Limits up front
When creating a card, customers set daily and monthly limits with sliders before anything else. The control is part of creation, not buried in settings.
Alfa / Gen 1 · 2019 / Use case
A card you create in seconds, control completely, and delete when you’re done.
Online shopping was growing fast, but customers were nervous about typing their real debit card into unknown websites. The Virtual Debit Card gave them a disposable card that lived inside Alfa.
01The problem
Trust was the product.
A virtual card is only useful if people feel safe using it. That meant three things: it had to be instant to create, obviously under their control, and easy to get rid of.
It also had to pass security and compliance reviews, which added verification steps we couldn’t skip.
02Key decisions
What I designed, and why.
Verification that explains itself
The OTAC step shows the card being protected, with a clear resend option, so security feels like reassurance rather than a hurdle.
Show the card like a card
A realistic card with number, expiry and available limit makes a virtual thing feel tangible and trustworthy.
Destructive actions, double-checked
Saving changes, deleting a card and moving funds all confirm with plain-language popups that say exactly what will happen.
03The flow
Step by step.
Drag or scroll sideways, and tap any screen to see it larger.
1Virtual card hub
View, generate or manage.
2Create
Account and limits with sliders.
3Set details
Expiry, usage and security code.
4Verify
OTAC via email and SMS.
5Card ready
Your card, instantly.
6Manage
Adjust limits anytime.
7Share
Send details securely.
8Delete
A clear, confirmed exit.
← Drag to follow the flow →
04Next time
What I’d improve, with hindsight.
Informed by the later UX audit
- The later audit showed people couldn’t see how much of their monthly limit was left, only edit it. I would add a remaining-limit meter.
- There was no one-tap copy of card details for online checkout, and expired cards lost their transaction history. Both would be first in the next iteration.
