BeReal. logoCurrently an Extern @BeReal.
Mahika Shah portrait

Aspiring Product Designer

I'm a senior at UC Merced with a passion for technology and problem-solving, currently gaining valuable experience in design

Work samples

Discover my work in computer engineering, showcasing projects that reflect my skills and commitment to innovation.

About me

I'm a senior at UC Merced with a passion for technology and problem-solving, currently gaining valuable experience in design

I design for real people in situations existing technology has ignored. For Alzheimer's patients, I designed a therapeutic smart object grounded in caregiver interviews and observational research — not just an interface, but an object people trust enough to use every day. Most recently, I'm building Calibrate for Hack Your Summer, an AI study coach that replaces generic advice and debunks ideas like "learning styles," with methods backed by actual research.

Externships

BeReal Product Management Externship

BeReal.

Experience

Product Management Extern

BeReal (via Extern) · Jul 2026 - Present

UX Engineer Intern

GotGame · Jun 2025 - Jul 2026

Product Designer & Engineer, Founding Team

Owting · Jan 2025 - Jun 2025

Education

University of California, Merced

B.S. Computer Science & Engineering · Class of 2026

Skills

Computer EngineeringAI EngineeringBusiness IntelligenceAI Workflow DesignAI-Enhanced DesignArtificial IntelligenceB2B MarketingClaudeProduct Roadmapping
Back to works

Calibrate - AI Study Coach

I created an AI study coach that transcended generic advice and questioned notions like "learning styles." It employed research-backed methods such as active recall, spaced repetition, practice problems, and the Feynman technique, which improved learning effectiveness and fostered better study

FigmaUX ResearchAI Feature DesignFront-end

Overview

I created an AI study coach that transcended generic advice and questioned notions like "learning styles." It employed research-backed methods such as active recall, spaced repetition, practice problems, and the Feynman technique, which improved learning effectiveness and fostered better study

What I've accomplished

I defined the product scope and MVP boundaries for a 3-4 week build cycle, concentrating on the core experiment loop of technique testing and feedback capture, while minimizing less critical features to adhere to timeline constraints. Additionally, I crafted a behavioral onboarding flow to make the user flow accessible for a 3-week timeline.

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Alzheimer's Sensory Fidget Device

Designed a sensor-enabled therapeutic device for early-to-moderate Alzheimer's patients; validated interaction model through caregiver interviews and observational research. Prototyped a weighted charging enclosure with auto-placement detection, reducing caregiver friction in daily charging workflow

FigmaFusion 360UX Research

Overview

Designed a sensor-enabled therapeutic device for early-to-moderate Alzheimer's patients; validated interaction model through caregiver interviews and observational research. Prototyped a weighted charging enclosure with auto-placement detection, reducing caregiver friction in daily charging workflow

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✅ Verified by Extern · ⏱️ In progress

BeReal Product Management Externship

Discover how product teams at social apps like BeReal design for authenticity while driving user growth. In this externship, you’ll explore what keeps users coming back— benchmarking competitors, analyzing engagement features, and designing your own growth-driven app feature. You’ll learn how to balance product innovation with BeReal’s unique mission of real, unfiltered connection. Perfect for those interested in product management, UX strategy, or social media innovation, this experience gives you a hands-on look at how product teams grow platforms without losing their core values.

DesignUI/UXProduct Management

Overview

During my externship with BeReal, I examined how product teams in social apps design for authenticity while fostering user growth. I benchmarked competitors, analyzed user engagement features, and developed a growth-oriented app feature, all while aligning with BeReal’s mission of promoting genuine connections.

BeReal Product Management Externship

What I've accomplished

I produced a detailed end-to-end user journey map for BeReal that recorded users' thoughts and feelings, flagged the two-minute prompt as a common pain point, and identified the Connect stage as the most delightful moment.

Project breakdown

During the BeReal externship I mapped the full user journey from discovery to reflection, documented five stages (Discover, Prompt, Capture, Connect, Reflect), noted thoughts and emotions at each stage, and highlighted the notification timing as a key frustration.

During the benchmarking project I identified and documented key product features for BeReal and TikTok, mapped how each feature drove retention and engagement, and produced a side-by-side comparison table summarizing theme scores and representative quotes.

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