Up is a FinTech (financial technology) application that is the highest rated of its’ kind in Australia. Up “dedicates itself to providing modern financial tools tailored to a generation of Australians to help them get better at money. Through intuitive design and human-centric features, Up ensures users can navigate their finances with ease and confidence”(Kostyra, 2024). I went to get insight from this article because I believe it’s important to understand what is innovative on the other side of the world, and FinTech applications are some of the greatest competition to brick-and-mortar based banks such as Huntington.
As the presenting partner of the festival’s Night Trade hub, Up seized the opportunity to unveil Hi—Fi to the world through a visual and sonic spectacle. The life-sized Hi—Fi system doubled as a live DJ booth that choreographs financial data into an immersive auditory experience. The two week event featured performances atop the Hi—Fi system from acclaimed Australian artists such as Cut Copy, Harvey Sutherland, Soju Gang, 3NDLES5 + more.‘We originally created Hi—Fi to make money easy for young Aussies, flipping the script on a tedious task, such as saving and money management, and turning it into a fun activity for them to enjoy. With over 950,000 Aussies now using Up, we wanted to create an experience that we know our customers would love, merging the chaos of money management into a feeling of wellness with the modern sounds of Australia,’ explains Pete Johnson, Creative Director at Up.“
The Hi—Fi installation also reflected insights from Up’s Hi—Fi Sound Check Report, which revealed that despite economic pressures, a majority of young Australians remain optimistic about their financial future. Hi—Fi embodies this optimism, providing a fun and engaging way to rethink and manage personal finances. As part of the festival, Up facilitated secret gigs and an Up vending machine dispersing free merch was sat at the famous Presgrave Place to further enhance the experience—making financial wellness both accessible and enjoyable for all (Kostyra, 2024).
Up has done a great job in reaching younger population in Australia and there are a couple takeaways I had from reading through this article and after looking through their website. Up has used culturally relevant ways in which they have reached the youth of Australia and the Hi—Fi system is one great one that they have used. By using the DJ booth to “choreograph financial data into an immersive auditory experience” it allows for an experience that is interactive and informative (Kostyra, 2024). This is an interesting way to do this because I find that the club setting is one in which is the last place people want to think about their finances, and Up found a way to intersect these two different spheres in a culturally relevant and innovative way. In reflecting on this intersection how can design act as a mediator between the world of finance and the world of the ‘young’ spender?
Source
Kostyra, L. (2024, August 27). Up’s hi-fi: The financially sound system blends art and music to help Aussies master money. designboom. https://www.designboom.com/technology/up-hi-fi-financially-sound-system-art-music-australians-money-08-26-2024/
