How to find the right mentor, with BDF’s Luke Tonge and The Arena’s Lauren Archer and Dom Edwards

There is no age barrier to good advice, and contrary to common misconceptions, mentors are not just for the young or newly graduated. While your colleagues may be willing to answer work-related questions, there is a time and place for career guidance and portfolio feedback. This is where having a mentor can be extremely helpful as they can provide not only portfolio and CV advice but also general support throughout your career.

We sought the insights of mentor maestros, The Arena, a not-for-profit creative community and mentoring platform run by run by Lauren Archer and Dom Edwards. Birmingham Design Festival Co-founder, graphic designer and experienced industry mentor Luke Tonge also offers his advice.

Why should you consider finding a mentor? As Archer and Edwards from The Arena point out, regardless of experience, there’s always something to be learned from a mentor, and (hopefully) vice versa! “Mentorship helps level the playing field,” they add, “giving you someone you feel like is in your corner.” On the whole, it can be a valuable tool for growth: from a confidence perspective and consequently a wider career-long viewpoint.

Mentorship helps level the playing field.

There are undoubtedly some gaps between education and the industry itself. “Without the guidance of someone who’s been there and done that, it can feel pretty damn overwhelming as to where to start,” Archer and Edwards tell us. “Navigating the minefield that is our modern digital life feels so much easier when you have an experienced person in your corner, who has a specific knowledge of your industry – and is keen to help you thrive,” Tonge concurs. In a field rife with imposter syndrome and portfolio perfectionism, it’s helpful to have an outside perspective who can give you the honest truth – “and who amongst us hasn’t needed some feedback or direction?” Tonge adds. For those working remotely, solo, or without a solid industry network, this is extra important. “My advice to anyone looking for a mentor,” he continues, “would be to ask yourself two questions: What do I need help with? And who do I admire?” Once you have some inkling of the answers, the next step is reaching out. 

The post-COVID design industry looks a little different than before, and that’s certainly not a bad thing. However, networking can still be tricky – especially if you’re not in the social spaces of the big-city design circles. Thankfully, there are more online resources than ever, dedicated to helping emerging creatives. For example, Archer and Edwards tell us, “the easiest place to start would be to research existing mentoring schemes that are available for you to apply to.” 

If these don’t work out, or aren’t quite the right fit, the pair suggest reaching out to someone whose work you deeply admire. “They could be flattered, but totally inundated with work, so keep the initial ask small (for instance, just some portfolio feedback),” they note. 

When it comes to the ‘how,’ or what’s the best format, we wish we could provide a clear-cut answer. But it’s never that simple, is it? “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over 15+ years of this, it’s that every mentoring relationship is unique, and likewise, there’s no foolproof formula,” Tonge tells us. “I’m as happy to be asked via DM as I am via email... that said, asking someone to mentor you is no small thing – you’re asking them to invest time and energy into your development – so I do recommend sending a sincere message.” 

Don’t get discouraged if someone says no.

A casual approach will have a more positive result than cold-calling, or as The Arena put it, “racing in there all guns blazing and just asking someone you’ve never met before to be your mentor!” In a similar vein, be patient and don’t pester someone who hasn’t replied to you. “Definitely follow up if you’ve not heard back or they’ve dropped off mid-conversation,” Archer and Edwards say, “but don’t bombard them with emails.” And Tonge suggests keeping the numbers realistic – don’t ask heaps of people to be your mentor. 

“Don’t get discouraged if someone says no,” he continues, “don’t only tell your mentor what you think they want to hear, and importantly, don’t abuse the relationship – a mentor isn’t a trained counsellor or therapist. Do however try to find someone you can be vulnerable with, who you feel is trustworthy, kind, and you’re excited to learn from. Do always weigh up any advice you receive and trust your gut, and do of course ditch them if they turn out to be a jerk!” he concludes. “Happy mentor hunting.”