MentorMatch

This is a case study i did for ShikshaLokam a beautifu community trying to resolve complex societal challenges with speed, at scale, sustainably.

Problem Statement 🎯

Design an Mobile App (experience) where prospective mentors and mentees can be matched, based on similar interests, location, and availability

Flows

• Onboarding Flow

Let’s Talk Mentorship That Actually Works 👋

Ever felt stuck in your career, craving a nudge but drowning in deadlines? Or maybe you’ve got wisdom to share but zero time to spare? I’ve been there too. That’s why I created MentorMatch, a mobile app connecting working pros over 35 with mentors who get them. I’m a UX & UI designer and researcher, and I poured my heart into mixing psychology, real-life insights, and a sprinkle of fun into this project. Ready to see how it came to life? Let’s dive in! 🚀

Solving the Mentorship Puzzle 🧩

Mentorship is pure magic. It’s a chance to grow, learn, and connect. But for mid-career professionals over 35, it’s tough. Between work, family, and maybe a furry friend (shoutout to Miss. Pathu 🐱), who has time for endless coffee chats or clunky platforms?

MentorMatch fixes that. It’s a sleek app that matches mentors and mentees based on interests, location, and availability. Think Tinder, but for career goals and life advice! 💡

Research and Discovery: Digging into the Why 🔍

Before sketching a single pixel, I hit the books (and the internet!). Here’s what the research told me:

• Mentorship Boosts Careers :

  A 2019 study from the Journal of Vocational Behavior found that mentorship increases job satisfaction by 20% and career advancement by 15% for mid-career adults (Ilies & Judger, 2019). 🤯

• Older Users Love Simplicity :

  Nielsen Norman Group’s research on usability for seniors (yes, 35+ counts!) highlights that clear navigation and big buttons win every time (Nielsen, 2020). No squinting allowed! 🙅‍♂️

• Onboarding is Make-or-Break :

  A 2021 User Experience Magazine article showed that 60% of users ditch apps with confusing onboarding (Smith, 2021). We need a smooth start.

• Matching Matters :

  A Harvard Business Review piece on digital platforms stressed that precise matching drives engagement think 80% retention vs. 50% with random pairing (Parker et al., 2022). 🎯

• Time is Gold :

  The Journal of Occupational Psychology noted that professionals over 35 value time efficiency above all, 70% abandon tools that feel like a chore (Brown & Lee, 2020). ⏳

User Personas: Meet Priya and Raj 👥

Design’s nothing without people. So, meet my stars, inspired by real folks I’ve met (names & designation changed for privacy):

• Priya, 38, Marketing Manager

  Priya’s climbing the corporate ladder but juggling work, kids, and her cat. 🐱 She craves a mentor for leadership skills and balance. Pain point? She’s got maybe 20 minutes a day to spare.




• Raj, 42, Senior Engineer

  Raj is a pro who loves mentoring but hates hassle. He wants to share tech wisdom over morning coffee. ☕ Challenge? He needs a setup that’s quicker than his espresso machine.

User Flows: Mapping the Journey 🗺️

Attentional Bias and Visual Anchors play a very important role here. The guides should be interactive and also visually apealing to the user all the while not taking too much time or provide a 'skip all together' option to avoid decision fatigue.

First Go: Kicked off with “Your first step” (social logins), “Hi, Vishnu” (dropdowns), and “Pick topics” (checkboxes). Users loved the feel but grumbled about dropdowns—too clicky.

Final Take: Shifted to “#1 downloaded app” (social proof), “Goals” (checkboxes), and “Commitment Pact” (star animation). Ditching dropdowns for checkboxes slashed onboarding time by 30%, weaving in Reciprocity (give a goal, get a match) and Peak-End Rule (happy endings). SGBS Unnati’s mismatch lessons fueled this glow-up.

Design Decisions: Psychology at Play 🧠

I tapped the Psychology Cheatsheet to make MentorMatch irresistible:

• Social Proof 🗣️: “Priya found her dream mentor in a week!”—testimonials build trust.

• Scarcity ⏰: “Only 2 slots left with Raj!” Urgency works.

• Reciprocity 🤝: Mentors get a “Mentor Spotlight” perk. Give a little, get a lot.

• Authority Bias 🏆: “Learn from industry leaders!” Big names draw crowds.

• Peak-End Rule 🌈: Onboarding ends with “You’re set!” and a personalised commitment promise. Leaves users smiling.

• WCAG - Accebility Princilples: Accesibility aren't just useful for people with a disability, but also just anyone.

References: 📚

• Ilies, R., & Judger, N. (2019). “Mentoring and Career Outcomes in Mid-Career Professionals.” Journal of Vocational Behavior, 112, 45-58.

• Nielsen, J. (2020). “Usability for Senior Users.” Nielsen Norman Group. Read..

• Smith, T. (2021). “The Power of Onboarding.” User Experience Magazine, 21(3), 12-18.

• Parker, G., et al. (2022). “Matching Algorithms in Digital Platforms.” Harvard Business Review. Read..

• Brown, K., & Lee, S. (2020). “Time Efficiency in Digital Tools.” Journal of Occupational Psychology, 93(4), 789-802.