Context & Mission
Piraeus Bank embarked on a transformation journey to unify disparate user journeys and legacy flows into a modern, scalable ecosystem. My role spanned discovery, design, and documentation, with a clear mandate: overcome technical limitations, incomplete research tooling, and fragmented design assets.
Technical Details
At the heart of the project, early research uncovered unique challenges for designing across mobile and web. By understanding these platform constraints, practical design rules were crafted to guarantee a seamless, accessible experience for everyone, no matter their device.
My role
As Product Designer & UX Consultant via Code.Hub, I guided process from requirement analysis through high-fidelity design and engineering handoff. Embedded in both UX and Rapid Response teams, I owned process improvement, stakeholder alignment, and everyday decision-making under high pressure.
Key Activities
• Conducted heuristic analysis and gap audits of existing systems.
• Designed component-driven UX frameworks, replacing ad hoc visuals with scalable, token-based systems.
• Owned knowledge management: migrated legacy documentation, established weekly design kit updates, and set up process templates for designers and developers.
Documentation & Design System Creation
In the absence of an existing design system, I initiated a minimalist UI kit built directly in Figma to maintain visual consistency and accelerate screen design. I maintained structured Notion documentation using data tables to track fixes, design updates, and process notes, fostering transparency and improving cross-team communication.
Stark Plugin
Used Stark plugin for contrast checking to meet WCAG standards.
Preditcive AI Insights
Employed AI Insight plugin in Figma to generate heatmaps simulating user focus areas.
Research & Analysis
Used various AI tools, research papers and UX patterns to predict usability friction points and prioritize iterative improvements, supplementing the lack of conventional user testing tools.
Key Challenges
Harmonizing service flows, improving cross-platform parity, and accelerating feature delivery—while prioritizing security, compliance, and usability for banking-grade experiences.
Collaborated closely with developers to define safe transaction boundaries, state management for critical flows like credential blocking, and endpoint availability for new UX patterns.
Implemented accessibility review for modal dialogs and interactive components, achieving WCAG compliance.
Process & Methodology
Rapid Response Team & UX Team Flow
Each project began with brief intake and stakeholder workshops clarifying requirements and technical constraints.
Conducted UX audits of previous and parallel designs to benchmark navigation and identify drop-offs.
Utilized Figma and Storybook for variant-based prototyping and flow validation.
Delivered final designs directly when UI kits sufficed, limiting wireframing to substantial flow changes.
Rapid Response Tasks
Handled urgent fixes and minor feature add-ons through a compressed, efficient cycle
Brief and technical feasibility alignment.
• Rapid UX audit.
• Focused redesign or feature addition.
• Stakeholder presentation and developer handoff.
UX Team Tasks
Managing Complexity Across Multiple Platforms & Features
The UX team operated in a dynamic environment balancing multiple interdependent projects spanning both mobile and web platforms for retail (B2C) and corporate (B2B) banking. Core responsibilities extended beyond traditional design into cross-functional coordination, rapid iteration, and evolving documentation to support fast delivery schedules.
Important Aspects
Personal Time Estimation (UX Delivery)
Starting with discovery and gathering requirements alongside backend consultations, a foundational portion of time was dedicated to understanding needs and constraints. Mapping out user flows and conducting a UX audit took careful attention, especially given the legacy elements and security-critical features involved. The main effort focused on prototyping and iterating designs, which was efficient due to leveraging existing UI components and reducing wireframing. Throughout, meaningful time was invested in presenting to stakeholders, integrating their feedback, and documenting decisions. Finally, detailed handoffs and ongoing developer support rounded out the process, ensuring a smooth transition from design to development.
Featured Project
Block Winbank Credentials
Giving users a fast, intuitive way to block access credentials required design that prioritized security and recognition—right from the login screen.
Icon Choice & Placement
Faced with the absence of legacy research, I referenced dozens of fintech and security apps to select an icon that signaled urgency and trust. Its placement in the login ensured it was visible at the moment users would need it most.
Process Optimization
Mapping the entire verification flow, I worked closely with backend teams to code session management and tested error handling at every step. Accessibility and usability were verified using AI heatmaps and contrast tools.
Behavioral Insights
This feature leaned on the Law of Minimal Effort and the Zeigarnik Effect to reduce cognitive load and nudge task completion. Success messages reframed the act as empowerment, building trust with every interaction.
Featured Project
Remittance Packages
Our goal was to help users explore, select, and send prepaid remittances with greater clarity—no matter their experience or urgency.
Bridging Design & Feasibility
Initial prototypes missed backend constraints, so I shifted the process. I started each sprint by co-defining flows with backend and payments partners, validating feasibility before screens were built.
Progressive Disclosure
Applying Information Gap Theory, I designed entry points that teased package value but revealed details in digestible steps.
User Trust & Learning
Sometimes, the highest stakes tasks are the fastest. For urgent fixes and quick wins, process was all about high signal, low noise.
Outcomes & Impact
Support for security features cut help tickets, while a clear remittance journey raised transaction success. The design system I seeded sped up team onboarding and workflow.
Over the course of nine months, the establishment of robust design system processes proved essential for streamlining my workflow and accelerating team onboarding. By thoughtfully integrating security features and a more intuitive remittance journey, we dramatically reduced support tickets and increased transaction success rates. Stakeholders recognized these improvements, offering strong approval that solidified the reputation of the product team as drivers of innovation. As a result, the UX team identified a clear need to continuously support and update the design system, ensuring its relevance for future product growth and consistency
Lessons & Ownership
Building from Scratch
No design system meant early friction—but also catalyzed new documentation and modular asset libraries I maintained in Notion. By taking responsibility for structure and process, the team’s accountability, throughput, and product quality grew together.
The Final Call
Ultimately, the team delivered a system that was more than just a set of screens—it was a foundation for trust and agile delivery across Piraeus Bank’s ecosystem. By transforming legacy friction points into intuitive, secure flows, we ensured that even the most complex actions, like blocking credentials or sending remittances, felt approachable and empowering for every user.
Meet Feasibility Early
Design iterations that skipped early technical input lost time. Real alignment with engineering from day one delivered faster, error-free outcomes.
Strategic Use of Anti-Patterns
Longer CTAs, navigation reductions, and stripped-down flows—used judiciously—enabled clarity where stakes were highest, proving that smart anti-patterns can beat rigid consistency.
Own the Outcome
Without an initial design system, forward momentum required taking full ownership of structure and process. The confidence to shape—and reshape—ways of working is what builds a culture for sustainable innovation.
UX Psychology & Strategic Patterns Applied
Law of Minimal Effort, Zeigarnik Effect, and Framing shaped flows to remove barriers, prompt completion, and affirm trust—while anti-patterns and habit cues supported clarity, speed, and consistent user engagement all along the way
The numbers
9
months
27
Assignments
6
Tools
20