OVERVIEW

A web platform to reduce high schoolers' college discovery stress

Mentee, a pre-seed startup, aimed to reduce the stress high school students experience when researching colleges by connecting them with current students from their desired schools.

As the inaugural product designer, I led the design of a new web platform to bring this vision to life. Collaborating closely with engineering and product management, we successfully launched a minimum viable product (MVP) that laid the foundation for Mentee to validate its concept and attract early adopters.

Timeline

January - May 2024 (5 months)

Role

Product Designer (UX/UI, brand development, graphic design)

Team

Software Engineer
Product Manager
Marketing Lead

Deliverables

Wireframes
Design System
High-Fidelity Mockups
User Flows
Brand Guidelines

CONTEXT

Mentee aimed to alleviate college application stress by connecting high school students with college mentors

For many high school students, the college search process is overwhelming due to outdated resources, impersonal guidance, and costly counseling. Mentee set out to change that, offering an affordable mentorship service designed to provide students with the personalized support they needed. However, their initial reliance on manual processes limited their ability to scale and truly empower students on their journey.

PROBLEM

Manual mentor matching proved inefficient and lacked retention, prompting a tech-based solution

Mentee’s seven-step manual matching process was slow and frustrating. Students endured weeks of waiting, often feeling disconnected and discouraged. The system couldn’t handle growing demand or attract investors, hindering its potential. Determined to change this, we set out to create a scalable, tech-based platform that automated mentor matching, improved engagement, and positioned Mentee for growth.

RESEARCH

By interviewing high school students, we gained insights to inform the design of our new digital platform

To truly understand students’ challenges and expectations, I delved into interviews with 12 high school students conducted by the marketing team. What I uncovered was eye-opening—their struggles extended far beyond mentorship matching. My analysis revealed three key themes that became the foundation of my design strategy.

Key Insights

  • Matching Delays Create Frustration: Students felt the manual process was impersonal and slow, leaving them dissatisfied.

  • Students Want Personalization: They wanted mentors who aligned with their unique goals, interests, and challenges.

  • Engagement Beyond the Match Matters: Students expressed a desire for ongoing mentorship relationships and a sense of community.

SYNTHESIS

My design strategy will focus on personalization, trust, and efficiency to enhance mentor matching

Our research showed what students really needed: faster access to mentors, more meaningful connections, and ongoing support beyond one-time sessions. These insights became the foundation of Mentee’s core features.

Key Themes and Solutions

Personalization is Paramount

  • Insight: Students wanted mentors who aligned with their interests, goals, and challenges.

  • Solution: Smart search & filtering and detailed mentor profiles for better matches

Trust and Connection Drive Engagement

  • Insight: Students wanted more than a one-time match—they needed ongoing support and a sense of community.

  • Solution: Community forums and blog content to encourage ongoing interaction.

Efficiency Enhances Accessibility

  • Insight: Students were frustrated by delays in the manual process and needed quicker matches.

  • Design Goal: Automated mentor-matching and scheduling to reduce wait times.

USER FLOW

Defining the signup and search experience

Before designing key features, I mapped the user flow for sign-up and mentor searches. The business team prioritized early signups, but I worried friction and premature payment would turn students away. We compromised by allowing limited mentor browsing before sign-up and requiring payment only at booking.

DESIGN

Turning insights into focused design solutions

Before designing key features, I mapped the user flow for sign-up and mentor searches. The business team prioritized early signups, but I worried friction and premature payment would turn students away. We compromised by allowing limited mentor browsing before sign-up and requiring payment only at booking.

Designing a Faster, More Personalized Way to Find Mentors

Manual mentorship caused frustrating delays, leaving students feeling stuck. To give them more control, I designed a search and filtering system that made finding the right mentor faster and more intuitive. The search function automated matching, while filters personalized the experience, helping students connect with mentors who truly understood their journey.

Giving Students the Information They Need to Choose the Right Mentor

To make mentorship more personal, students needed detailed insights about each mentor before booking a session. Instead of relying on generic profiles or brief descriptions, students wanted to see:

  • A mentor’s background (school, major, career path).

  • Their experiences & interests (clubs, internships, personal insights).

  • What they could offer as a mentor (advice specialties, session topics).

I designed the Mentor Profile Page to give students all the information they needed to make an informed decision on who to connect with.

Encouraging Ongoing Engagement with Blog & Community Posts

Finding a mentor was just the start, as students also needed ongoing guidance and a sense of community. To keep them engaged, I designed a blog section where mentors shared experiences and college advice. This made Mentee more than just a matching platform, giving students lasting support beyond their mentor sessions.

Simplifying the Booking Process

Originally, scheduling a session with a mentor required manual back-and-forth messaging, making the process slow and frustrating.

To reduce friction and improve efficiency, I redesigned the booking system:

  • Students could now see mentor availability upfront.

  • They could book a session instantly without waiting for a manual confirmation.

  • Automatic confirmations were added so users knew their booking was successful.

Notes:

  • For each feature, have a paragraph or bullets maybe? Connect back to synthesis. Visual should be a wireframe with annotations. Or should I include low-fi to high-fi here?

  • Testing section

  • Final Screens with Design System?

  • Launch and Results

  • Reflection + Takeaways