reflection
This project taught me how to navigate ambiguity while collaborating closely with a designer, PM, and engineer. At first, it was challenging to determine where to start and how to divide work within a tight timeline. Our ambitious goals required constant adjustment as new research insights emerged or team members were temporarily unavailable.
Through this experience, I became more flexible, improved my communication, and gained confidence in turning messy research into actionable insights that the team could use to inform design decisions.
Working through ambiguity in a fast-paced, cross-functional team.
UX Monthly presentation
48 Hours Finalists judging
results
The study showed that Gen Z frontline workers responded positively to the concept, giving us confidence that it addressed a real need.
These insights informed key design decisions for UKG's upcoming initiative, shaping the AI’s role in helping people manage their financial wellness and which features were prioritized in the flow. Collaborating with PMs, engineers, designers, and researchers helped ensure these insights translated into actionable improvements and aligned with UKG’s existing products.
Empowered by flexible & time-saving features.
13/20 said it helped them reach financial goals easily, highlighting its time-saving and flexible features.
High interest in AI assistant.
16/20 participants liked the idea of a fast, AI-powered financial assistant for its efficiency and automation.
Strong resonance with Gen Z frontline workers.
Overall Confidence Rating (N=20)
Overall, how easy or difficult was it to find information? Why?
6.4
6.4
How confident
do you feel that
the AI has helped you made progress toward your $3000 goal?
Metric
Rating
Flow's redesign with suggestions
Recommendation: Improve the visibility of the schedule editing feature, such as making the pencil icon or edit option more prominent.
Recommendation: Separate the “Edit” and “Submit” actions to help participants easily distinguish between them and avoid accidental submissions.
User testing
Would Gen Z frontline workers use this tool?
I led the research for our unmoderated usability study, aligning with the designer to define key research goals and tasks. I tested the concept with 20 Gen Z frontline workers (ages 18–28) on UserTesting, focusing on how easily participants could navigate the interface and whether they found the tool helpful in reaching their financial goals.
One key finding revealed that a critical step in the flow was unclear. I identified opportunities to improve clarity and collaborated with the designer to refine the experience in the next iteration.
💸
AUDIENCE
The most financially stressed generation is becoming the face of work.
Our goal was to identify which aspects of financial wellness and AI to focus on, and which aligned with UKG’s priorities. I worked closely with the product manager to establish our research direction, combining secondary research using Perplexity and insights from stakeholders across the company. Through this approach, we learned:
By 2030, Gen Z will make up 1/3 of the global workforce; in 2025, they are rapidly becoming the dominant demographic in frontline roles.
Gen Z is dominating frontline roles…
76% of Gen Z workers report being very or somewhat stressed about their finances (the highest of any generation).
And they're struggling with their finances.
👥
Design
These insights pointed us toward a younger, financially stressed audience, shaping our design direction moving forward.
I created a user flow to guide our design and inform decision-making, working closely with the designer in regular meetings and bringing in research-backed examples from existing company products. We iterated on the design, incorporating feedback from other UX designers and user research.
We initially struggled to define what made this extension unique compared to other company AI features, or why someone would choose this tool over other financial products. To address this, we focused on how the AI could help users stay on top of their financial goals without feeling overwhelmed, taking on a more proactive role in reminders.
Helping people stay on track with their financial goals through proactive
AI support.
AI's user flow; made with FigJam.
Made with ❤️ by Kelly Dang, 2026
Gen Z is dominating frontline roles…
by 2030, Gen Z will make up 1/3 of the global workforce; in 2025, they are rapidly becoming the dominant demographic in frontline roles.
(Source: Manpower)
Financial Wellness for Gen Z Frontline Workers
UKG, 2025
MY ROLE
Research
Mapping
Initial prototyping
User testing
2 months
This intern project explores a personal assistant built on UKG's AI pay and scheduling agents to support Gen Z frontline workers’ financial goals. The concept was a finalist in the 48Hours (company's hackathon) Dream category for its innovation and potential impact.
Findings will inform an upcoming financial wellness initiative and other key company projects.
TEAM
Context
TImeline
1 Researcher
1 Designer
1 Product Manager
1 Engineer
And they're struggling with their finances.
76% of Gen Z workers report being very or somewhat stressed about their finances - the highest of any generation.
(Source: PNCInsights)