TutorNextDoor
Project Overview
I designed a tutoring app that enables students to book sessions tailored to their preferred learning styles, while giving tutors the tools to list, manage, and promote their services. I independently handled the UX design in Figma, prioritizing accessibility and creating a smooth, user-friendly navigation experience from start to finish.
My Role
Solo UX/UI Designer
Tools
Project Duration
Dec - March 2025
My Responsibilities
Conducted Competitive analysis
Created user personas and user flows
Wireframes to High Fidelity Prototype
Developed a clear information architecture
Responsive layouts for mobile and desktop
Accessibility and usability best practices
The Problem
Finding a trustworthy learning experience is challenging for both students and parents. Existing platforms lack transparent pricing, and offer limited ways for students to learn. There’s a need for a tutoring platform that provides simplicity, are upfront about their prices, and a better learning experience with tailored learning experiences. Additionally, a platform that supports better learning experiences through tailored matching, and gives new tutors an accessible way to start offering their services.
The Goal
TutorNextDoor simplifies the tutoring experience by offering an affordable and flexible platform where tutors can prepare and adapt to each student's preferred learning style. For tutors, the platform provides an easy way to list services, start anytime, and verify their credentials with a simple ID check—perfect for those looking to gain experience rather than already have it.
Design Process
Most tutoring apps focus on subjects and schedules. However its been overdue how we missed a certain type of teaching — where students pick how they like to learn, whether that’s visual, hands-on, reading-based, or anything in between. It’s all about matching teaching styles to learning styles, so lessons can be taught with a catered experience!
Understand
I began by analyzing the online learning environment and the need to identify a platform that connects both students seeking help and tutors looking for opportunities effectively while accommodating different learning styles and schedules.
Empathize
I created user personas, identified key pain points, and analyzed competitors to gain deeper insight into user struggles, such as finding tutors by specific learning styles and providing tutors with flexible ways to offer their services.
Define
I defined the problem: students need a simple and trustworthy way to find the right tutor based on budget and learning preferences, while tutors need an accessible platform to showcase their skills and have opportunities to list their services.
Ideate
I ideated and sketched solutions to tackle user challenges, emphasizing features that support learning style compatibility and offer valuable resources for both learners and tutors.
Prototype & Reflect
I designed from low fidelity to high fidelity mockups for student and tutor flows, structuring the interface to be intuitive, clean, and easy to navigate. Throughout the process, I reflected on ways to improve accessibility, balance both user needs, and identified areas for future user testing and refinement.
Competitive Audit
User Research
For this project, I conducted secondary research and a competitive analysis of existing tutoring platforms. I initially assumed affordability and tutor availability would be the main issues. However, user reviews and competitor features revealed that tutor-student compatibility and learning-style preferences were also key concerns. On the tutor side, users ranged from seasoned educators to those who are starting out and struggle to gain for visibility. I also saw the need for cleaner, more efficient resources, like teaching tools, helpful articles, and reliable communication—to support both sides. These insights led me to focus not only on cost and availability, but also on improved tutor matching, profile customization, and support meaningful, trustworthy interactions in order to promote a platform experience built on trust and transparency.
Target Audience
This platform serves two primary user groups. On one side, we have students and parents, looking for tutors who can teach in a way that helps the student retain knowledge, learn more efficiently, and enjoy the process. On the other side are tutors, ranging from experienced educators to those just starting out. Tutors want to showcase their skills and cater to students' learning styles. Given that some tutors are new to the platform, we aim to provide them with the tools and support needed to stand out, ensuring that all tutors have an equitable opportunity to succeed.
Pain Points
Tutor-student compatibility experience
1
Students absorb information differently, and if a tutor’s teaching style doesn’t match, learning becomes inefficient.
Hidden Fees
2
Some sneaky websites may enroll you in a subscription without you noticing and may leave you with recurring charges
Hard to Attract Students
3
New tutors struggle to get noticed on crowded platforms.
No backtrack (recording)
4
Students aren’t able to return to what they learned in any form (e.g video)
User Personas
Joana
“I’m worried that my kids won’t get the help they need to keep up with their teachings in school and excel”
Age:
42
FAMILY:
Married, 3 Kids
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s Degree
OCCUPATION:
Bank Manager
Bio
Goals
Frustrations
Joana is a Bank manager that doesn’t get home until around six. Her children get home a few hours earlier, her children needs tutors to assist them with homework because both of their parents come home late, in addition Joana has to come home and prepare and make dinner.
Choose a tutor who can adapt lessons to each child's learning style
Hire a tutor that is able to assist her kids at the times she is not able to
Minimize the amount of homework stress at home
She needs a reliable, background checked tutor.
How can she be sure the tutor is good and experienced?
Daryl
“It might be asking for a lot but is there a tutor that's flexible, affordable and reliable enough to assist me this semester?”
Age:
19
FAMILY:
Lives with Parents
EDUCATION:
College Student
OCCUPATION:
Student/Part time Barista
Bio
Can I afford this tutor for multiple sessions?
Is it possible to schedule online appointments if I’m still in school?
Will this tutor actually help out
Frustrations
Find a trustworthy tutor who is reliable and genuinely invested in helping students succeed
Find a tutor on the days he doesn’t have work or when he has a free period while he's still in college.
Goals
Daryl is a student who works in a coffee shop part time. He finds that he struggles a bit with schoolwork but believes he can still work and keep up in class with a reliable and trustworthy tutor. However, he wants a tutor with specific requirements such as is the tutor can call him while he’s free in school, and if the tutor is affordable enough where he can have multiple sessions.
Balance work, school, and tutoring without feeling overwhelmed
Benson
Age:
24
FAMILY:
Lives with Parents
EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s Degree
OCCUPATION:
Part Time Tutor and Part Time Student
“I enjoy tutoring, but I would like a system with a fair pay and a schedule that wouldn’t affect my personal studies”
Bio
Build a reputation as a reliable, effective tutor
Frustrations
Goals
Benson is a graduate student looking to make extra money while finishing his master’s degree. He’s an expert in math and computer science he is patient and enjoys helping others understand complex topics as he usually helps his classmates. He wants to find a platform to help others in need for pay and he needs a tutoring schedule that’s flexible and doesn’t interfere with his studies.
Able to set his own hours and find students to assist in subjects of his expertise.
Have opportunities to teach students through a new profile
Sudden Cancellations, how would the platform handle it?
Fair pay, how much would the take from my revenue?
User Journeys
Joana’s User Journey
Know that there isn’t much help home
Action
Find an app that offers tutoring through booking
Provide Information required to schedule a tutor
Find a tutor
Finalize and Pay
Tasks
A. Her husband David and herself are busy parents
B. Determine that her kids need someone with more time to help
C. Look for a way to find them help
Tasks
A. Launch the Play Store / App Store to look for tutor apps
B. Download the
Tutor App preferred.
C. Sign up for a new account
Tasks
A. Start by clicking the “Schedule Now”.
B. Decide the Date and Time desired
C. Select one or more subjects that may be focused for the children
Tasks
A. After putting information that will help with the scheduling, click search
B. Scroll through the catalog of tutors
C. Select a tutor to take a look at
Tasks
A. Finalize the tutor you want by clicking the Schedule button
B. If needed to, you’re able to favorite a tutor to save them into a list
C. Fill in payment information and Click Schedule again to see the confirmation page.
I’m worried that our kids will fall behind in class if they don’t get the help that they might need
I’m happy they allow different time scheduling and multiple subjects and options for learning styles
I’m able to look through a catalog of multiple tutors with their own academic experience, I can click them and take a look.
Just got a tutor lined up, fingers crossed for fewer cries out for homework and more quiet evenings!
Tasks Lists
Feelings Adjective
Improvement
Opportunities
I’m curious if I can find the right tutor and if my kids will be able to retain what they’ll teach
Using an app that will book a tutor for the times they come home from school and while we might be at work or on the way home still
A nice app to find a suitable tutor for multiple kids and guide them through homework
Decide on which tutor would fit the criteria
Decide if the tutor you have selected is the one you want
The app confirms the schedule and sends an email for confirmation, you are able to contact the tutor via the app, email, or number provided on their information.
Daryl’s User Journey
Wants to keep good grades while working part time
Action
Find an app that offers tutoring through booking
Provide Information required to schedule a tutor
Find a tutor
Finalize and Pay
Tasks
A. Struggles in school and works a busy part time
B. Doesn’t want to fall behind in school but also wants to keep job
C. Wants to find someone for him that has flexibility and affordability
Tasks
A. Launch the Play Store / App Store / Website to look for tutor apps
B. Download the
Tutor App preferred.
C. Sign up for a new account
Tasks
A. Start by clicking the “Schedule Now”.
B. Decide the Date and Time desired
C. Select the subjects he needs help in
Tasks
A. After putting information that will help with the scheduling, click search
B. Filter a tutor that fits his budget and goals
C. Select a tutor to take a look at
Tasks
A. Finalize the tutor you want by clicking the Schedule button
B. If needed to, you’re able to favorite a tutor to save them into a list
C. Fill in payment information and Click Schedule again to see the confirmation page.
I don’t want to quit working but if my grades don’t hold up then I have no choice.
Hopeful there's someone that might have a flexible schedule to account for busy people like me
I’m happy that they have different tutors that are affordable, and can be ok with my unbalanced schedule.
I’m able to look through a catalog of multiple tutors with their own academic experience, I can click them and take a look.
I’m finished booking a tutor and I can’t wait for my children to be able to have a less stressful time in school
Tasks Lists
Feelings Adjective
Improvement
Opportunities
Using an app that helps him book the right tutor for the open times they have while being able to have affordables lessons.
An app that provides such flexible tutors and affordable options
Decide on which tutor would fit the time and subject criteria
Decide if the tutor you have selected is the one you want
The website confirms the schedule and sends an email for confirmation, you are able to contact the tutor via the app, email, or number provided on their information.
Benson’s User Journey
Wants to work in his free time as a masters student
Action
Find an app that offers tutoring through booking
Provide Information required to schedule a tutor
Find a tutor
Finalize and Pay
Tasks
A. Look online to look for tutor apps
B. Download TutorsNextDoor
C. Sign up for a new account
Tasks
A. Fill out the given applications
B. Take a picture for Proof of Identification
C. Set up direct deposit details
Tasks
A. Enable a discount for first few tutoring sessions to maximize potential output in attracting students.
B. Customize Personal Profile, set available teaching styles
C. Set availability for tutoring sessions
Tasks
A. Browse student requests or allow students to find the tutor's profile
B. Confirm session times with student
C. Tutoring lesson with student, and give necessary feedback after
I find myself having a lot of free time on the side from my studies, I’m capable of teaching younger kids and potential peers
Hopefully the process of becoming a tutor isn’t too hard and I can build my reputation fast
Tasks Lists
Feelings Adjective
Improvement
Opportunities
Tasks
A. Has subject expertise and wants to tutor during his free time
B. Knows there are peers and also younger students who need extra help
C. Wants a platform to teach to earn on the side.
That was pretty simple, I’m excited and eager to start teaching soon
There’s an option to give a discount, I think I’ll take it to reach more students as a newbie.
It felt satisfying being able communicate the right way in order to help my student understand, looking forward to doing more of these.
Using an app that helps him set up a place for him to be able to sell his services as a tutor for areas in his expertise
An app that provides an area with adjustable standardized pay rates.
An app that provides to new tutors like me some flexibility to adjust pricing for discounts or promotions.
An app that offers more ways to personalize my profile to stand out, such as examples of my tutoring skills. It would be great if there were templates or tips for marketing my services to students.
An app that allows me to receive feedback from both students and parents, helping me improve my teaching style and adjust methods as needed. Preferably through a communication tool in app
User Flow
Design System
Timeline
Mobile Device
Throughout the process from wireframes to high-fidelity mockups, key adjustments were made in layout, color, and visual hierarchy to enhance accessibility and to ensure users won't be overwhelmed and be guided through the primary flow.
This preview simulated interactions based on the final Hi-Fidelity Design, giving a realistic look at the core user flow and overall product experience!
Desktop Devices
THANK YOU!
YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT IS SET
Check your email for your order confirmation
Summary
4
YOUR TUTOR
John Doe
JohnDoe@gmail.com
718-556-9966
Your appointment date:
April 21st 2024 3:45PM
Edit appointment
Tutor Mock
Earnings
Tutor Dashboard
Jayson Mei
Overview
Total Earnings
Recent Sessions
Math Session with Jackie D.
Earnings: $45
Date: February 10, 2025
$45.00
This Month
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
TutorNextDoor
About
Welcome to my profile, this is me!
I'm a dedicated learner and enthusiastic educator with a strong academic background in computer science and a minor in mathematics. I’ve consistently achieved top honors, including a 4.0 GPA and placement on the Dean’s List, while actively contributing to a variety of impactful academic projects. I’m passionate about simplifying complex concepts and helping students enjoy their learning journey.
JohnDoe@gmail.com · 718-556-9966 · $25
John Doe
per hour lesson
Impacts
Impact 1
Learning Styles
1
By learning in a preferred style, students will be able to engage and retain more information that was taught.
Impact 2
Hidden Fees
2
Transparency with pricing will enable trust from users, Users will feel safe, and will always be one booking away WITHOUT surprise charges
Impact 3
Opportunity and Growth
3
Helps new tutors attract students and build up good reviews faster.
Impact 4
Session Recordings
4
Helps students recall what they learned. Students can revisit recorded sessions, reinforcing knowledge and aiding independent study.
Let’s Connect
Hi, I hope that was not too much scrolling to get across!!!
Thank you to anyone who took their time to read my work :)
Any who, this project marks one of my first steps into UX, and I’m excited to keep learning, so feedback would be great! I plan to learn more as I almost blew up my computer learning framer!
Add a review area where tutors can check on their reviews to see what they can improve
Separated Upcoming Sessions for tutor page
Chat Box, that's sticks to the page when scrolling
Next Steps
With this being my first UX project, I quickly realized how crucial accessibility and consistency are across every part of the design process. Accessibility is something to think about as you go through your project every step of the way. Consistent design patterns also plays a big role in creating a smoother experience for users and reinforcing the WHY behind the project. Since this was my first time building a full project from scratch, I went through multiple rounds of reviewing, reflecting, and redesigning. That process taught me that iteration is not a sign of failure, but a necessary part of growth. Each redesign helped me get closer to a clearer, more user-friendly product. I've also learned to be more thoughtful with my design decisions and to consider the overall experience—not just how things look, but how they work and feel for real users
Lessons Learned
Lessons and Next Steps
Email: jaysonmei1337@gmail.com