Team Project 24'
Team Project 24'
Team Project 24'
MentorMatch
MentorMatch
MentorMatch
My Role
My Role
UX/UI Designer
Interaction Design, Visual Design, Competitive Analysis, User Personas, User Research
Interaction Design, Visual Design, Competitive Analysis, User Personas, User Research
Team
Team
Jessie L.
Anirudha V.
Eva L.
Timeline & Status
Timeline & Status
4 months, Delivered April 2021
1 month, Revisited October 2024
Overview
Overview
MentorMatch is a student-designed mobile app that allows post-secondary students to connect with a peer mentor or with someone who requires academic help outside of school. Students may also connect with their class mates through a study group from MentorMatch.
As students during the COVID pandemic, we saw how difficult it was for peers to get academic help from other students. There was a lack of resources for students to connect with each other during this time.
This app was initially designed by me and 3 friends for our human-computer interaction class in 2021, but I revisited the design in 2024 to apply my updated design principles.
MentorMatch is a student-designed mobile app that allows post-secondary students to connect with a peer mentor or with someone who requires academic help outside of school. Students may also connect with their class mates through a study group from MentorMatch.
As students during the COVID pandemic, we saw how difficult it was for peers to get academic help from other students. There was a lack of resources for students to connect with each other during this time.
This app was initially designed by me and 3 friends for our human-computer interaction class in 2021, but I revisited the design in 2024 to apply my updated design principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
A safe space for students to expand, share knowledge, and get to know their school community.
A safe space for students to expand, share knowledge, and get to know their school community.
Curating a digital university experience when COVID took away their in-person experience.
Curating a digital university experience when COVID took away their in-person experience.
01 - Video shows how to book a session with a mentor.
01 - Video shows how to book a session with a mentor.
A mobile app to replicate the best parts of studying with your friends on-campus, but with much more accessibility and comfort at your hands.
A mobile app to replicate the best parts of studying with your friends on-campus, but with much more accessibility and comfort at your hands.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
For university students, there isn’t a platform that enables academic help from peers.
For university students, there isn’t a platform that enables academic help from peers.
The struggles of being a student were amplified when school moved online during COVID. Most people were cut from their peer network and queues to ask the professor a question were never longer.
The struggles of being a student were amplified when school moved online during COVID. Most people were cut from their peer network and queues to ask the professor a question were never longer.
HEARING FROM STUDENTS
HEARING FROM STUDENTS
Students are able to understand more effectively with peers who can directly relate with their struggles.
Students are able to understand more effectively with peers who can directly relate with their struggles.
Students are able to understand more effectively with peers who can directly relate with their struggles.
After speaking with several students about their experiences so far, we found that accessibility and comfort was the major roadblock when it came to getting academic help. Due to various of personalities, some students prefer 1:1 help whereas others prefer group study sessions. When being around a network of similar peers, students feel less anxious to ask questions.
From here, we can confidently categorize our audience into 2 user groups.
After speaking with several students about their experiences so far, we found that accessibility and comfort was the major roadblock when it came to getting academic help. Due to various of personalities, some students prefer 1:1 help whereas others prefer group study sessions. When being around a network of similar peers, students feel less anxious to ask questions.
From here, we can confidently categorize our audience into 2 user groups.
USER PERSONAS
USER PERSONAS
Students as Mentees
Students as Mentees
Students as Mentors
Students as Mentors
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS AND GAP
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS AND GAP
Competition relied on transactional relationships when students really need a positive community.
Competition relied on transactional relationships when students really need a positive community.
Our group wanted to find growth opportunities on the market during the pandemic and explore what hasn’t been working. In our competitive analysis, we analyzed three most popular tutoring applications as of date.
Our group wanted to find growth opportunities on the market during the pandemic and explore what hasn’t been working. In our competitive analysis, we analyzed three most popular tutoring applications as of date.
02 - Competitor Analysis
02 - Competitor Analysis
Competitor research showed:
Competitor research showed:
Competitor research showed:
Kadama
Kadama
The only mobile tutoring app
👍 Has a user-friendly interface
👎 No interview process for tutors, lack of reliability
👎 No customer service for students and tutors
👎 Payment system does not protect tutors and many do not receive their payments
The only mobile tutoring app
👍 Has a user-friendly interface
👎 No interview process for tutors, lack of reliability
👎 No customer service for students and tutors
👎 Payment system does not protect tutors and many do not receive their payments
Chegg Tutors
Chegg Tutors
Automated matching system for students and tutors
👍 Subscription based service - means reliable payment for tutors and cheaper pricing for students.
👎 Students get assigned a tutor - cannot choose their own
👎 No customer service for students and tutors
👎 Tutors only get 40% of what the student pays and cannot set their own rates
Automated matching system for students and tutors
👍 Subscription based service - means reliable payment for tutors and cheaper pricing for students.
👎 Students get assigned a tutor - cannot choose their own
👎 No customer service for students and tutors
👎 Tutors only get 40% of what the student pays and cannot set their own rates
Wyzant
Wyzant
Most popular on the market
👍 Secured rating, payment, and advertising system
Subscription based service - means reliable payment for tutors and cheaper pricing for students👎 Takes a big cut of pay (25%), so tutors price higher which affects their client base
👎Courses offered are too general
Most popular on the market
👍 Secured rating, payment, and advertising system
Subscription based service - means reliable payment for tutors and cheaper pricing for students👎 Takes a big cut of pay (25%), so tutors price higher which affects their client base
👎Courses offered are too general
Our key takeaway
Our key takeaway
Our key takeaway
Although there are many tutoring services on the market, university students have no incentive to lean on a transactional relationship especially when there is a lack of reliability from both student and tutor ends.
From our student perspective, we saw a major growth opportunity with potential, and combined with our user personas, it led us to our project goal:
Although there are many tutoring services on the market, university students have no incentive to lean on a transactional relationship especially when there is a lack of reliability from both student and tutor ends.
From our student perspective, we saw a major growth opportunity with potential, and combined with our user personas, it led us to our project goal:
How might we build an accessible and comfortable space for students to develop an impactful university community during COVID?
How might we build an accessible and comfortable space for students to develop an impactful university community during COVID?
How might we build an accessible and comfortable space for students to develop an impactful university community during COVID?
DESIGN PROCESS
DESIGN PROCESS
Wireframes
Wireframes
03 - Main wireframes we brainstormed
03 - Main wireframes we brainstormed
LOW-FIDELITY
LOW-FIDELITY
Finding a mentor
Finding a mentor
Finding a mentor
TESTING AND IMPROVEMENTS
TESTING AND IMPROVEMENTS
Homepage Testing
Homepage Testing
Homepage Testing
Wireframe:
Wireframe:
☺️ USER FEEDBACK:
Wording of “Mentee”/”Mentor” too similar
😞 USER FEEDBACK:
Users liked knowing exactly where to go to search
Mid-Fidelity:
Mid-Fidelity:
✏️ CHANGES:
Reworded to “Student”
✏️ CHANGES:
Reworded to “Student”
☺️ USER FEEDBACK:
Liked knowing exactly where to go to search
😞 USER FEEDBACK:
“Search” is ambiguously interpreted
Negative emotional response to visual design
Nowhere to find notifications
☺️ USER FEEDBACK:
Liked knowing exactly where to go to search
😞 USER FEEDBACK:
“Search” is ambiguously interpreted
Negative emotional response to visual design
Nowhere to find notifications
High-fidelity (2021):
High-fidelity (2021):
✏️ CHANGES:
Added notifications in nav bar
Gave the app more colourful visual design
☺️ USER FEEDBACK:
Liked the wording more
Liked the UI more, but doesn’t feel very professional
😞 USER FEEDBACK:
Wishes to see more information in the Mentor cards
Doesn’t find the Mentor carousel intuitive
Final High-fidelity (2024):
Final High-fidelity (2024):
✏️ CHANGES:
Clear system state - matching the real world
View session details with Mentors at a glance -reducing amount of clicks
Reduced the amount of colours
✏️ CHANGES:
Clear system state - matching the real world
View session details with Mentors at a glance -reducing amount of clicks
Reduced the amount of colours
☺️ USER FEEDBACK:
Liked clear state
Enjoyed the visual hierarchy
Liked the simplicity of the interface
☺️ USER FEEDBACK:
Liked clear state
Enjoyed the visual hierarchy
Liked the simplicity of the interface
FINAL PROTOTYPES (2024)
FINAL PROTOTYPES (2024)
Finding a mentor or a study group.
Finding a mentor or a study group.
Finding a mentor or a study group.
Our solution starts with the incorporation of study groups alongside 1:1 mentoring sessions. Study groups will allow students to find others in their courses, and students will be able to work together for assignments or study for their tests. This allows us to create a safe space for students to get to know others or find peers with similar styles of studying - this has never been done before by competitors.
Looking for more specific help? You can also build a trusting relationship with a peer mentor. Peer mentors are typically students who have excelled in specified courses. A copy of their transcript will be required! They will be able to set their own rates as well.
Our solution starts with the incorporation of study groups alongside 1:1 mentoring sessions. Study groups will allow students to find others in their courses, and students will be able to work together for assignments or study for their tests. This allows us to create a safe space for students to get to know others or find peers with similar styles of studying - this has never been done before by competitors.
Looking for more specific help? You can also build a trusting relationship with a peer mentor. Peer mentors are typically students who have excelled in specified courses. A copy of their transcript will be required! They will be able to set their own rates as well.
Book a session.
Book a session.
Book a session.
Once the user chooses to book a session with a mentor, they will be able to see all the services they offer for each available course. Because our mentors are busy students too, they will be able to adjust pricing, dates, and the amount of clients they will take in based on each week or if it is exam season. Students can choose a time that works for both parties and add a note before each session if they have additional information to inform their mentor.
Once the user chooses to book a session with a mentor, they will be able to see all the services they offer for each available course. Because our mentors are busy students too, they will be able to adjust pricing, dates, and the amount of clients they will take in based on each week or if it is exam season. Students can choose a time that works for both parties and add a note before each session if they have additional information to inform their mentor.
Reviews for reliability.
Reviews for reliability.
Reviews for reliability.
We want students to feel like they can trust and rely on their peers to foster an encouraging environment. For students hosting free study groups, they can also get feedback from peers to build reputation amongst their community. This will further promote an incentive for students build those connections.
We want students to feel like they can trust and rely on their peers to foster an encouraging environment. For students hosting free study groups, they can also get feedback from peers to build reputation amongst their community. This will further promote an incentive for students build those connections.
RETROSPECTIVE
RETROSPECTIVE
Revisiting this project with an updated design lens allowed my solutions to fit within user needs.
Revisiting this project with an updated design lens allowed my solutions to fit within user needs.
Revisiting this project with an updated design lens allowed my solutions to fit within user needs.
In university, this app was my proudest project due to the design process and how it spanned over a couple of months (I know, how cute 🥲). I left it gathering dust for a couple of years until I decided to come back after a couple years of experience. When I came back in 2024, I found that the project file was left a mess and all the screens were done with Figma grouping (yikes). I recreated all the high-fidelity screens again using Figma Autolayout 😎
Here are my overall takeaways:
In university, this app was my proudest project due to the design process and how it spanned over a couple of months (I know, how cute 🥲). I left it gathering dust for a couple of years until I decided to come back after a couple years of experience. When I came back in 2024, I found that the project file was left a mess and all the screens were done with Figma grouping (yikes). I recreated all the high-fidelity screens again using Figma Autolayout 😎
Here are my overall takeaways:
