Gazing two years into the near future, Connected Digital Finance envisions a technology solution that could empower banks to provide a more personal experience for their customers. The film shows how a young family’s relationship with their bank is enhanced thanks to a new integrated digital ecosystem.

Radio Design were commissioned by Microsoft and Maverick TV to create the UI design and VFX for Connected Digital Finance. The role involved supervising the visual effects shots and touchscreen gestures, designing and animating the user interfaces for each screen and replacing and compositing the digital surfaces in the film.

With no dialogue, we had to make sure the details of the story were communicated clearly through the touchscreen graphics. The interactivity was wireframed carefully so the live-action gestures would coordinate with the screen animations and carry the narrative.

As the film is set two years in the future, it was key for the user interface and experience design to feel advanced but also believable. So rather than go full sci-fi with the graphics, we developed the look and feel as a next-gen expansion of the 2014 Windows 8 Metro theme. Liaising closely with Microsoft, we made sure the designs were in keeping with accurate usability and functionality forecasts for their technology. This way the film was able to feature Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant before it was released to the public later that year with Windows 10.

Connected Digital Finance was nominated for a Webby Award in the Interactive Advertising category 2015. The project was selected from 13,000 entries and competed alongside the likes of Vice and HBO. It was also nominated for the coveted Webby People’s Voice Award.