invstr

Invstr built its reputation as a simulation-first product, helping users learn to trade using virtual currency and real market data.

As the platform matured, the next step was to introduce real trading. This required integrating live financial transactions and payment flows into an experience originally designed for risk-free learning.

Expand the platform from education into execution by:

• Introducing real-money trading alongside simulation
• Guiding users through complex onboarding and regulatory requirements
• Maintaining clarity between virtual and real financial actions
• Preserving the accessibility that made the product successful

The goal was to evolve without compromising trust or usability.

The core challenge was managing dual modes of interaction:

• Users needed to clearly understand when they were trading with real money versus virtual funds
• Real trading introduced complex onboarding, identity verification, and payment journeys
• Financial data density increased significantly, alongside regulatory requirements for transparency

The experience had to remain intuitive while supporting higher stakes and stricter compliance.

Focused on clarity, separation, and continuity:

• Introduced a clear mode-switching system to distinguish real and simulated trading
• Designed onboarding flows that broke down complex regulatory steps into manageable stages
• Structured financial data to support informed decision-making without overwhelming users
• Extended existing mental models to ensure continuity between learning and execution

User flows and prototypes were iterated and validated through testing before moving to final design.

Led end-to-end design and delivery:

• Defined user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes
• Conducted user testing to validate and refine core journeys
• Evolved the existing design system to support new functionality
• Directed UI design and managed front-end collaboration

Worked across distributed teams:

• Product: London
• Development: Turkey

Successfully launched real trading within the platform, expanding Invstr from a learning tool into a fully functional investment product.

The integration balanced education and execution, enabling users to transition confidently from simulated trading to real financial decisions while maintaining clarity, trust, and usability.