In 2025, UXDA reached a major milestone—a decade of revolutionizing the financial industry through the power of emotional user experience design. What began as a bold experiment born from crisis and uncertainty has grown into an award-winning design agency with a global footprint. To date, UXDA has proudly served nearly 100 clients in 39 countries, designing financial services used by millions of people worldwide.
For a decade, UXDA has championed Dopamine Banking—an approach that turns digital financial interactions into moments of delight. To honour that legacy, the “UXDA Dopamine-Driven 10-Year Journey and Success” celebration was staged exactly where dopamine thrived best: in a kaleidoscopic world of art, light and sound—Digital Art House in Riga.
This was more than a party—it was a tribute to UXDA’s spirit, passion and creativity. Everything that makes UXDA truly one of a kind. Behind this magical night are two months of intense preparation and a dedicated team of more than 25 incredible people who poured their heart and soul into crafting an experience as unforgettable as the journey the UXDA team shared over the past decade.
On the evening of April 25, the doors of Digital Art House, located in Riga’s center, opened to reveal a one-night creative fusion of finance-driven innovation and multimedia artistry—a truly immersive celebration of UXDA’s 10-year dopamine-driven journey. This is just a glimpse of the extraordinary evening that awaited our team.
A Journey Through 360° Dopamine Visuals
The celebration unfolded inside a mesmerizing 360° HD projection space, where AI-powered visual storytelling transformed the environment into a living canvas of UXDA’s extraordinary journey. Our most iconic financial projects were reimagined as dynamic art installations, pulsing in rhythm with biometric beats—a breathtaking tribute to the emotional science behind Dopamine Banking.
At the heart of it all sat the entire UXDA team, alongside their special guest—the true driving force behind every achievement of the past decade. Throughout the evening, the projections evolved with the moments, turning even the celebratory cake ritual into a dazzling spectacle, with fireworks erupting across the digital screens. These weren’t just visuals—they were the event’s largest and most powerful decoration, creating an atmosphere of wonder, emotion and pure inspiration.
An Immersive Celebration of Light, Art and Sound
As the night deepened, an electrifying LED light performance brought the spirit of digital transformation to life, captivating the audience with futuristic choreography.
Guests also became creators themselves, stepping into an interactive UV art zone where they could paint and reveal their masterpieces under ultraviolet light—awakening curiosity and playfulness through color, texture and surprise.
Meanwhile, a live violinist fused classical elegance with modern beats, crafting an emotional soundscape that felt like a symphony of innovation—an unexpected, beautiful harmony between tradition and the future.
A Dopamine-Driven Feast for the Senses
Every detail of the evening was carefully curated to ignite the senses and spark emotional joy. Guests were treated to exclusive dishes and signature drinks inspired by the dopamine concept, blending vibrant flavors with artful presentation.
The personalized atmosphere continued through thoughtfully designed elements—elegant awards, custom name cards and curated decorations, all crafted to delight both the eye and the heart. Even the dress code was a reflection of UXDA’s emotional design philosophy, with dopamine-inducing bold colors contrasted against classic black, symbolizing the balance between brilliance and depth.
A Living Manifestation of UXDA’s Mission
More than a celebration, the entire event transformed Digital Art House into a living case study of UXDA’s mission to humanize finance. Guests didn't just attend an anniversary—they felt the neural spark behind every breakthrough since 2015 and the energy that will drive the next decade of innovation.
Digital Art House, renowned for transporting visitors into art dimensions, has become a living case study of UXDA’s mission to humanize finance. Guests left not merely remembering an anniversary, but feeling the neural spark that had powered every breakthrough since 2015—and that would propel the next decade of design innovation.
It was more than an event—it was a celebration of emotion, impact and the incredible people who make it all possible.
The Impact: Enriching Lives Through Innovative Design
10 years ago, UXDA founders Alex Kreger and Linda Zaikovska-Daukste had the key reason to start the agency: to do things differently. We’re calling it the “Dopamine-Driven Decade”—ten years of delivering not just functional interfaces, but emotionally engaging digital journeys that spark joy, build trust and truly connect with users. From our early days challenging the status quo to becoming a leading voice in financial UX design, the journey has been nothing short of revolutionary.
In a world in which finance was once cold and impersonal, UXDA injected warmth, simplicity and meaning. We've partnered with visionary companies worldwide, empowering them to humanize their digital products and win their users’ hearts—one dopamine-fueled interaction at a time.
When UXDA opened its doors in 2015 as the world’s first agency devoted exclusively to financial‑services UX, it did so with an unorthodox conviction: the future of money would be won not by balance‑sheet logic, but by the chemistry of human emotion. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re deeply grateful to our incredible team, our bold clients and our supportive community. You’ve helped turn a dream into a decade-long impact.
In the past decade, UXDA has collaborated with multi-billion-dollar financial institutions. These crafted experiences reach users in over 30 languages and have received top international awards in the fields of design, finance and innovation. Our team has been honored to see clients moved to tears by the outcomes, to witness colleagues become lifelong friends and to experience firsthand the joy of creating something meaningful.
UXDA’s work has reached California’s Silicon Valley, the financial centers of the Middle East and the digital infrastructure of Africa and Asia. We are proud to know that behind every design we create, there are people—users—whose lives are made easier, clearer and more humane through our work.
Finance × Emotion: The Hypothesis That Held
Financial products traditionally reward prudence and punish risk, yet human beings tend to make decisions with feelings first and figures second. From its inception, UXDA aimed to reconcile that paradox—engineering dopamine design interfaces that trigger confidence, curiosity and delight at every critical moment of the customer journey.
A Decade in Milestones
In just a decade, UXDA has transformed the financial world—pioneering the first UX agency for finance, earning global recognition across 39 countries and partnering with Tier‑1 industry giants. We’ve reimagined banking with viral concepts like Light Bank and Super App Banking, won the world’s top design awards and set a new UX standard by launching the first AI-powered, Spatial Banking experience. With over 80 brands transformed, 150+ products designed and 30+ international awards earned, UXDA proved that finance can be more than functional—it can feel extraordinary.
From a bold vision born in a small corner of Europe to a global movement transforming and influencing financial experiences, UXDA’s journey has been one of passion, impact and emotion. Here’s a look at the key moments that have shaped a decade of dopamine-driven design in finance:
2015 - Pioneering the Category
Founded the first UX agency dedicated solely to finance, pioneered next-gen banking UX concept and reached 4 countries.
2016 - Global Recognition Begins
Ranked among the world’s Top UX studios, introduced the industry’s first banking super‑app concept and secured clients in 11 countries.
2017 - Trusted by Industry Giants
UXDA reached 18 countries, achieved €1M in turnover and was selected by Tier‑1 core banking vendors as an exclusive UX partner.
2018 - Emotion-Led Approach Goes Viral
The innovative Light Bank concept demonstrated how “feel‑good finance” can boost emotions and expand to 23 countries, sparking emotional transformation in the industry.
2019 - Strategic Growth and Deep Partnerships
Reaching 27 countries and launching a new office, UXDA gained widespread recognition and solidified long-term cooperation with leading banks and Fintechs.
2020 - Thought Leadership at Scale
Joined the Forbes Council, reached 32 countries and influenced 300,000 readers in 127 countries through visionary insights and innovative case studies.
2021 - Innovating Through Crisis
Amid the COVID pandemic, UXDA expanded to 34 countries, inspiring the industry with next-gen innovations like Metaverse, AI, 3D and gamified Kids’ Banking.
2022 - Award-Winning Excellence
With 35 countries and a third office relocation, UXDA received two prestigious iF Design Awards, confirming its elite status in the global design industry.
2023 - Design “Oscars” Grand Slam
UXDA rebranded, released 20+ case studies and won the holy trinity of design “Oscars”—Red Dot, A' Design and iF Design Awards—setting a global UX standard in finance.
2024 - Inventing the Future
Reached 37 countries, designed the first AI‑powered, spatial banking concept for Apple Vision Pro—ushering in a new era of smart and immersive financial experiences.
2025 - A Decade of Financial Transformation
39 countries served, 80+ brands transformed, 150+ products designed and 30+ awards received—each one proof that finance can, indeed, feel good.
What Differentiates UXDA Today
Progress has never been linear. Over ten years, the team has confronted market crashes, client restructurings, supply‑chain lockdowns and the creative fatigue familiar to every scale‑up firm. Projects stretched to 6,000 screens; one contract required 15 months of regulatory negotiation; and another funded 7,800 design hours for a whole ecosystem.
Conflicts, deception, burnout—even moments of despair—tested resolve. Yet the core hypothesis held: if the experience delivers dopamine, adoption follows. That conviction kept UXDA growing while other agencies plateaued:
Exclusivity over Volume
Only 5-7 financial institutions are onboarded each year, ensuring C‑suite access to the agency’s top 1% of in‑house architects.
Tailor‑Made, Code‑Free
No templates, no bootstrap shortcuts—every pixel originates from user‑research insight and brand DNA.
Pioneering Firsts
From the first luxury‑banking UX (2018) to the first spatial‑banking UI (2024), UXDA sets standards the market later adopts.
Long‑Term Business Lift
Design work is mapped to KPIs—transaction depth, retention and cost‑to‑serve—delivering hard ROI alongside emotional affinity.
Philosophy‑Driven Methodology
Forty‑four proprietary methods and eight frameworks merge behavioral finance with strategic brand-centered UX to future‑proof digital ecosystems.
Looking Forward: The Next 10 Years
With a decade of transformation behind us, UXDA is stepping into the next chapter with unwavering clarity and purpose. The digital landscape is entering a new era—shaped by artificial intelligence, decentralization, spatial computing and hyper-personalization. These forces will radically redefine financial experiences, and UXDA is prepared—not simply to respond, but to lead the way.
What lies ahead is not a continuation—it’s a reinvention. The convergence of AI, ambient computing and ESG-driven finance will challenge outdated systems, push ethical boundaries and demand new standards of emotional intelligence in digital strategy.
UXDA enters its second decade with a solid foundation and a forward-looking mindset:
- A validated strategic UX methodology, tested across 150+ financial products and trusted by global leaders.
- A robust R&D pipeline, exploring AI, spatial UX, biometric feedback and inclusive design principles.
- A unique emotional design culture, built to unlock the next level of user impact—one in which innovation meets meaning.
This is not just the future of finance. It is the evolution of human connection in finance through dopamine-driven design. And for UXDA, the journey is only just beginning.
A Moment of Recognition
This anniversary is not only about reflection, but also recognition. The UXDA Breakthrough Awards celebrate those within our team who exemplify ambition, resilience and excellence. UXDA is what it is today because of the incredible people behind it—past and present—who have contributed to building a company that has become more than just a workplace. It’s a place of growth, a source of strength and a second home to everyone.
This year, we proudly presented four UXDA Breakthrough Awards 2025 to those who sparked extraordinary impact through leadership and creativity: Inese, Arita, Dmitry and Santa.
Inspired by Latvia’s own Flow and its historic Oscar win—the first ever for our country—we created a special tribute to our version of greatness: the UXDA Breakthrough Award 2025, our very own “Oscar,” crafted in the spirit of dopamine-driven design.
A handcrafted fusion of art and meaning, the award was designed to reveal magical details under UV light, reflecting the wonder and innovation we strive for in every experience we create.
In addition, we honored seven team members with the Recognition for Excellence 2025: Raitis, Andrew, Oksana, Jelena, Tamara, Anastasija and Vents—each of them a symbol of consistent dedication and contribution to UXDA’s excellence.
Together, we’ve created something that once seemed impossible—a design agency from a small country that dared to dream globally—and succeeded.
Here’s to the next decade of challenges, achievements and breakthroughs. With our team, our vision and our unwavering commitment to emotionally driven design, the future is ours to shape.
Discover our clients' next-gen financial products & UX transformations in UXDA's latest showreel:
If you want to create next-gen financial products to receive an exceptional competitive advantage in the digital age, contact us! With the power of financial UX design, we can help you turn your business into a beloved financial brand with a strong emotional connection with your clients, resulting in success, demand, and long-term customer loyalty.
- E-mail us at info@theuxda.com
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- Send a direct message to UXDA's CEO Alex Kreger on Linkedin
