Penny Trail

An app designed for small businesses to send & track invoices for their services.

Note: This project was completed as part of my UX Design Certificate program.

Background

Penny Trail is a mobile app designed to help small business owners and freelancers stay organized by tracking the invoices they send out. Many independent workers rely on manual methods or scattered tools to manage who has paid and who hasn’t, which can lead to missed payments and confusion. Penny Trail simplifies this process by providing a clear, easy-to-use interface where users can log invoices, monitor payment status, and keep their records in one place. Inspired by the common struggles of small business owners, the app focuses on improving organization and reducing the mental load of financial tracking.

Problem

Freelancers and small business owners often juggle multiple responsibilities, making it difficult to keep track of sent invoices and payment statuses. Without a centralized, easy-to-use system, they risk losing track of income, missing payments, and experiencing unnecessary stress. There is a clear need for a simple, reliable tool that helps them stay on top of their finances and focus more on growing their business.

Solution

To address the disorganization and stress caused by manual invoice tracking, Penny Trail provides a mobile app designed specifically for freelancers and small business owners. The app simplifies financial management by offering an intuitive interface where users can create, track, and organize invoices in one place. By streamlining this process, Penny Trail helps users stay on top of payments, reduce mental load, and gain confidence in managing their business finances.

My Design Process

Empathize

Define

Ideate

Prototype

Test

EMPATHIZE

Understanding users’ needs, emotions, and challenges.

Iterate

Empathize

Define

Ideate

Prototype

Test

User Personas

Pain Points:

Struggles with complex technology and prefers simple, intuitive tools.
Has a packed schedule, making it difficult to stay on top of payments.
Wants better systems to stay organized and manage finances efficiently.

Pain Points:

Looking for a dependable solution to monitor and manage payments.
Feels overwhelmed by complex tech and prefers straightforward tools.
Wants to feel more in control by keeping business tasks organized and manageable.

Journey Maps

User Journey Map #2 [Marissa Gonzales].png

User Stories

As a busy business owner, I want to easily send & keep track of invoices, so that I can receive payment in a timely manner.

As a new business owner, I want to keep track of client payments, so that I know how much I am earning.

DEFINE

Identifying the user’s problem based on insights gathered.

Iterate

Empathize

Define

Ideate

Prototype

Test

James Miller

Problem Statement:

James Miller is a busy small business owner who needs a system to send & track invoices because he wants to get paid for his services.

Hypothesis Statement:

If James uses an organized tracking system, then he will get paid in a timely manner.

Marissa Gonzales

Problem Statement:

Marissa Gonzales is a new business owner who needs a reliable system to track her payments because she wants to keep track of her earnings.

Hypothesis Statement:

If Marissa has a reliable and simple invoice system, then she will be able to easily keep track of her earnings.

Value Proposition:

Simple, Free, and Built for Non-Tech-Savvy Users.

Penny Trail is completely free and designed with simplicity in mind, so even users with little to no tech experience can start tracking invoices right away.

Stay Organized Without Spreadsheets or Sticky Notes.

Instead of juggling spreadsheets, notebooks, and mental reminders, Penny Trail keeps all your invoice tracking in one tidy place. It shows what’s paid, what’s pending, and what’s overdue.

Peace of Mind with Smart Reminders and Status Updates.

Never forget to follow up on a payment again. Penny Trail automatically tracks invoice statuses and can remind you when it’s time to nudge a client.

IDEATE

Exploring ideas and possibilities to address the user’s needs.

Iterate

Empathize

Define

Ideate

Prototype

Test

PROTOTYPE

Creating simple versions of the design to test ideas and make improvements.

Iterate

Empathize

Define

Ideate

Prototype

Test

Penny Trail Lo-Fi Prototype

Penny Trail Hi-Fi Prototype

Penny Trail Final Prototype

TEST

Getting feedback from users to improve and refine the design.

Iterate

Empathize

Define

Ideate

Prototype

Test

Testing Methods:

Surveys & Questionnaires (Template here).

Used to collect quantitative & qualitative feedback from a broad audience to identify user needs, preferences, & pain points.

User Interviews

Conducted one-on-one sessions to explore user behaviors, motivations, & experiences.

Usability Testing (Moderated & Unmoderated)

Evaluated how users interact with the product to identify usability issues.

These testing methods revealed insights I hadn’t considered during the initial design phase. Usability testing helped identify pain points in the user flow, while surveys highlighted user preferences and expectations. These findings guided design decisions that improved both functionality and overall user experience, ensuring the product better aligns with real user needs. The final prototype was refined based on feedback gathered from user interviews.

INSIGHTS

This project taught me the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives into the design process. I realized that my own assumptions and thinking patterns don’t always reflect how others experience a product. By actively seeking feedback from a wide range of target users, I uncovered valuable insights that challenged my initial ideas and helped me make more informed, empathetic design decisions. This experience strengthened my belief that great UX comes from truly understanding the people you’re designing for, not just solving problems from a single point of view.