Money Made Fun: created a finance app so engaging, preteens want to learn
UX Design
UI Design
Content
Designing a gamified finance app that builds healthy money habits early
The Problem
Financial literacy for kids has always been a challenging concept to convey.
SWAP — a Mastercard app designed for preteens — aimed to teach money management to 10–to 13-year-olds, but the original concept lacked one key element: engagement.
Most finance apps felt too serious or too childish, failing to keep young users interested or deliver meaningful learning.
The Solution
We redesigned the experience to make finance feel like play:
Introduced SWAPY, a friendly “money spirit” guiding kids through the app
Added gamified tasks, customizable avatars, and rewards to sustain motivation
Built educational mini-modules to teach safety, saving, and smart spending
Crafted a 3D, game-inspired UI using Mastercard’s palette for brand coherence
Conducted user testing with preteens and parents to refine flows and copy
The result is a vibrant, story-driven experience that teaches financial responsibility in a way kids actually enjoy.
Sweet Results
During testing, preteen engagement doubled compared to the initial concept
Parents praised the app’s safe and educational approach
SWAPY became a memorable mascot, improving brand recall
The final concept reflects Mastercard’s vision for youth financial education and shows how gamified design can drive real engagement
A great example of how playful design and storytelling can turn even serious topics into experiences users love to explore — the kind of transformation we create at MotionLolli.
