between finance and users, making their tools feel approachable. Imagine being greeted with “How are we doing with our goals?” rather than “View transaction history.” This type of language is especially appealing to users who may find financial terminology intimidating. A conversational tone helps turn financial tasks from something formal and dry to something approachable, even enjoyable.

Social Elements – Sharing Goals and Celebrating Wins Together

The influence of social media is evident in fintech, with some apps integrating features that make finance feel like a community experience. Imagine an app that lets users team up with friends on savings challenges or set up friendly competitions for budget goals. For someone like Lucy, who finds a little accountability helps her stay on track, a social feature that lets her high-five a friend for completing their monthly saving challenge is both fun and encouraging. This collective approach adds an enjoyable, community-driven feel to the finance world.

Streamlined Onboarding – Setting Up Should Be Seamless

With nearly 100% smartphone consumption among Millennials and Gen Z in the UK, making apps easy to use is very important. Apps need to make a good first impression, so financial apps now focus on quick, easy setups with simple steps that help users get started. Imagine Alex, a 21-year-old university student, being greeted with an interactive walkthrough of a budgeting app. The app guides him step-by-step, explaining key features and making setup a breeze. This straightforward onboarding experience sets the tone, creating a seamless start that keeps users engaged from day one.

Case Study: Revolut – An Example of Fintech Design Done Right

As we’ve seen, these design trends help make financial apps easier to use and more personal. Revolut, a top money app company, shows how these design ideas work well to make an easy-to-use app that does many things at once.

Starting in 2015, Revolut first helped people swap money between countries, then grew to offer banking, stock buying, and crypto trading. The company learned that users today like to do things on their own, so they made one simple app where everything is easy to find and use.

Here’s how Revolut applied many of the trends we’ve discussed:

• Unified Platform: Combining multiple services into a single app, Revolut streamlined its user experience, eliminating the need for users to jump between different platforms for their financial needs.
• Competitive Pricing & Rapid Innovation: With lower rates on services like currency exchange and stock trading, Revolut has continued to innovate, introducing new features to meet the evolving needs of users.

The result? With approximately $765 million in revenue generated in 2021, over 30 million retail customers by 2023 and a growing influence on the industry, traditional banks scrambled to offer similar features and integrated solutions.

Source: Fintech case study

Final Thoughts: Making Finance Feel Effortless

With vibrant designs, customisable dashboards, and intuitive features, fintech is transforming the way young generations approach finance. From interactive visuals to community-oriented challenges, these design trends don’t just look good – they’re reshaping finance to be user-friendly, engaging, and incredibly accessible.

At Nucleus, we are working towards simplification and sleekness of finance. Not very unlike the design trends that we have discussed, we think that our solutions come across as implementable and most importantly, user-friendly for people in the modern financial world.

Whether you want a basic loan or one that fits your business better, we keep things easy to understand – no fancy words, just clear steps from start to finish. This works well for today’s users who want things to be quick, easy to change, and ready to use on their phones.

As financial apps keep getting better, we can see that mixing good design with useful, everyday solutions is the way forward. And just like those app interfaces you’ll find in your pocket, our goal at Nucleus is to make sure your financial journey feels like it’s always working in your favour. Contact us today to learn more.