Introduction
This project, called Bridgepal, is a mentorship program for schools that helps transfer students adjust socially, emotionally, and academically by pairing them with mentors who provide guidance and support. The project initially started based off a past of transferring, and from that, came the idea creating something to also help transfer students in their journey.
Product
The app is designed to help students connect with former mentors so they can give guidance and support to other students. The first idea was to create a website, but it’s easy to assume it was not going to really connect students with mentors as easily. Additionally, many schools don’t allow students to exchange numbers with any staff at the building.
Unique Value
Unlike other mentorship programs that are short term or only focus on academics, BridgePal focuses on the students. It creates long term connections by pairing transfer students with trained mentors who stay with them throughout their school journey. Many programs exist outside of school or require payment, but BridgePal is integrated directly within the school system, making it free and accessible. It not only supports learning but also emotional health and social belonging. Students gain confidence as they form real relationships with their mentors. The program’s unique structure helps reduce dropout rates and improves overall student happiness.
Competition
One of the competitors in this field would be UpKey. UpKey is a career development service that helps high school and college students prepare for the real world. This is one of the top competitors because this program offers help to new students who may not know their way around, as well as giving them support in their careers. It’s a program that is designed to propel new students into the professional world with all the help and guidance they need. Another one of the competitors is a program called Interexchange. This program is meant to help international students become more familiar with the United States, and how to fit in here. It offers resources to help them connect with the international community and find a place they can be comfortable.
Personas
The first grouping of the people that were interviewed were the strategist type that included Carlos Ramirez. Carlos is a 22 year old single male living in NYC who majors in business. Carlos is a motivated transfer student who moved to New York City in hopes to achieve his dreams as a business student. He is highly organized and strategic and is someone who likes to make the most of his resources and time, however, he had to go through the troubles and complexities of transferring credits and meeting new people. The second grouping of people that were interviewed were The Explorer type, which included a girl called Maria Gonzalez. Maria is a 20 year old college student who lives in New York City. She is an international student who came to the United States to improve her studies and career. However upon moving here, she became easily disheartened at how different it was here and how hard it is for her to adjust.
Cultural Revelance
Every transfer student brings a unique story, culture, and experience to their new school. The program teaches mentors how to respect differences and create supportive environments where everyone feels valued. Activities such as cultural events, school spirit days, and shared projects help break social barriers. BridgePal also encourages mentors and mentees to learn from one another, promoting kindness and mutual respect. By celebrating diversity, the program builds stronger, more compassionate communities within schools. This focus on culture goes beyond just events it’s about everyday understanding. Mentors are trained to be open minded and curious about each student’s background. Through this, BridgePal helps students appreciate what makes their peers unique.
Visual Identity
The original visual approach of the project to the design is also shown throughout the book where we can see the before and after of the changes that were made. My initial ideation also showed how the project process came about and how these rough ideas started to create this design. As the project was able to progress onto creating more design elements like patterns and illustrations to match with the overall brand, the project continued in this new path. In the process i had also noticed that the original colors looked somewhat dull and didn’t contrast well with one another. As for the logo, it was not symmetrical, and a lot of the design needed to be fixed. At first I wanted to use purple because most of the competitors used blue or bright colors.
Marketing Strategy
BridgePal’s marketing strategy focuses on reaching students directly through their schools and digital spaces. Schools can host welcome events where mentors meet new transfer students and share their experiences. Social media campaigns on platforms like Instagram and TikTok can help spread awareness and make the program feel modern and relatable. Collaboration with school clubs and student councils will strengthen visibility and engagement. By combining in person outreach with digital marketing, BridgePal ensures every transfer student knows they have a place to belong.