High-stakes governance
Institutional teams were defining who could initiate and approve sensitive digital-asset operations.
01 / ZAND BANK2024—PRESENT
Digital finance for institutions and private wealth.
Zand
Bank
CASE STUDY BRIEF
6 MINEST. READOne role across two high-stakes financial products.
- ROLE
- Senior Product Designer leading product logic, interaction and visual direction.
- SCOPE
- Enterprise digital-asset custody and a unified private-wealth experience.
- CHALLENGE
- Clarify complex financial decisions without reducing governance or control.
- OUTCOME
- Products serving approximately AED 200M in institutional investment and AED 900M across Wealth App clients.
Digital Asset Custody
Making complex authorization rules understandable.
Authorization Matrix is a core control system in Zand’s digital asset custody platform. Across five major versions, it balanced enterprise governance with clarity in high-stakes decisions.
05Major iterations
1+ yearContinuous evolution
≈ AED 200MInstitutional client investment after launch
THE REASONING CHAINFrom rule builder
From rule builder
to decision support.
Each iteration addressed the same problem from a new angle: users had to understand the governance model before configuring it.
Density was not the root cause
Users needed a mental model of policies, activities and roles—not only a simpler form.
Teach in layers
A visible sequence, contextual guidance and an optional learning path preserved control without overwhelming users.
VERSION 01
Making the policy visible
The first version translated an invisible authorization policy into a four-step workflow: business type, initiator, approver and confirmation.
DESIGN RESPONSE
Externalize the system model as a visible, sequential rule-building flow.
Authorization Matrix / 01
STRUCTURE → CONTEXTA visible flow still needed persistent orientation.
VERSION 02
Reframing governance
The product was expanding beyond a single authorization scenario, so the structure had to reflect governance rather than system settings.
DESIGN RESPONSE
Reframe the area around core policy governance and make member selection explicit.
Authorization Matrix / 02
CONTEXT → MEANINGBetter structure still could not explain consequences.
VERSION 03
Explaining consequences
The interface began teaching users what each configuration would mean operationally, not only where to click.
DESIGN RESPONSE
Add contextual explanations and API-access warnings beside the relevant decision.
Authorization Matrix / 03
MEANING → GUIDANCEContextual help worked, but first-time users needed a gentler entry.
VERSION 04 / GUIDED MODE
Turning complexity into a guided decision.
Version four introduced an optional Quick Guide, breaking the rule system into focused, low-risk choices.
Authorization Matrix / 04
Choose how the team collaborates
Clarify responsibility before configuring individual actions.
Define the business context
Translate system language into two clear operational choices.
Confirm permitted actions
End with an explicit summary instead of an ambiguous configuration.
One guided path, from setup to confirmation.
Swipe through the complete decision flow.
DESIGNING BEYOND THE INTERFACEUnderstanding
01 / PROBLEM 02 / DECISION 03 / ROLE
Understanding
before action.
The Quick Guide helped during configuration. Institutional teams also needed to review and circulate the governance model before entering the workflow.
Policies, business activities, initiators and approvers formed a mental model that could not be taught through labels alone.
I designed a nine-page visual guidebook that moves from core concepts to configuration and real approval tasks.
It gave onboarding and support teams a reusable reference while letting users learn before and during setup.
In-product guidance supported the moment of action. The guidebook supported understanding before action.
GUIDANCE → SYSTEMGuidance became part of the product, not a layer added after it.
VERSION 05 / CURRENT
A system that teaches while it works.
The fifth iteration refined hierarchy, microcopy and approval cues while preserving flexibility.
02 / ZAND WEALTH APPPrivate wealth,
Private wealth,
made more human.
ONE RELATIONSHIP.
EVERY ASSET.
EVERY ASSET.
One mobile view brings private clients’ accounts, deposits, investments and digital assets into a clear financial relationship.
≈ AED 900MTotal client investment across the Wealth App
A cinematic welcome establishes warmth and privacy before the first financial decision.
THE PRODUCT IDEASee the whole relationship,
See the whole relationship,
not a collection of accounts.
Relationship value
A single number summarizes the client’s complete position across the bank.
Asset allocation
Accounts, deposits, investments and digital assets become one legible portfolio.
Direct actions
High-frequency tasks remain available without disrupting the overview.
THE WEALTH ECOSYSTEMOne wealth relationship.
One wealth relationship.
Four ways to act.
Every financial decision follows one structure: understand, compare, act and monitor.
THE REASONING CHAIN / OVERVIEWSIGNAL INSIGHT DECISION OUTCOME
Understand the whole position
Products lived in separate destinations.
Clients think about total wealth, not internal product categories.
Place gross asset value, allocation and opportunities in one hierarchy.
One legible view of the complete banking relationship.