Lifetime income
Lifetime income
Client
TIAA
Year
2023-24
Enhancing TIAA’s digital experience with a refined system that simplifies retirement planning and improves user engagement.
Enhancing TIAA’s digital experience with a refined system that simplifies retirement planning and improves user engagement.




Overview
Retirement should be a time of confidence, not confusion. Yet for many, it’s a maze of uncertainty—fluctuating markets, disappearing pensions, and the nagging question: Will my savings last? Instead of clarity, people are met with complexity, buried in numbers and jargon that make financial security feel out of reach. TIAA set out to change that. The goal wasn’t just to present information—it was to reimagine how people engage with their financial future. By transforming complexity into clarity, they aimed to make retirement planning not just easier, but empowering.
Retirement should be a time of confidence, not confusion. Yet for many, it’s a maze of uncertainty—fluctuating markets, disappearing pensions, and the nagging question: Will my savings last? Instead of clarity, people are met with complexity, buried in numbers and jargon that make financial security feel out of reach. TIAA set out to change that. The goal wasn’t just to present information—it was to reimagine how people engage with their financial future. By transforming complexity into clarity, they aimed to make retirement planning not just easier, but empowering.
Client
TIAA
Industry
Finance
Service
System design, Product design, Brand identity
Duration
6 months




The Challenge
Partnering with Code and Theory, we set out to create more than just a website—we designed an experience that transforms financial complexity into clarity. Retirement planning shouldn’t feel like an uphill battle, so we restructured information to make key financial topics easier to navigate. We introduced flow story components, a system that seamlessly guides users while allowing them to jump between sections instantly. What once felt overwhelming became intuitive, digestible, and actionable. But structure alone wasn’t enough. We worked closely with copywriters and stakeholders to reshape the narrative, ensuring financial concepts felt cohesive and empowering. To deepen engagement, we introduced "Dive Deeper", a feature that lets users expand full-screen articles without losing their place. This encouraged exploration while keeping users anchored in their journey. Every decision was made with a singular goal: not just delivering information, but instilling confidence.
Partnering with Code and Theory, we set out to create more than just a website—we designed an experience that transforms financial complexity into clarity. Retirement planning shouldn’t feel like an uphill battle, so we restructured information to make key financial topics easier to navigate. We introduced flow story components, a system that seamlessly guides users while allowing them to jump between sections instantly. What once felt overwhelming became intuitive, digestible, and actionable. But structure alone wasn’t enough. We worked closely with copywriters and stakeholders to reshape the narrative, ensuring financial concepts felt cohesive and empowering. To deepen engagement, we introduced "Dive Deeper", a feature that lets users expand full-screen articles without losing their place. This encouraged exploration while keeping users anchored in their journey. Every decision was made with a singular goal: not just delivering information, but instilling confidence.




The Solution
Our work didn’t just simplify retirement planning—it drove real engagement and measurable business impact. By balancing storytelling with usability, we improved SEO performance, increased on-page engagement, and boosted time spent interacting with content. The "Dive Deeper" feature played a key role, allowing users to explore in-depth financial insights without disrupting their browsing experience. This seamless approach kept users engaged while making complex financial topics more accessible. But delivering a web experience this unique came with challenges. Designing for a diverse audience meant ensuring flawless performance across all screen sizes, meeting accessibility standards, and optimizing for discoverability. Through iteration, collaboration, and an obsessive focus on clarity, we turned complexity into confidence—helping more people take control of their financial future while driving real business value for TIAA.
Our work didn’t just simplify retirement planning—it drove real engagement and measurable business impact. By balancing storytelling with usability, we improved SEO performance, increased on-page engagement, and boosted time spent interacting with content. The "Dive Deeper" feature played a key role, allowing users to explore in-depth financial insights without disrupting their browsing experience. This seamless approach kept users engaged while making complex financial topics more accessible. But delivering a web experience this unique came with challenges. Designing for a diverse audience meant ensuring flawless performance across all screen sizes, meeting accessibility standards, and optimizing for discoverability. Through iteration, collaboration, and an obsessive focus on clarity, we turned complexity into confidence—helping more people take control of their financial future while driving real business value for TIAA.




The Result
Great design is about more than aesthetics—it’s about decision-making. Every choice shaped user behavior, reduced friction, and ensured a seamless experience. Should videos autoplay as users scroll? How large should the player expand on ultra-wide screens? These weren’t just UI decisions; they were opportunities to enhance clarity and engagement. The biggest takeaway? Simplicity scales. The best designs don’t just adapt to environments—they shape engagement. By embracing clarity, consistency, and intentional constraints, we built a system that prioritizes focus over excess and structure over chaos. Thoughtful limitations didn’t restrict creativity—they refined it. Every decision ensured the experience remained effortless, engaging, and future-proof. In the end, this project wasn’t just about designing a website—it was about transforming how people experience financial security. Because when clarity leads the way, confidence follows.
Great design is about more than aesthetics—it’s about decision-making. Every choice shaped user behavior, reduced friction, and ensured a seamless experience. Should videos autoplay as users scroll? How large should the player expand on ultra-wide screens? These weren’t just UI decisions; they were opportunities to enhance clarity and engagement. The biggest takeaway? Simplicity scales. The best designs don’t just adapt to environments—they shape engagement. By embracing clarity, consistency, and intentional constraints, we built a system that prioritizes focus over excess and structure over chaos. Thoughtful limitations didn’t restrict creativity—they refined it. Every decision ensured the experience remained effortless, engaging, and future-proof. In the end, this project wasn’t just about designing a website—it was about transforming how people experience financial security. Because when clarity leads the way, confidence follows.












Whats next
Whats next
Whats next
Whats next
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
System design/ Pattern Design
Product design/ UX
Brand identity
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
System design/ Pattern Design
Product design/ UX
Brand identity
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
System design/ Pattern Design
Product design/ UX
Brand identity
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
TIAA reimagined
System design/ Pattern Design
Product design/ UX
Brand identity
North star
North star
North star
Product design
Visual design
Prototyping
UX
North star
North star
North star
Product design
Visual design
Prototyping
UX
North star
North star
North star
Product design
Visual design
Prototyping
UX
North star
North star
North star
Product design
Visual design
Prototyping
UX
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