TFI Leap Card

Ideation

We identified four key areas for improvement. We designed the following features.

• Virtual Leap Card – tap to travel, no plastic card needed
• Auto Top-Up – set it once, forget about it
• Custom Top-Up Amounts – goodbye fixed €5/€10/€20 choices
• Streamlined Login – faster access with Face ID and fewer barriers
• Group Card Management – perfect for parents or carers managing more than one account

‍

Prototyping & Testing

We developed wireframes and interactive prototypes incorporating the new features. Usability testing sessions were conducted with participants to gather feedback.

First Iteration

Our initial concept aimed to fix the biggest friction points fast:

• Introduced virtual card setup during onboarding
• Added custom top-up options alongside fixed amounts
• Redesigned the login experience using Face ID and one-tap entry
• Created basic wireframes for account management and balance tracking

Early user feedback:

• Loved the virtual card idea but found onboarding “a bit long”
• Wanted clearer separation between personal and family cards
• The top-up flow needed more visibility around balance updates

Second Iteration

We took that feedback and refined:

• Shortened onboarding with a “Skip for now” option for the virtual card
• Added a card switcher to the home screen to easily manage multiple cards
• Improved top-up confirmation screens so users felt confident transactions went through
• Refined visual hierarchy and spacing based on accessibility heuristics

We also added:

• A toggle for auto top-up with low-balance triggers
• A progress-style indicator during payments to improve system feedback

Impact

Prototype testing highlights:

• 90% said the login flow felt “fast and smooth”
• 85% were excited to use the virtual card in place of the physical one
• 95% appreciated the flexibility to choose their own top-up amount
• 80% said they'd definitely use auto top-up

Conclusion

The redesigned TFI Leap Card mobile app addresses key user pain points by simplifying the login process, introducing a virtual card, enabling auto top-ups, and allowing custom top-up amounts. These enhancements aim to provide users with greater control and convenience in managing their public transport needs.

‍

What I learned

• This project taught me the value of designing for real commuter moments - like topping up your card while running for the bus.
• It also reminded me how powerful small UX tweaks can be when they’re rooted in research and behavioural insight.
• Iteration is key: that first version’s onboarding was 'technically right' but clunky, so cutting it down made a huge difference.