Aquila Network – Company Website & Information Platform
I designed a company website that helped a new fintech startup establish credibility, attract institutional investors, and explain a complex stock-lending concept in a simple, accessible way.
Result Highlights:
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Clear explanation of a complex fintech model
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First peer-to-peer securities lending website
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Improved communication between stakeholders in the UK and Malaysia
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Visual identity that balanced fintech innovation and professionalism
1. Project Context
Why It Matters to Aquila Network?
Aquila Network (previously known as SBL Network) was a fintech firm built to provide transaction and information services for global capital markets.
Their mission was to become the first marketplace where major institutional owners of equities such as pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds and could negotiate and lend directly to hedge funds.
Aquila Network was introducing a new business model, peer-to-peer securities lending in an industry that values trust, security, and transparency.
Without a professional and credible online presence, potential investors and participants would not take the company seriously.
The website needed to communicate confidence, clearly explain how the model works, and make it easy for institutions to reach out.
My role & team
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UX/UI Designer
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With Head of Product, CEO, and client stakeholders (UK)
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Duration: 3 months (2017)
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Scope: User Research · Sitemap & User Flow · Wireframes · Visual Design · Prototyping
2. Understanding the Challenge
This was my second project as a UX/UI Designer and my first exposure to fintech.
The biggest challenges were:
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Time zone difference between Malaysia and London (coordination delays)
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Understanding financial concepts and translating them into simple visuals
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Balancing innovation and trustworthiness in design tone
Despite this, the project helped me improve both professionally and personally, from strengthening my English communication skills to gaining a deep curiosity for financial systems and user-centric fintech design.
3. Defining the Problem
Aquila Network was a new company with no digital presence.
To attract institutional participants and explain their offering, they needed a website that:
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Establishes credibility and trust as a fintech firm
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Explains how the platform works in a way that’s simple and approachable
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Encourages potential borrowers and lenders to connect and engage
4. Discovery & Requirements
We began with stakeholder meetings to clarify:
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Business goals and product definition
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Target audiences and participant types
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Desired tone and visual direction
From these discussions, we set several design principles:
“The website should be simple, confident, and visionary, a balance of corporate and tech innovation.”
The site needed to include:
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A landing page explaining the business
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An About page (history, mission, team)
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A Contact page for potential participants
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A Legal page to support credibility
5. Information Architecture
I mapped the sitemap and user flow based on both user expectations and business needs.
Each page served a specific purpose:
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Overview - Who we are and what we do
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Services - Core offerings and market positioning
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Participants - Who can join and how they benefit
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Approach - How the system works
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Benefits - Why choose Aquila
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Contact Us - Easy outreach channel
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About & Legal - Transparency and trust
The process was heavily inspired by prior experience building Bakehouse Venture Builder’s own sitemap with added depth in content strategy and flow clarity.
6. Concept & Inspiration
I researched existing fintech and corporate designs on Awwwards, Dribbble, and Behance, focusing on how others visualized complex financial systems.
The goal was to make the Aquila website feel:
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Professional but not intimidating
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Modern and tech-driven
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Easy to scan and understand
7. Wireframes
I started with low-fidelity sketches to define layout and hierarchy, then moved to high-fidelity wireframes for stakeholder reviews.
Each section was crafted to build understanding gradually, from introducing the brand to explaining benefits and closing with contact opportunities.
Frequent feedback loops with the Head of Product and client ensured that design decisions matched business intent and copy tone.
8. Final Design
The final UI used clean white space, futuristic illustrations, and the Aquila blue palette to convey innovation and clarity.
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Landing Page: Introduced the business model in an approachable way
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About Us: Shared company vision and humanized the brand
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Contact & Legal Pages: Reinforced trust and transparency
The tone balanced professionalism with accessibility, helping visitors grasp a complex financial model with confidence.
9. Development
I handed off the design via Zeplin, enabling developers to extract assets, CSS, and HTML directly.
The website went live successfully and served as Aquila Network’s primary digital presence until the company’s closure in late 2018.
10. Reflection & Learnings
Designing for Aquila Network opened my path into fintech UX and shaped my approach to stakeholder collaboration and clarity in communication.
Key learnings:
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Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Clarity prevents rework.
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Always document and communicate progress clearly.
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Understanding the business model deeply leads to stronger design rationale.
This project taught me that great design begins with curiosity and the courage to ask when things don’t make sense.
Project Information
Credits
Design Tools
PRODUCT & DELIVERY
Sketch, Evernote, Photoshop, Illustration, Zeplin
Dhaz
DEVELOPMENT
Edwin
