With TMP's emphasis on the personal nature of mentoring and their reputation for fostering meaningful human interactions, our exploration began with an appreciation for the unique blend of human connection and technological integration.
How might we augment TMP’s support mechanisms to increase access, relevancy, and timeliness of services for mentoring programs without taxing TMP’s small team?
Our first prototype concept is an AI-generated newsletter aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the existing TMP monthly newsletter. While the existing newsletter serves as a valuable source of information, our interviews with mentoring programs revealed some limitations. Many programs revealed uncertainty about receiving them, leading to low readership. Moreover, the content of the newsletters primarily consists of upcoming events and recent news, which may not fully meet the diverse needs of busy nonprofits.
By leveraging AI, the newsletter can analyze the type of organization receiving it, identify unique requirements, and curate relevant content.
Who's This For?
All mentoring programs, youth-serving organizations subscribed to TMP’s newsletters
Features
Personalized content based on recipient profile and needs
Analyzes diverse range of resources available to curate content
What Does It Do?
Increases readership and engagement among mentoring programs by providing valuable information that aligns with their goals
Facilitates enhanced knowledge sharing and collaboration
02
Search accessibility
The second concept aims to improve search accessibility of TMP’s current website experience. To enhance search, the tool would guide (for example) a youth-mentoring program through a personalized journey by asking questions to understand the purpose of visiting the website as well as specific needs and challenges, ultimately recommending relevant trainings and resources. Furthermore, it will also leverage AI to dynamically suggest content based on user response, providing tailored recommendations for program enhancements.
Who's This For?
Mentoring programs seeking support from TMP
Features
Home page restructuring
Personalized journey
Content recommendations
What Does It Do?
Simplifies user experience of TMP website
Guides users through a personalized journey to identify
Enhances engagement and interaction within mentoring industry
03
Resource sharing
The third concept revolves around enhancing the valuable resources and practical insight to mentoring providers, by leveraging existing mentoring tips distributed by TMP. It will present real-world case studies showcasing successful mentoring practice implemented by organizations within TMP’s network, demonstrating effective mentorship in action.
Who's This For?
Mentoring programs leaders
Mentors and adults seeking guidance on effective mentoring
Features
Real-world case studies
Sharing functionality
Community engagement
What Does It Do?
Enables easy sharing of educational content and resources
Facilitates learning from successful implementations
04
Personalized mentoring tips
Our fourth prototype aims to provide support in automated, non-human ways for resource and service questions that may not always require a TMP staff member to answer it. It is designed to empower mentoring program leaders, mentors, and individuals who are seeking guidance on effective mentoring practices. Through real-time interaction with a chatbot, users can receive tailored tips and practical insights to enhance their mentoring skills. Additionally, the chatbot can assist users in connecting them with other organizations. By leveraging technology, this chatbot streamlines the process of accessing resources and fosters a more efficient mentorship ecosystem.
Who's This For?
Mentoring programs leaders
Mentors and adults seeking guidance on effective mentoring
Features
Real-time tips and insights
Introduction to recommended organizations
What Does It Do?
Provides personalized mentoring tips
Offers suggestions for organizations upon request
Facilitates introductions for deeper engagement
Looking Back
The exploration of these prototypes embodies TMP's commitment to augmenting support mechanisms for mentoring programs, aligning with their mission to increase access, relevancy, and timeliness of services without overburdening their small team.
By embracing these prototypes, TMP can empower mentoring programs with the tools and resources they need to thrive, ultimately amplifying their impact on mentees and mentors.
Next Steps
We plan to discuss these concepts with our clients, collaborate in co-design sessions, and ultimately, converge these ideas into one in the summer. To validate these concepts, we will conduct usability testing and continue iterating our designs. By the end of the summer, we will present a fully realized prototype that addresses the challenges identified in our research.
