BNY Mellon Innovation Lab hero image
Overview

As VP of Experience Design, I co-led the newly formed Innovation Lab at BNY Mellon, launching a transformative client engagement strategy that positioned the bank as a digital asset management leader.

Defined the vision for a new innovation capability, delivering personalized client experiences and modernizing product design practices across teams.

Role VP / Experience Design
Timeline 2021 — 2023
Focus
Digital Assets Product design modernization Mentorship AI ExplorationCultural transformation Personalization strategy
Problem Statement

Design a differentiated client experience that showcased the bank's emerging digital capabilities while strengthening relationships with institutional clients.

Our approach focused on introducing new service offerings — particularly the Digital Asset Custody Platform — alongside the launch of the Innovation Lab.

Alexander Hamilton portrait artwork, BNY Mellon NFT concept
Alexander Hamilton portrait artwork variation, BNY Mellon NFT concept
Alexander Hamilton portrait artwork, BNY Mellon digital asset inspiration
Defining the Scope

We explored a range of innovation and client-centricity opportunities to create an experience that felt both forward-thinking and credible within the financial services industry.

The Digital Asset Custody Platform encompassed:

  • Cryptocurrency services
  • Advanced blockchain Infrastructure
  • Emerging Virtual & Augmented Reality technologies

We identified NFTs as a unique opportunity to create an engaging and memorable client interaction.

BNY Mellon digital platform website screen, scope exploration
BNY Mellon digital platform website screen, digital asset scope
Inspiration & Research

The hospitality industry's ability to adapt during the pandemic became an unexpected source of inspiration. I wanted the client experience to feel less like a corporate presentation and more like the service standards of luxury hotels and airlines.

Leveraging the bank's impressive food court and panoramic city views, we invited clients to personalized breakfast or lunch experiences. Subtle inquiries about food preferences ensured each visit felt tailored while maintaining an element of surprise.

BNY Mellon client experience research and inspiration reference
BNY Mellon hospitality-inspired client experience concept
Panoramic view of BNY Mellon Innovation Lab client experience screens
Outlining the Experience

A series of clear, welcoming communications prepared clients for their visit and ensured a seamless transition into the immersive experience.

The event required tight coordination across multiple teams — including facilities, the front desk, and internal operations — to deliver a true "red carpet" arrival.

Clients were greeted by a team member, presented with their personalized meal tote, and escorted into the Innovation Lab.

BNY Mellon client onboarding email sequence designs
The In-Person Experience

The highlight of the visit was the presentation of personalized NFTs featuring Alexander Hamilton — a nod to the bank's heritage and continued relevance in modern finance.

Clients minted and received these digital assets directly through their digital wallets, creating a tangible and memorable introduction to the bank's digital asset capabilities.

Mobile screen 1 of BNY Mellon NFT minting experience
Mobile screen 2 of BNY Mellon NFT minting experience
Mobile screen 4 of BNY Mellon NFT minting experience
Mobile screen 5 of BNY Mellon NFT minting experience
Mobile screen 6 of BNY Mellon NFT minting experience
Results
  • 10% reduction in design-related bottlenecks
  • Teams embraced regular sprint retrospectives
  • Organized knowledge base to find information easier
  • In-person client meetings increased 48%
  • Increased client feedback regarding design quality and innovation
  • Customer experience patterns were tokenized and templatized for reuse
  • Early AI workflows were introduced into legacy systems
Client Feedback

"Joseph is one of the few designers that I know that I can go to for mentorship, advice, and design help. This year was the start of my UX career, and Joey's been a colleague that helped empower me in my tasks and skills as a designer."

"He helped me meet other designers - taught me skills with Figma that has helped me become more efficient in my work."

"More recently, he has helped me brainstorm how to interview a UX candidate because it was my first time. I do not go to him just because he is one of the few designers here. I go to him because I respect his expertise and what he has taught me has been helpful in my career so far."

Dominique Dorvil profile photo

Dominique Dorvil
Lead User Experience Analyst at BNY Mellon