Solution
To address the lack of authentic college insights and the logistical challenges of peer mentorship, the solution is a centralized, dual-panel platform. The design prioritizes a modern, minimal, and scalable interface to keep the focus on human connection rather than complex navigation.
Frictionless Matchmaking - Instead of a standard directory, the platform uses an interest-based filtering system. Students can input their desired course, location, and budget, and the system surfaces verified mentors (current college students) matching those exact criteria.
Integrated Communication (The Core Value) - To ensure privacy and a seamless experience, the platform hosts the 1-on-1 video calls directly within the browser. Users do not need to exchange phone numbers or third-party links (like Zoom/Google Meet). The integrated call room includes an automated timer that aligns with the paid session length, ensuring mentors are fairly compensated for their exact time.
Trust & Verification System - To combat the anxiety of making the wrong choice, the UI incorporates visual trust signals: "Verified Student" badges for mentors, structured rating/review systems post-call, and transparent profiles detailing the mentor's exact semester and major.
The Dual-Panel Ecosystem :
For Students (Discovery & Booking) - A streamlined journey from browsing mentors to selecting an available time slot. The booking flow utilizes a clean, step-by-step calendar interface with upfront pricing to build trust.
For Mentors (Management & Monetization) - A dedicated, distraction-free dashboard. It features an easy-to-toggle availability calendar and an automated wallet system that tracks earnings per meeting, solving the pain point of chasing payments.
Research & Insights
Competitive Analysis - Existing college aggregator websites provide generic data (fees, courses) but lack human interaction. Platforms that do offer mentorship are often broad and not specifically tailored to campus-level feedback.
Student Pain Points -
Trust deficit in official college marketing.
Anxiety about making the wrong college choice.
Difficulty finding and reaching out to authentic alumni on platforms like LinkedIn.
Mentor Pain Points -
Willingness to help, but lack of a structured, safe platform to do so.
Need for automated scheduling to avoid endless back-and-forth messaging.
Desire for guaranteed, hassle-free compensation for their time.
Goals
To design a seamless, intuitive platform that facilitates genuine peer-to-peer mentorship. The core objectives are:
To create a frictionless college discovery and filtering experience for prospective students.
To build a secure, easy-to-manage booking and integrated video-call system.
To design a dedicated, motivating mentor panel that handles scheduling, meeting requests, and
transparent payment tracking per session.
Target Audience
The platform serves a two-sided marketplace, requiring distinct user personas:
Primary Users (The Seekers/Students) - High school students (11th/12th grade), recent graduates, or diploma holders who are actively researching colleges and feeling overwhelmed by the lack of authentic information.
Secondary Users (The Mentors) - Current college students or recent alumni looking for flexible, remote opportunities to monetize their time and share their firsthand campus experiences.
Problem Statement
Choosing the right college is one of the most critical decisions in a student's life, yet the process is often clouded by glossy marketing brochures and biased online reviews. Prospective students lack access to authentic, unfiltered insights regarding campus life, academic rigor, and placement realities. They need a transparent, reliable way to connect directly with current students to get real-time feedback before making a financial and educational commitment.
Product
Campus Decode - EdTech
Platform
Website
Languages
English
A dual-sided EdTech platform designed to bridge the gap between prospective students and current college attendees through paid, 1-on-1 video consultations.
Campus Decode
Output
The final solution resulted in a modern, minimal, and scalable design system accommodating two distinct user panels.
Student Panel:
Discovery Feed - An intuitive search and filter interface to find colleges by location, course, and ranking.
Booking Flow - A low-friction calendar interface to schedule and pay for live video calls.
Mentor Profiles - Detailed cards showing the mentor's current course, year, rating, and availability.
Mentor Panel:
Dashboard - A centralized hub to track upcoming meetings, pending requests, and total earnings.
Wallet/Payout System - A transparent ledger showing earnings per meeting and withdrawal options.
Availability Manager - A calendar tool to block out study hours and open up mentorship slots.
Campus
Dec de
EdTech 1-on-1 video consultations
Student Panel:
Mentor Panel:
