On Design Mentoring and the need for space to have deeper Conversations
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I’ve had many people reach out to me for mentoring in the past. Even though the temptation to become a mentor is strong, I have come to the realisation that, at best what I offer is longer conversations, where I can hear the person out and share from my experiences of failures and successes, of the things I have done, and the things I am seeking to do.
Design Mentoring in particular, is tough because every designer has had, and will go on a different journey. The journeys are different, because people from various backgrounds enter into the field of Design and User Experience.
There is a relatively low entry barrier into design. Many CBCs, Bootcamps, and other learning programs sets you up for the entry alright.
This ever welcoming nature of design is one of the best things, as it allows for the diversity of people, the difference of opinions to co-exist. However, owing to the very same point, design mentoring becomes tough because people’s journeys are different and will be different.
It is good to see many platforms for Design Mentoring come up. However, what appalls me is that there are people with less than one year experience providing mentoring.
I sincerely feel that mentoring is something with a lot of responsibility. Mentors are great at showing you the different paths basis of their own experiences.
Mentoring is often a two way process and the person needs to be invested in your journey for a longer time. The mentor-mentee relationship grows over time as there are many new facets of both that get discovered along the way.
I am fortunate to have a couple of mentors who have helped me grow. Mentors should be able to provide a space for having deeper conversations.
In the age of instant gratifications, we are missing out on the longer and deeper conversations around design and how to plan careers.
This becomes all the more evident, when the mid career crisis hits for a designer. This is happening more frequently than ever before.
What are your go-to avenues for deeper design conversations?
#day2 #reflection #designcareer #design #mentoring #designer#designlife #designleadership
