BiLLY & BUDDY


  ✧  layout design
  ✧  service design

A service provided for American children ages 5 to 9 that fosters financial literacy.


This project was completed by an intersiciplinary team with Sharayna Sateesh, Dvija Patel, and Kaitlyn Carney. 

Credits
Story and Narrative - Kaitlyn Carney & Dvija  Patel
Visual Language, Style Guide, Illustrations, Branding - Sharanya
Layout & Book Design, Illustration - Sam Collins
Interactions, Pop-ups - Kaitlyn Carney
Website Mini Games - Dvija Patel



All templated mockups on this page designed by yeven_popov / Freepik.






Research Insights


  ✧  Incorporating real-life scenarios when learning help bridge the gap between theory and practice. 

  ✧  Interactive and gamified learning with incentives is most effective for keeping the attention of children.

  ✧  Structuring learning in chunks of information is most accessible and effective for retention.

  ✧  There is no current standard of a child's financial literacy knowledge upon entering teenage/adulthood.

  ✧  Financially illiterate children grow into financially illiterate adults who cannot make smart and informed financial decisions.
Only 26 states in America require education in 
financial literacy for children as of 2024.




Only 4 in 7 Americans can be considered 
“financially literate”.






Problem Space


In the scope of American primary and secondary education, only about half of schools require classes about financial literacy. This leaves many children at a disadvantage without basic knowledge of things like saving, spending, budgeting, and the importance of money. While there are currently services that provide students with basic information, there are few comprehensive resources that gradually teach children about finances in a fun and interactive way.

Storyboard


 







Service Description


This service is designed to educate 5 to 9-year-old American children about financial literacy through a series of books sold online. Each book contains age-appropriate concepts in a fun and engaging interactive story format. The concepts are further reinforced with engagement on a digital platform through online mini games. The subscription model delivers a book quarterly to ensure ongoing learning about key financial topics like saving, spending, budgeting, and the importance of money.

Physical Touchpoint


This is a children's book series that follows characters as they tackle real world financial problems. Each book fosters financial literacy comprehension through text, comic-strip style illustration, and on-page physical interactions.

Digital Touchpoint


This online space allows for parents to subscribe to the series and for children to revisit content learned in their books via mini games that reinforce those lessons learned.



More


View the full process book with my research and exploration below.

Process Book





Book Series


This 16 book series builds upon previous information with each book to create a comprehensive knowledge base about finances. With suggested ages listed, these books are delivered quarterly to subscribers.





Volume 1


The first volume of the series aims to open the door of financial literacy by introducing saving, earning, spending, and budgeting. 

Throughout the characters’ journey, they are met with financial decisions and challenges that create learning opportunities further in the plot. The problems are presented to readers in physical interactions designed to foster engagement and improve the readers’ comprehension.

View Full Book






Online Mini Games


Mini games are designed to reinforce content learned. The book’s corresponding online mini game is similar to an interactive activity found in the book.

For example, Volume 1 asks readers to categorize items as “Needs” or “Wants”. In this mini game, children can sort items into these categories based on the theme they choose. This helps them contextualize items and understand that not all scenarios will have the same “Needs” and “Wants”.




Future Impact


With existing educational subscriptions and successful comparable models, there is a proven customer base that would be inclined to invest in the service due to need and its finite timeline. By partnering with educational institutions to support and promote our initiative, this could impact thousands of children.

BiLLY & BUDDY will provide an ongoing knowledge base of financial topics for children ages 5 to 9 so they might approach finances with curiosity, confidence, and ease as they grow. This wil allow them to become financially independent, aware, and successful adults





© 2025 Sam Collins