A Dynamic Digital Platform Connecting Industry Experts With Knowledge Seekers Through Personalized Coaching

👤 Role: Team Lead ****🏷️ Project Type: Behavioural Design, Psychology, Interaction Design ****👤 Supervisor: Joris Groen ****👥 Team Members: Deniz, Fai, Harry ****📅 Year: Feb 2025

Overview

Coach.Space is a specialized online platform extending Harbour.Space University's commitment to practical, industry-led education to a broader audience. As part of a multidisciplinary team, I helped develop a comprehensive digital ecosystem that connects industry professionals with individuals seeking expert guidance across four key domains: business, marketing, technology, and design.

Key Objectives:

• Create a digital platform connecting industry experts with knowledge seekers
• Develop a flexible scheduling and session management system
• Design an intuitive user experience for both coaches and clients
• Establish a quality assurance framework for coach verification
• Build a sustainable business model balancing accessibility with premium value
• Integrate with HSU's existing educational ecosystem

[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zXtBjcbSaIRHI55az3y-_I8nm2RS6PbQ/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zXtBjcbSaIRHI55az3y-_I8nm2RS6PbQ/view?usp=sharing)

Challenge

In today's rapidly evolving professional landscape, traditional educational models often fail to provide the specialized, practical guidance needed for career advancement. Many professionals and aspiring practitioners struggle to find mentors with relevant industry experience who can provide personalized guidance. Meanwhile, industry experts with valuable knowledge lack efficient channels to share their expertise beyond traditional teaching roles.

Solution

Coach.Space - a specialized digital platform that creates meaningful connections between industry practitioners and knowledge seekers. The platform focuses on facilitating one-on-one coaching sessions across four key professional domains, leveraging HSU's network of industry educators while expanding to include additional vetted experts. Through flexible scheduling, virtual meeting infrastructure, and specialized categorization, Coach.Space delivers practical, experience-based guidance tailored to individual needs.

Process & Methodology

Research & Discovery

• Analyzed existing professional coaching and mentorship platforms
• Surveyed potential users to understand pain points in finding relevant industry guidance
• Conducted interviews with HSU faculty to identify opportunities and challenges
• Mapped the coaching journey from both coach and client perspectives

Concept Development

• Defined core platform requirements based on research insights
• Created user personas for both coaches and clients
• Developed service blueprints outlining key touchpoints and interactions
• Established verification protocols to ensure coaching quality

Design Implementation

• Designed user flows for coach onboarding, session booking, and payment processes
• Created wireframes and prototypes for core platform interfaces
• Developed visual identity elements reflecting professionalism and expertise
• Integrated feedback mechanisms and quality assurance systems

Business Model Development

• Established pricing strategies balancing accessibility with competitive compensation
• Created subscription model options for ongoing mentorship relationships
• Developed revenue sharing frameworks between platform, coaches, and HSU
• Outlined growth strategies for scaling the coach network

Outcomes & Results

Developing the Coach.Space concept provided valuable insights into digital platform design and educational service delivery:

1. Trust Mechanisms: We discovered the critical importance of verification systems and transparency in building trust between strangers in a coaching relationship.
2. Scheduling Complexity: The challenge of balancing flexibility with structure required thoughtful design solutions that respect both coaches' and clients' time constraints.
3. Value Perception: Pricing strategies needed careful calibration to communicate expertise value while remaining accessible to target audiences.
4. Platform-Human Balance: The most effective coaching platforms facilitate human connections rather than replacing them with technological solutions.
5. Expertise Categorization: Creating meaningful knowledge domains required balancing specificity with breadth to make expertise discoverable.

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"The most effective behavioral design doesn't push users toward action; it removes the invisible barriers preventing them from taking actions they already desire.”

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