Designers
Designers
Designers
Money On The Way
Empowering Young People With Financial Literacy Through Culturally Relevant Education
Key Words
Designers
Tyler Farrar
SUMMARY
In an age of economic uncertainty, financial literacy has become a social necessity. My project, Money On The Way, explores how creative storytelling and digital experiences can make personal finance accessible to Gen Z. Through interviews and focus groups, I discovered that while youth don't lack interest, they do lack safe, verified tools that bridge the gap between "knowing" and "doing". This matters because Gen Z currently has the lowest financial knowledge of any generation. My solution transforms daunting concepts into daily habits through a culturally relevant, gamified social learning app.
challenge
I identified a massive "Confidence Gap": 65% of youth feel unconfident about managing money. My research, spanning interviews with fintech founders and focus groups with Linden High students, revealed that traditional education fails because it lacks emotional safety. Gen Z is paralyzed by a "fear of failure," viewing financial mistakes as cataclysmic. This creates an opportunity for a "near-peer" mentorship model that bridges the gap between passive knowledge and immediate action. By leveraging social media habits, we can transform overwhelming financial concepts into culturally relevant, daily behaviors.
Outcome
The project culminated in Money On The Way, a social learning app that transforms financial literacy into a community-driven experience. By using short-form videos under two minutes and persona-based goals, the platform mirrors the digital habits Gen Z already trusts. It directly addresses the "Confidence Gap" and fear of failure by offering a safe space for simulation and near-peer mentorship. Unlike traditional tools, this solution bridges the gap between passive knowledge and behavior change, turning daunting concepts into actionable, culturally relevant daily habits.
MEET THE Designers:
Tyler Farrar