CIRCLE OF MERIT Reimagining the student loan journey through circular mentorship
- Categories
- UX design, service design, financial services
- Role
- Service designer and strategist, communication designer
- Context
- Student project at Politecnico di Milano – Impact Design course, in partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo and Logotel (2024)
Description
Circle of Merit turns the “per Merito” student loan from a linear path into a circular network. Students, alumni, Intesa Sanpaolo and businesses come together through mentorship, community and career opportunities, supporting students at every stage of the loan journey.
The result is an ecosystem built on transparency and peer support, with a bank students can trust as a partner in their future.
for Merit website →
Brief
How can a service system build trust and walk alongside students on their loan journey?
Design proposal
From a one-way loan to a circular network
Pre-loan
Guidance Service
Students discover the loan through an Ambassador: a Circle of Merit student who offers guidance and presents the loan in schools.
Onboarding
Community forum
The Community Forum is a section of the Intesa website where users can ask questions about the loan, get answers and browse a public message board. It promotes transparency and connects students with other loan recipients.
Onboarding, during & after the loan
APP
A redesigned banking app with a dedicated section for Per Merito recipients. Through the Intesa app, users can track and manage their loan, plan expenses and develop savings strategies.
They can also participate in the Community Forum.
During the loan
Ambassador Program
Student loan recipients can become ambassadors, offering peer-to-peer support to other students and promoting the loan in schools.
The ambassador program uses points and medals to reward commitment with benefits such as discounts and promotions. It also offers professional visibility in proportion to their contribution in the role.
During & after the loan
Career port
A section of the Intesa app dedicated to job opportunities, where loan recipients can apply for roles offered by partners and Intesa itself. The system recognizes high-achieving students and those who excel in the ambassador program, giving them greater visibility.
Circle of merit
Service design maps
Politecnico di MilanoImpact design course 2024
The program
Impact Design - Shaping community-driven organizations is a course at Politecnico di Milano, taught by Logotel, a leading Italian service design company, and led by Cristina Favini. It teaches students to design services and organizations that generate measurable positive impact for people and communities. The approach is hands-on: students tackle real challenges alongside partner organizations.
Team
- Martina Candussi
- Alessandro Paterlini
- Valentina Phung
- Laura Spedicato
