Ment ME.

Smart matchmaking for meaningful Mentorship

Case Study 15min read

THE PROBLEM SPACE

Post-COVID, students Were Lost in the Inbox —

and mentorship Needed a redesign.

The shift to remote life didn’t just disrupt academics — it broke the mentorship model for students who relied on personal, informal connections to grow.


Young designers preparing to leave college and looking for guidance at the start of their careers were met with challenges of stress and isolation as they missed out on opportunities to seek out mentors naturally before the 2020 pandemic. Seeking support from others and guidance online became a stressful and time-consuming process.

UX Design and Research

Ment ME.

Smart matchmaking for meaningful Mentorship

Case Study 15min read

THE PROBLEM SPACE

Post-COVID, students Were Lost in the Inbox —

and mentorship Needed a redesign.

The shift to remote life didn’t just disrupt academics — it broke the mentorship model for students who relied on personal, informal connections to grow.


Young designers preparing to leave college and looking for guidance at the start of their careers were met with challenges of stress and isolation as they missed out on opportunities to seek out mentors naturally before the 2020 pandemic. Seeking support from others and guidance online became a stressful and time-consuming process.

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Timeline

Timeline

16 weeks


Aug 2022 - Dec 2022

16 weeks


Aug 2022 - Dec 2022

Role & Team

Role & Team

UX Designer, Team of 2

UX Designer, Team of 2

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

User interviews, user personas, Journey maps, affinity diagrams, ideation, information architecture, design iteration & prototyping

User interviews, user personas, Journey maps, affinity diagrams, ideation, information architecture, design iteration & prototyping

Context

Context

Innovation & Design Graduate course project

Innovation & Design Graduate course project

UX Design and Research

THE SOLUTION

A Focused Mobile Experience Built to rebuild trust

and remove friction.

To address students’ core pain points around trust, choice overload, and scheduling friction, I designed a mobile-first app experience that brings clarity, transparency, and ease to mentorship connections.

Transparent Mentor Profiles

01

Solves: Lack of trust in online mentorship

Each mentor profile includes verified experience, testimonials from past mentees, and shared interest tags—helping students feel more confident in reaching out.

Integrated Scheduling Widget

03

Solves: Time constraints and messy coordination

Each mentor profile includes verified experience, testimonials from past mentees, and shared interest tags—helping students feel more confident in reaching out.

Compatibility Match Indicator

02

Solves: Overwhelm from too many options

Rather than endless scrolling, mentees are shown mentors with a high compatibility score based on interests, goals, and experience, making it easier to find the right fit quickly.

Languages

Industry Level

Design Focus

Ethnicity

Expertise Level

Expertise Level

Industry Type

Industry Type

Gender

Gender

Skill Set

Skill Set

Location

Location


fits your mentor preferences by 85%


fits your mentor preferences by 85%

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Incompatible

Incompatible

Compatible

Compatible

done

done

Expertise Level

Expertise Level

Languages

Languages

Industry Type

Industry Type

Gender

Gender

Industry Level

Industry Level

Design Focus

Design Focus

Skill Set

Skill Set

Location

Location

Ethnicity

Ethnicity


fits your mentor preferences by 85%


fits your mentor preferences by 85%

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Incompatible

Incompatible

Compatible

Compatible

done

done

Onboarding for Personalization

Onboarding for Personalization

04

04

Solves: Overwhelm from too many options and would save time.

Solves: Overwhelm from too many options and would save time.

The detailed onboarding process is designed to find you the very best mentor and provide a highly accurate match percentage. It will ask you everything—from your niche to the type of mentor you’re looking for.

Psst… this case study is a bit shy on mobile. Please check it out on a desktop for the full experience!

RESEARCH

ANALYSIS

Understanding the gaps in digital mentorship

Themes That shaped the Design Direction

To design a solution that met the real needs of students, I conducted a mix of qualitative and competitive research methods over the span of several weeks.

After analyzing user interviews and affinity mapping data, five core themes emerged—each directly linked to a specific pain point and later used to guide design decisions.

After analyzing user interviews and affinity mapping data, five core themes emerged—each directly linked to a specific pain point and later used to guide design decisions.

METHODS USED

  • 10 one-on-one interviews with both mentees and mentors

  • Survey distributed to students and early-career professionals (10 responses)

  • Competitor research on ADP List and LinkedIn, Affinity Mapping for insight synthesis.

69.23%

of participants had used a mentorship platform.

Only 30%

were currently engaged in a mentorship.

Competitor research on ADP List and LinkedIn highlighted that Indian students lacked familiarity with global networking platforms, making them less effective in this region.

→ Revealing a clear gap in retention and ongoing engagement.


→ Revealing a clear gap in retention and ongoing engagement.


THEME

THEME

INSIGHT

INSIGHT

PARTICIPANT QUOTE

PARTICIPANT QUOTE

“The biggest difficulty was time. Even if I found a mentor, actually getting them to set aside time for me was a struggle.” – P1

“The biggest difficulty was time. Even if I found a mentor, actually getting them to set aside time for me was a struggle.” – P1

“Even though they look really successful, will I be used? Will I be scammed?” – P2

“Even though they look really successful, will I be used? Will I be scammed?” – P2

“It’s really hard to find someone that you connect with, who is also experienced, and who is willing to spend time with you.” – P1

“It’s really hard to find someone that you connect with, who is also experienced, and who is willing to spend time with you.” – P1

“It’s very hard to present yourself online in a way that makes them remember you.” – P5

“It’s very hard to present yourself online in a way that makes them remember you.” – P5

“I write down a list of questions I want to ask. I never go in unprepared.” – P1

“I write down a list of questions I want to ask. I never go in unprepared.” – P1

Finding available mentors and scheduling meetings was frustrating.

Finding available mentors and scheduling meetings was frustrating.

Students worried about being scammed, ghosted, or undervalued.

Students worried about being scammed, ghosted, or undervalued.

Too many options made the process feel like a numbers game.

Too many options made the process feel like a numbers game.

Digital mentorship lacked the natural conversations of in-person networking.

Digital mentorship lacked the natural conversations of in-person networking.

Mentees wanted a structured approach but didn’t know the best way to prepare.

Mentees wanted a structured approach but didn’t know the best way to prepare.

WHAT THIS TOLD US

  • Mentees are hesitant, unsure, and under-supported in a digital mentorship landscape.

  • Simply matching people isn’t enough — platforms need to build trust, offer clarity, and reduce decision fatigue.

HMWs

HMWs

Simply matching people isn’t enough — platforms need to build trust, offer clarity, and reduce decision fatigue.

Simply matching people isn’t enough — platforms need to build trust, offer clarity, and reduce decision fatigue.

From the research, I concluded...

From the research, I concluded...

Which lead to the HMW questions

Which lead to the HMW questions

  1. How might we reduce decision fatigue by helping mentees discover mentors who are actually a good fit?

  2. How might we make digital mentorship feel more human and less transactional?


....leading me to the high-level objectives that guided my design of Ment ME.

  1. How might we reduce decision fatigue by helping mentees discover mentors who are actually a good fit?

  2. How might we make digital mentorship feel more human and less transactional?


....leading me to the high-level objectives that guided my design of Ment ME.

Design + Development Complexity

Design + Development Complexity

Optimal area

Optimal area

Low Impact

Low Impact

High Impact

High Impact

High Effort

High Effort

Low Effort

Low Effort

Pre-Questionnaire

Matching

Pre-Questionnaire

Matching

Helps match users with relevant mentors.

Helps match users with relevant mentors.

“Other” Input Option in Onboarding

“Other” Input Option in Onboarding

Adds flexibility to onboarding.

Adds flexibility to onboarding.

Projects Section on Mentor Profile

Projects Section on Mentor Profile

Builds mentor credibility.

Builds mentor credibility.

Calendar-Based Scheduling

Calendar-Based Scheduling

Simplifies meeting coordination.

Simplifies meeting coordination.

Match % Compatibility Indicator

Match % Compatibility Indicator

Highlights best-fit mentors at a glance.

Highlights best-fit mentors at a glance.

Community Groups & Events

Community Groups & Events

Promotes engagement and belonging.

Promotes engagement and belonging.

IDEATION & SOLUTION

IDEATION & SOLUTION

Turning Research into tangible Ideas

Turning Research into tangible Ideas

To generate initial concepts, we used Crazy 8s to explore diverse directions and followed it up with a storyboard focused on onboarding — illustrating how a mentee would be matched with a mentor through a guided questionnaire flow.

To generate initial concepts, we used Crazy 8s to explore diverse directions and followed it up with a storyboard focused on onboarding — illustrating how a mentee would be matched with a mentor through a guided questionnaire flow.

I explored three distinct directions to address the core mentorship pain points...

I explored three distinct directions to address the core mentorship pain points...

  1. Video Chat Platform - Mentor Window

    Enabled direct mentor-mentee interaction

    Focused on building rapport quickly
    → Explored for making mentorship feel more human


  2. Search Engine for Mentorship Resources - Mentee Toolbox

    Centralized access to mentorship guides, prep templates, and FAQs
    → Aimed to reduce confusion and uncertainty among mentees

  3. Matching-Based Mobile App (dating-app-style) - Mentor Match

    Pre-questionnaire to match mentees with mentors based on interests, goals, and communication preferences
    → Targeted reducing decision fatigue and improving connection quality

  1. Video Chat Platform - Mentor Window

    Enabled direct mentor-mentee interaction

    Focused on building rapport quickly
    → Explored for making mentorship feel more human


  2. Search Engine for Mentorship Resources - Mentee Toolbox

    Centralized access to mentorship guides, prep templates, and FAQs
    → Aimed to reduce confusion and uncertainty among mentees

  3. Matching-Based Mobile App (dating-app-style) - Mentor Match

    Pre-questionnaire to match mentees with mentors based on interests, goals, and communication preferences
    → Targeted reducing decision fatigue and improving connection quality

After evaluating each concept, I decided to combine the strongest features from all three directions into a unified mobile experience — with the pre-questionnaire matching flow at the core.

After evaluating each concept, I decided to combine the strongest features from all three directions into a unified mobile experience — with the pre-questionnaire matching flow at the core.

Mentor - Window

Mentor - Window

Mentee Toolbox

Mentee Toolbox

OUR NEW IDEA

OUR NEW IDEA

Mentor Match

Mentor Match

ITERATIONS

Improving Through Feedback —

From usability to Clarity.

After launching the first prototype, I conducted a round of usability testing with 5 participants. The feedback revealed subtle but significant usability gaps — especially in mentor clarity, scheduling friction, and user overwhelm.


This led to four key redesigns, each directly shaped by user feedback:

Onboarding Questionnaire

Onboarding Questionnaire

01

01

Problem:
Users felt boxed into limited multiple-choice options during onboarding, especially in questions like “What do you want to gain from mentorship?”

Solution:
→ Added an “Other” field so users could type personalized responses.
This made the onboarding process more flexible and user-centered.

Problem:
Users felt boxed into limited multiple-choice options during onboarding, especially in questions like “What do you want to gain from mentorship?”

Solution:
→ Added an “Other” field so users could type personalized responses.
This made the onboarding process more flexible and user-centered.

Pre Questionnaire V1

Pre Questionnaire V2

I enhanced user personalization by adding additional input fields for the profile information and introducing an "Other" option in the drop-down lists. This allows users to provide more specific and customized responses.

Prof John V. Brown

Ux Designer

Apple

2012

CNN

2018

Marvel

2022

Cartoon Network

2015

MCD

2019

Recommended Articles

Project that I have worked on

History

Connect with me.

I'm a product / UX designer with a background in landscape architecture. I’ve been creating HCI solutions for 3 years.


Here are some of the recommended reading materials suggested my the mentor related to UX Design,

Chat Now

Schedule Meeting

Human - Computer Interaction

User Experience

Design Thinking

Prototyping

80%

match

Prof John V. Brown

Ux Designer

Schedule Meeting

Select Date

Select Time

Topic of discussion

Tell the mentor a little bit about yourself

11/16/22

11:00 am EST

Design Thinking, Prototyping

I'm searching for a senior designer that is familiar with Figma and other prototype tools. I want to develop my skills.

Get Started

Finish

<

Welcome!

Tell us about yourself,

Name

Where are you from?

Occupation

Gender

What do you want to gain from a mentorship?

Surname

Next

Monica

Surrey

New York, USA

UX Designer

Male

Experience, Knowledge

<

UI/UX

HCI

Interaction Design

Ux Design

Figma

UI Design

UX Research

Usability Testing

Instagram

2017-2019

Junior UX Designer

2015-2017

Lead Marketing consultant

Nordstrom

Work Experience

Helps with

Meta

2020-current

Senior UX Designer

Mentor since 2020

Current Mentor

Denver, Calorado

I'm a product / UX designer with a background in landscape architecture. I’ve been creating HCI solutions for 3 years.


Senior UX Designer

@ Meta




95% Match

Schedule meeting

Kathleen Wells

Experience

Mentor Activity

Reviews

11:30 AM EST

2:30 PM EST

1:00 PM EST

Morning

Afternoon

9:00 AM EST

16

MON

17

18

19

20

21

22

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

December

Step 1 of 2

Available Times

Kathleen Wells

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Scheduling Assistant

Select the choices below to request a meeting with your mentor.

Current Mentor

Kathleen Wells

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Scheduling Assistant

Select the choices below to request a meeting with your mentor.

Current Mentor

Welcome!

Tell us about yourself. Create your profile by filling out the information below.

Select from the following.

Select from the following.

Select from the following.

Select from the following.

Select from the following.

Design Review

Interview Help

Other

Where are you from?

Design Focus

Occupation

Gender

What do you need most from a mentorship?

School

Last Name

First Name

Age

Next

Welcome!

Tell us about yourself,

Name

Where are you from?

Occupation

Gender

What do you want to gain from a mentorship?

Surname

Next

Monica

Surrey

New York, USA

UX Designer

Male

Experience, Knowledge

Compatibility Visibility on Dashboard

Compatibility Visibility on Dashboard

02

02

Problem:
Mentees were matched with 20+ mentors but couldn’t easily tell who was the best fit.

Solution:
→ Introduced a “Match %” indicator on each mentor card.
This feature brought clarity to the selection process and helped users feel more confident in their outreach.



Problem:
Mentees were matched with 20+ mentors but couldn’t easily tell who was the best fit.

Solution:
→ Introduced a “Match %” indicator on each mentor card.
This feature brought clarity to the selection process and helped users feel more confident in their outreach.



Based on your preferences, these are the mentors that are best suited for your needs.

Recommended Mentors

20 + Matches

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


Ayodeka Chilombo

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


Tanya Pachetti

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


85%

Match

Emily Flores

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


85%

Match

85%

Match

85%

Match

Find Mentor

Your Mentor

You are currently not assigned a mentor.

9

9

UX Design Mentee

Julia Yun

2

Available Now

Technology

UX Design

Expertise Level

Languages

Industry Type

Gender

Industry Level

Design Focus

Skill Set

Location

Ethnicity


fits your mentor preferences by 85%

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Incompatible

Compatible

done

Expertise Level

Languages

Industry Type

Gender

Industry Level

Design Focus

Skill Set

Location

Ethnicity


fits your mentor preferences by 85%

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Incompatible

Compatible

done

Home V1

Home V2

Mentor Match Details

Added the mentor messages

at the top of the page to make

it more accessible to the user

Details explaining mentor

compatibility rating

Added interactive

mentor matches

percentage indicator

Redesigned navigation

bar icons to align with

the new design language

Based on your preferences, these are the mentors that are best suited for your needs.

Recommended Mentors

20 + Matches

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


Ayodeka Chilombo

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


Tanya Pachetti

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


85%

Match

Emily Flores

Senior UX Designer

@ Meta



Profile

Schedule

Helps with:

UX Design, interviewing, prototyping, portfolio reviews


85%

Match

85%

Match

85%

Match

Find Mentor

Your Mentor

You are currently not assigned a mentor.

9

9

UX Design Mentee

Julia Yun

2

Available Now

Technology

UX Design

Expertise Level

Languages

Industry Type

Gender

Industry Level

Design Focus

Skill Set

Location

Ethnicity


fits your mentor preferences by 85%

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Incompatible

Compatible

done

Expertise Level

Languages

Industry Type

Gender

Industry Level

Design Focus

Skill Set

Location

Ethnicity


fits your mentor preferences by 85%

Ronin Kahr

Senior UX Designer

Incompatible

Compatible

done

Home V1

Home V2

Mentor Match Details

Added the mentor messages

at the top of the page to make

it more accessible to the user

Details explaining mentor

compatibility rating

Added interactive

mentor matches

percentage indicator

Redesigned navigation

bar icons to align with

the new design language

© 2025 Ayushi Choudhary | Made with

Using Framer

© 2025 Ayushi Choudhary | Made with

Using Framer

© 2025 Ayushi Choudhary | Made with

Using Framer