Dollars & Decisions

A Financial Literacy Game for young adults
Dollars & Decisions is an open source game. Try it out.

Client:
Wells Fargo — We Are Teachers

My Role:
Lead Product Designer & UX Researcher
Art Director

Overview

Dollars and Decisions is an educational game that helps high school students build financial literacy through a choose-your-own-adventure experience. Players navigate realistic financial scenarios inside an engaging narrative, learning how everyday choices affect their financial well-being.

The concept was inspired by survey data showing that 93% of teens and 97% of parents believe financial literacy is essential for achieving life goals. The goal was to make learning about money relevant, fun, and judgment-free.

Story

Players step into the role of a recent high school graduate who moves to a new city, starts a job, and begins life on their own. Along the way, they face real-world challenges—budgeting, managing taxes and credit cards, and handling unexpected expenses.
Each decision directly affects their financial stability and quality of life, helping players understand the real impact of financial choices through storytelling and cause-and-effect gameplay.

Game Features

Student Choice

Players start by choosing their character and job. This choice shapes their financial path and influences the scenarios they experience. These job choices were designed in a way that players start weighing the benefits and risks of their decision from the start of the game.

Modular Learning

The game is structured into modules, each centered around a specific financial concept. Modules build progressively, giving players a structured but flexible learning experience.

Interactive Financial Management

Players track their virtual bank accounts and budgets, practicing decision-making in a low-risk, hands-on environment.

Final Assessment and Feedback

At the beginning and end of the game, players complete short assessments. The game then provides a personalized report with feedback and recommendations to improve financial habits.

My Role and Process

Scriptwriting and Conceptualization

I collaborated with writers and curriculum developers to craft the overall narrative and player job options, grounding them in research on Gen Z’s media habits and attitudes toward money. This phase focused on making scenarios relatable while keeping financial content accurate and age-appropriate.

Art Direction and Interface Design

As the art director, I led a cross-disciplinary team of illustrators, animators, and writers to build a cohesive visual identity. I designed a UI that felt intuitive and playful while keeping interactions clear and accessible.

Technical Development

Collaborating closely with the technical team, I ensured the game was optimized for consistent performance across various devices. Our focus on high-performance coding provided a smooth and reliable user experience.

User Feedback

We tested the game with students and educators nationwide. Players found the game fun, relevant, and easy to understand, while teachers appreciated how it made complex financial topics approachable.
Early testing with high school students helped us refine both visuals and tone. We learned that students valued authenticity—designs that felt believable rather than simplified or “kiddie.”

What students said:

“The characters were cool and well-designed because they were believable.”
Aron, 17 year-old

“It didn’t feel like something was dumbed down.”
Talia, 16 year-old

For Teachers

The first version of the game was open-access and didn’t require student accounts—prioritizing privacy, but limiting classroom oversight. In Phase 2, I helped design a teacher dashboard to extend the game’s educational impact.

Reports and Insights

Reports visualize student progress and performance, helping teachers track learning outcomes and tailor instruction.