Banking & fintech

B2B

Embedding design capability at a fast-growing B2B fintech

Client

Vitesse PSP

Vitesse PSP

Model

Product accelerator, In-housing

Product accelerator, In-housing

Services

Product strategy

Product strategy

UX/UI design

UX/UI design

Rapid prototyping

Rapid prototyping

Product optimisation

Product optimisation

Info

Vitesse PSP serves over 70% of the Lloyd's of London market and target ambitious global expansion with their innovative insurance payment technology.

When they approached us in March 2023, their functional but outdated portal couldn't support growth ambitions or compete with modern user expectations in the insurance payments market.

Challenge

Vitesse faced two interconnected problems. Their table-heavy interface looked dated and frustrated users, but the deeper issue was capability: they lacked the design expertise to evolve their platform whilst maintaining user trust standards essential in financial services.

This timing proved critical. Poor claims experiences put $170 billion in premiums at risk by 2027 (Accenture). Small user errors can have large financial consequences for insurers and claimaints. Superior user experience had become a competitive requirement, not an optional enhancement.

Our analysis

Vitesse's challenge wasn't just interface problems, as a developer-led business from day 1 it was missing systematic design capabilities that could scale with their business. The value of good UX was not self-evident and required demonstration through results.

We identified a different approach: prove the value of design through focused delivery, then build internal capabilities for continuous improvement. This would transform design from a cost into a competitive advantage that supports everything from feature development to international expansion.

What we did

01.

Started with focused accelerator projects

We began with two targeted accelerator projects: modernising Vitesse's table-heavy interface into a modern portal experience, and developing their Payee Choice feature for secure payment processing. These projects established design foundations, component libraries covering essential use cases, and proved how strategic design investment could accelerate development cycles.

Started with focused accelerator projects

We began with two targeted accelerator projects: modernising Vitesse's table-heavy interface into a modern portal experience, and developing their Payee Choice feature for secure payment processing. These projects established design foundations, component libraries covering essential use cases, and proved how strategic design investment could accelerate development cycles.

02.

Established design capability through senior leadership

Following the successful accelerator programs, we embedded our designers to build in-house capability. A design culture needed to be nurtured from scratch, so one of our senior partners worked personally with Vitesse’s development squads and product leadership to establish the foundations of credibility, capability and trust.

Established design capability through senior leadership

Following the successful accelerator programs, we embedded our designers to build in-house capability. A design culture needed to be nurtured from scratch, so one of our senior partners worked personally with Vitesse’s development squads and product leadership to establish the foundations of credibility, capability and trust.

03.

Flexed resources across pods and priorities

With the groundwork established, we adapted our support model as Vitesse’s design needs matured. This included heartbeat UX assistance for ongoing development, design system evolution to maintain consistency, and targeted sprint work for emerging opportunities and skunkworks projects. Our designers work across multiple development pods whilst maintaining platform coherence, enabling rapid response to strategic priorities without creating bottlenecks.

Flexed resources across pods and priorities

With the groundwork established, we adapted our support model as Vitesse’s design needs matured. This included heartbeat UX assistance for ongoing development, design system evolution to maintain consistency, and targeted sprint work for emerging opportunities and skunkworks projects. Our designers work across multiple development pods whilst maintaining platform coherence, enabling rapid response to strategic priorities without creating bottlenecks.

04.

A strategic design partnership lasting 2 years (and counting)

The embedded model proved its value through sustained delivery across multiple strategic initiatives. Our continued partnership with Vitesse demonstrates how in-housing design capabilities strengthens as designers accrue domain knowledge, allowing for increasingly more sophisticated and effective collaborations.

A strategic design partnership lasting 2 years (and counting)

The embedded model proved its value through sustained delivery across multiple strategic initiatives. Our continued partnership with Vitesse demonstrates how in-housing design capabilities strengthens as designers accrue domain knowledge, allowing for increasingly more sophisticated and effective collaborations.

Project impact

Design capability from scratch

Our accelerator-to-embedded approach proved design value through delivery, established credible expertise then scaled to match their evolving needs. Design is now integral to how Vitesse build product.

Design capability from scratch

Our accelerator-to-embedded approach proved design value through delivery, established credible expertise then scaled to match their evolving needs. Design is now integral to how Vitesse build product.

Scalable design capability

Embedded expertise enabled rapid response to Vitesse’s changing needs as a scale-up. Design became an enabler for strategic initiatives rather than a bottleneck.

Scalable design capability

Embedded expertise enabled rapid response to Vitesse’s changing needs as a scale-up. Design became an enabler for strategic initiatives rather than a bottleneck.

Reduced innovation risk

With new opportunities in AI-powered claims processing and parametric insurance products, Vitesse can innovate confidently knowing their UX will remain cohesive, minimising costly user error.

Reduced innovation risk

With new opportunities in AI-powered claims processing and parametric insurance products, Vitesse can innovate confidently knowing their UX will remain cohesive, minimising costly user error.

Turn design investment into competitive advantage

Fast-growing enterprises need design capabilities that evolve with business strategy, not projects that require starting from scratch each time.

Our approach builds internal expertise whilst delivering immediate value—turning design investment into lasting competitive advantage rather than recurring costs.

If you're scaling rapidly in fintech, enterprise software, or regulated industries, let's discuss how embedded design capabilities could accelerate your growth without creating external dependencies.

Speak to our senior team

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