Mastermentors: Revolutionizing Education through Digital Platforms

A Unified Digital Learning Experience for Students and Mentors

The Indian education system is in need of a revolution, and Mastermentors, a digital platform designed by Rounak Bose, aims to do just that. Inspired by the need for free expression and the sharing of unheard stories, Mastermentors provides a space for local talented professionals to showcase their expertise and mentor aspiring students. This innovative platform focuses not only on the student experience but also on the mentor experience, creating a unified digital learning experience for both parties.

What sets Mastermentors apart from other teaching platforms is its emphasis on attracting talented mentors who, in turn, attract a large student base. By providing a visual voice to these upcoming mentors, Mastermentors ensures that students have the opportunity to learn from the best in their fields. The design of the platform cleverly strategizes onboarding and retention of mentors and students, making it a truly unique and effective learning platform.

The design of Mastermentors was realized using the responsive website design paradigm, with a pixel-perfect high-fidelity prototype created using Figma and InVision. The platform is a Progressive Web App built using ReactJS, with a Firebase and NodeJS backend. Additionally, a mobile application service for Android, iOS, and iPadOS was developed using Flutter. This combination of technologies ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience for both mentors and students.

Mastermentors is not just a website; it is a comprehensive online teaching and learning platform. The website features dynamic visual information, showcasing the top courses from all the mentors and providing profiles for each mentor. Engaging blogs provide additional incentive for users to join courses and learn from the masters. The user journey has been carefully crafted to attract prospective students and potential mentors, creating a vibrant community of learners and experts.

The Mastermentors project started in November 2019 and was completed in February 2020 in Kolkata, India. Extensive research was conducted to define the target audience and their needs, using qualitative research tools such as stakeholder maps, personas, and concept maps. Interviews with mentors, local talents, and students helped shape the information architecture and refine the design through multiple iterations. The result is a platform that has already gained significant traction, with multiple celebrities onboarded and over 50 courses purchased within just one month of its launch.

One of the main challenges in designing Mastermentors was finding the right balance between refinement and simplification. The focus was on functionality and usability, ensuring a polished user experience without overwhelming the users with unnecessary information or flashy visuals. The design successfully guides the user's attention across the website, providing a clean and structured interface that is visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Mastermentors has been recognized for its excellence in design, receiving the Iron A' Design Award in the Website and Web Design category in 2021. This prestigious award is given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. Mastermentors stands out for its integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to a better world through the fulfillment and positive feelings it provides to its users.

Mastermentors is a testament to the power of digital platforms in revolutionizing education. By providing a space for local talented professionals to share their expertise and mentor aspiring students, Mastermentors is transforming the way we learn and grow. With its unique design and focus on the mentor experience, Mastermentors offers a truly unified digital learning experience that is both engaging and impactful.