Redesigning UPSC preparation to make practice more engaging, intuitive, and rewarding.
Try it.
Owned the full product cycle: research, UX, UI, brand and prototype.
Responsible for every module I shipped, Feb to July.
A senior design consultant mentored direction.
From the job to my own project.
It worked. It just felt generic.
Two voices. One brand.
What I picked.
More than a mascot. A mentor for the journey.
Why it sits there.
Practice first. Then compete.
Meet the Duel.
Why gamify UPSC prep?
Tension, without panic.
One idea. Fifteen seconds.
A loss that teaches.
Rank beside your growth.
Designed with AI tools.
What I took away.
Download Prayas AI AppREDESIGN
Brand Redesign
Visual styling
Product design
Gamification
AFTER · REDESIGNED HOME
PROPOSED · DUEL QUESTION
10,000+
App downloads
6 mo
Feb to July
1
designer, end to end
★ 4+
Play Store rating
Redesigning UPSC preparation to make practice more engaging, intuitive, and rewarding.
BEFORE
→
PROTOTYPE
Try it.
Go on, tap it.
01
ABOUT ME
Shubham Mestry
Product designer on Prayas AI
02
TIMELINE
From the job to my own project.
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
FEB – JUL
Full-time product designer at Prayas AI
SEP – OCT
My own redesign
Break
Sep: start. Oct: refine and build the prototype.
TONE OF VOICE
Two voices. One brand.
03
MOOD BOARD
What I picked.
navy + serif
rewards, but serious
serif italic
badge + league
gold ticket
a friendly moment
coins
podium
illustrated badges
calm cards
minimal quiz UI
WHAT I PICKED
Navy
Brand blue
Accent
White
Gold
04
CHARACTER DESIGN · PRODUCT THINKING
More than a mascot. A mentor for the journey.
UPSC is a long journey. You shouldn’t study alone.
Preparing for UPSC can feel overwhelming. I introduced an AI mentor so learning feels more guided, approachable and supportive.
EXPERIENCE MODEL
Practice first. Then compete.
and back to practice
06
UPSC DUEL
Meet the Duel.
A live 1v1 quiz that makes practice feel like a match.
7
questions a match
15s
per question
1v1
live opponent
Monthly
league + prizes
07
RESEARCH
Why gamify UPSC prep?
THE ASPIRANT
Serious, time-poor, high stakes
THE CONSTRAINT
Gamified, but never childish
THE BORROW
QuizUp: competition. KBC: pressure.
WHAT MOTIVATES PLAYERS · 8 DRIVES
My review of v1. Not measured data.
HYPOTHESIS
If practice feels challenging, social and rewarding, users return.
Daily activity ↑ Repeat practice ↑
Referrals ↑ Motivation ↑
08
01
UPSC DUEL · MATCHMAKING
Find a fair fight.
Shows level and topic before you start.
Try the prototype ↗
02
UPSC DUEL · VERSUS
Tension, without panic.
A 3-2-1 entry. You see who you are facing.
03
UPSC DUEL · QUESTION
One idea. Fifteen seconds.
Score, timer and options. Nothing else competes.
04
UPSC DUEL · RESULT
A loss that teaches.
Win or lose, you see XP and what to do next.
05
UPSC DUEL · LEAGUE
Rank beside your growth.
See your rank among players near you.
HOW I BUILT IT
Designed with AI tools.
Claude
research, copy, code
Figma
design and prototype
Framer
site and live prototype
Figma Motion
animation
CONCLUSION
09
What I took away.
Time is valuable.
Every minute spent learning matters when someone’s career is on the line.
Research first.
Talk to aspirants and subject experts before deciding what to design.
Design with intent.
Every interaction should help learners understand, practise or improve.
The Duel is a proposed design, not live. Nothing here is measured yet.
Download Prayas AI App
Good EdTech doesn’t just deliver content. It respects the learner’s time and future.
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