Tutorly: Matching Students for Peer Learning
Led the UX design for Tutorly, a peer tutoring platform built to bridge the gap between students through personalized academic support. Directed end-to-end design process starting with comprehensive user research and detailed persona creation. Designed core functional suite including personalized recommendation system for finding matches, integrated messaging interface, and data-driven progress tracking dashboard. Conducted iterative usability testing using student feedback to refine navigation and feature set. Project achieved final evaluation score above 85% and was selected for showcase at University of Toronto Scarborough Undergraduate Research Symposium 2024.
Skills & Technologies
Bridging Students Through Personalized Peer Learning
Tutorly reimagines academic support by connecting students directly with peers who excel in subjects where they struggle. Rather than relying on expensive professional tutors or impersonal study groups, Tutorly creates personalized one-on-one learning relationships based on academic strengths, learning styles, and scheduling compatibility. The platform transforms peer tutoring from an ad-hoc arrangement into a structured, trackable, and rewarding experience for both tutors and learners. By empowering students to teach and learn from each other, Tutorly builds academic communities where knowledge flows freely, confidence grows mutually, and success becomes collaborative rather than competitive.
Why Peer-to-Peer Learning?
Students often understand their peers' struggles better than professional instructors because they recently overcame the same challenges. A classmate who aced calculus last semester remembers exactly where the confusion happens and can explain concepts in relatable language without academic jargon. Yet finding the right peer tutor is frustratingly difficult. You might not know who's strong in organic chemistry, when they're available, or if they even want to help. Tutorly was born from recognizing this matching problem as a design challenge. By creating a platform where students can advertise their strengths, discover learning opportunities, and track progress together, Tutorly makes peer tutoring accessible, reliable, and mutually beneficial. It transforms "Can you help me with this?" from a awkward ask into a structured learning relationship that benefits both parties.
Key Features
Personalized Recommendation System
Matching algorithm that analyzes student profiles (courses taken, grades, tutoring preferences, learning styles) to suggest ideal tutor-learner pairings. The system considers subject expertise depth, teaching experience, availability overlap, campus proximity, and personality compatibility indicators. Recommendations prioritize quality matches over quantity, presenting 3-5 high-fit suggestions rather than overwhelming users with options.
Integrated Messaging Interface
In-app chat system designed specifically for academic communication. Features include sharing course materials (PDFs, images, links), scheduling session times with calendar integration, setting learning goals collaboratively, and asking quick questions between sessions. Message threads are organized by subject to keep conversations focused and searchable.
Progress Tracking Dashboard
Visual analytics showing completed sessions, hours tutored/learned, subjects covered, and performance trends over time. Tutors can log session notes, attach practice problems, and mark concept mastery milestones. Learners see their growth trajectory visualized through charts tracking topic confidence before and after sessions. Both parties can export progress reports for academic portfolios or resume building.
User Research-Driven Personas
Developed through comprehensive interviews with both struggling students and high-achieving peers willing to tutor. Created detailed personas representing different user motivations: "The Struggling Learner" (needs affordable, patient help), "The Altruistic Tutor" (wants to give back to community), "The Resume Builder" (seeks teaching experience for career goals), and "The Subject Enthusiast" (loves their major and enjoys explaining it). Each persona informed specific design decisions around messaging tone, feature prioritization, and incentive structures.
Iterative Usability Testing
Conducted multiple rounds of testing with University of Toronto students using progressively refined prototypes. Early tests revealed navigation confusion around "Find a Tutor" vs "Become a Tutor" entry points, leading to redesigned onboarding that asks user intent upfront. Later tests identified need for "Quick Question" feature allowing brief help requests without committing to full tutoring relationships. Final testing validated simplified messaging interface and progress dashboard clarity.
Mobile-First Design System
Complete UI design prioritizing mobile experience where students naturally seek help—on the bus, between classes, late-night study sessions. Design system includes reusable components: subject tag pills (color-coded by discipline), availability calendars (optimized for small screens), tutor profile cards (scannable at a glance), and session booking flows (three taps maximum). Maintains consistency across iOS and Android while respecting platform conventions for gestures and navigation patterns.
Tools & Technologies
Figma
Designed complete mobile application including dual onboarding flows (tutor vs learner), personalized match browsing screens, detailed tutor profiles, integrated messaging interface, session booking calendar, and progress tracking dashboard. Created interactive prototype demonstrating full user journeys from signup to completed tutoring relationship.
User Research Methods
Conducted semi-structured interviews with 15+ students across different academic disciplines and performance levels. Used affinity mapping to synthesize pain points, created user journey maps highlighting emotional highs and lows of seeking tutoring help, and developed personas representing diverse student motivations and needs.
Usability Testing
Ran moderated usability tests with 8 participants across 3 testing rounds. Used think-aloud protocol to identify navigation confusion, friction points in booking flow, and unclear messaging. Iterated designs based on feedback, measuring task completion rates and time-on-task improvements between versions.
Wireframing
Started with low-fidelity sketches to explore multiple layout options for key screens (match browsing, tutor profiles, messaging). Progressed to mid-fidelity wireframes for testing information architecture and interaction patterns before committing to visual design. Used rapid iteration to test 5+ navigation structures before selecting final approach.
Academic Recognition and Career Relevance
Tutorly achieved a final evaluation score above 85% in the UX design course and was selected for showcase at the University of Toronto Scarborough Undergraduate Research Symposium 2024, where it was presented to faculty, students, and industry professionals. This recognition validated the project's user-centered approach, demonstrating that thorough research, iterative testing, and thoughtful design can solve real student pain points in measurable ways.
From a learning perspective, Tutorly taught critical lessons about designing for two-sided marketplaces where both user groups (tutors and learners) must find value simultaneously. The project reinforced that successful platforms require deep empathy for users' emotional states (seeking academic help is vulnerable and anxiety-inducing, while offering to tutor risks rejection or imposter syndrome). Designing for these sensitivities meant crafting encouraging copy, low-commitment entry points, and features that celebrate small wins to reduce stigma around struggling academically.
This project directly applies to UX and product design careers where conducting user research, translating insights into features, and iterating based on feedback are core skills. Tutorly demonstrates the ability to navigate complex user needs, design intuitive mobile experiences, and create systems that foster meaningful human connections (all critical competencies for building products that genuinely improve users' lives). The peer tutoring domain also showcases understanding of education technology, a rapidly growing field where thoughtful design can democratize access to learning support.