Brand overview
CWG Markets is a UK-regulated online broker providing access to 500+ markets, including forex, CFDs, indices, commodities, and futures. Despite its wide offering, customer feedback and market analysis identified opportunities to improve the portfolio management experience on their platform to attract and retain retail and institutional investors.
Objective:
Redesign and optimize the portfolio management interface and features to enhance user satisfaction, engagement, and trading efficiency.
Old UI
Design and Timeline
| Week | Task |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Discovery, research, user interviews |
| 3–4 | Define user flows and information architecture |
| 5–6 | Wireframe creation and review |
| 7–8 | High-fidelity UI design & prototyping |
| 9 | Usability testing and feedback iteration |
| 10 | Final design adjustments and handoff |
| 11–12 | Support development and launch planning |
Challenge
- Complex portfolio visualization
- Users struggled to understand real-time risk & allocation
- Developed interactive visualizations with drill-down features and color-coded risk indicators
Problem
- Slow trade execution within portfolio
- Trade execution lag impacted user confidence
- Integrated faster order routing & one-click trading directly from portfolio screen
Solution
- Designed and implemented interactive visualizations with drill-down features and intuitive, color-coded risk indicators.
- Integrated faster order routing mechanisms and enabled one-click trading directly from the portfolio screen.
- Revamped the portfolio interface with a clean, responsive UI using modern design systems
Work Scope & Design Process
- Platform focus: Web and mobile trading platforms (MT4, MT5, and proprietary dashboard)
- Features: Portfolio overview, trade execution, analytics, risk management tools, and reporting
- Target users: Retail traders, advanced traders, institutional clients
- Deliverables: User research insights, wireframes, UI designs, interactive prototypes, and usability testing
Research & Discovery
- User Research
- Competitor Analysis
- Define Personae
- User Journeys
- Identify Pain
Visual Design
- Wireframing & Layout
- Design System
- High-fidelity Screens
- Color & Visual Hierarchy
- Responsive design
Final handoff & Deliver
- Interactive Prototypes
- Usability Testing
- Feedback & Iteration
- Accessibility Checks
- Final Handoff
Survey & User Research
- Online surveys with 150+ active CWG clients
- One-on-one interviews with 10 high-frequency traders and portfolio managers
- Usability testing of current portfolio dashboard
- Users want clearer portfolio risk visualization
- Desire for real-time portfolio value updates
- Need for easy diversification analytics and asset allocation breakdowns
- Frustration with complex navigation and unclear reporting features
- Mobile users want seamless switching between portfolio views and trading execution
User Flow
Streamlining the user flow
Typography & Color Palette
Collaborated on the development of typography and color systems to improve readability and deliver a visually unified experience.
Wireframes
Prioritized a clear, intuitive structure designed to support seamless user journeys across key audiences — traders, partners, and institutional clients. Starting with a well-defined sitemap and content architecture, we developed detailed wireframes that strategically placed content, emphasized strong calls to action, and aligned with user expectations in the financial space. The client approved the wireframes with minimal revisions, enabling a smooth and efficient transition into final design and development.
UI Layouts
Designed fintech UI layouts with a clarity-first approach, ensuring every interface element supported user decision-making and guided traders toward key actions. A strong visual hierarchy, intuitive navigation flows, and strategically placed calls-to-action helped drive increased account signups and partner conversions. We implemented a step-by-step onboarding process with a visible progress bar and a persistent floating bottom panel, making navigation feel seamless and user-friendly across devices.
