Mentorship
Program

AIGA NY

AIGA NY is committed to our mission of “Championing the future of design for all.”

AIGA NY Mentorship Program Vision:

To foster a community of designers that support each other's all-around growth. We help designers strengthen their self-confidence, realize their full potential in their career journey and empower them to take on leadership roles.

Join this year’s cohort and join us in building this community! We accept applicants from around the world, but prioritize matching our AIGA NY local community.

Our 2024 Applications have closed. Sign up for the 2025 waitlist below to be notified when the application opens!

We provide support in 3 ways

  • 1:1 Mentorship

    We carefully review each application and pair you with a mentor/mentee.

  • Networking opportunitites

    We provide access to other mentors and mentees across the program.

  • Online community platform

    We create digital spaces to ask questions in various topic pods, find resources and connect with others

Mentors and mentees are carefully hand-paired based on needs and interest. The program provides a suggested structure of once-a-month meetups with actionable resources and support for fostering productive mentorship experience. Mentors and mentees have access to select AIGA NY events and network of professionals. We expect mentors and mentees to commit to a minimum of 6 months, with a minimum of one meeting per month.

Program Timeline

  • January 3rd

    Open enrollment begins. Mentee/mentor pairings will be curated by Mentorship cohort leads.

  • February-April

    Accepted participants will attend kick off event and meet their mentor. AIGA NY will host occasional community events, provide resources, newsletter and support to guide mentorship relationships.

  • May-July

    The program steps back gradually. Mentors and mentees set their own pace and may continue based on the needs and the relationship.

Community Spotlight

  • Bernard Boey

    2022 Mentor

    Both of my mentees have very different needs. One is about improving technical skills and the other is about leadership. This is definitely by far the most rewarding mentorship program that I have participated in. It allows me to share my knowledge, skills and experience in the most diverse way, bringing out all the best qualities in me.

  • Madeline Reidy

    2022 Mentor

    I have two mentees exploring very different goals and paths, and I’ve truly enjoyed the experience so far. Whether goals are short term and concrete, such as landing a dream job, or long term and bigger picture, such as building up a five year plan to achieve a greater creative vision, I think the program structure is very flexible and beneficial for any creative path.

  • Tina Li

    2019 Mentee

    “When I first started my job, my mentors helped me immensely in my career growth. My mentors gave me advice on topics ranging from switching teams within the company, asking for promotion and a raise, starting my own side hustle to finding a new job in negotiating base salary.”

  • Julie Zou

    2021 Mentee

    “The most valuable part of my AIGA NY mentorship experience so far has been the chance to speak with a designer more senior to me in a 1:1 setting. My mentor, Tenaya, has been super accommodating in letting me moderate the sessions based on any questions or concerns I may have.”

  • Ashlyn Stewart Cavitt

    2020 Mentee

    “AIGA NY has been a huge resource for me, being new in New York and not having a big network. It was the way that I was getting exposed to the industry. The mentorship program was the first time that I felt like I was participating with other members in a more active way.”

  • Crystal Jeffs

    2019-2021 Mentor

    “The ideal approach to mentorship is to be able to flip between mentor and coach. Your job is to listen, observe and ask questions to help someone figure out their own answers. You can use a framework for your conversations, but you don't have to —you have to be empathetic, use great listening and communication skills.”

  • Laura Scofield

    Mentor 2020-2021

    “I love being part of the AIGA NY mentorship program. We're creating an amazing space for dialogue and growth. It was great to have someone to just talk with about a passion we share in common: design. It was amazing to see my mentees grow and to celebrate our achievements together.

  • Saasha Gilkes

    2021 Mentee

    “Having a design mentor is something that I see is so big in UX. I wish I had had this during other times of my career. Just knowing that you have somebody determined to help you or commit to helping you, and now I want to do the same for others.”

Requirements and Qualifications

Mentees

Learn and grow with help from mentors. Get insights to unlock new paths and accelerate career growth. Seek guidance from our experienced mentors on career-path pivots, improving speaking skills, difficult conversations with your manager, and much more. Ideal mentee profile:

  • A highly motivated designer with a growth mindset (all experience levels)

  • Enthusiastic about career, personal and leadership growth and/or skills development

  • Takes responsibility for their own learning (proactive in thinking about what they want to learn more)

  • Respectful and open-minded

  • Values feedback and self-reflective

Mentors

Give back and cultivate a thriving design community with us. We will provide a platform for you to share and connect. We'd love for you to bring your unique skillsets and experiences to enrich the mentorship relationships. Ideal mentor profile:

  • An established professional in design or a related field, including digital strategy, product management, and consulting

  • Willingness to share skills, knowledge, and expertise

  • Takes a personal interest in the mentoring relationship

  • Well-connected in their industry (healthy social capital)

  • Well-versed in initiatives around diversity, inclusion, and culture

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We are open to remote participants as both mentors and mentees. Priority is given to those in the New York area, but we accept applicants from around the world.

  • We do not have a set range of years, since our participants are often a mix of individuals who are early in their career, or looking for a career shift.

  • Mentors generally have 5+ years in their respective field, but we take into consideration work experiences and the quality of work shown in applicant’s portfolio/Linkedin as well.

  • We are looking for applicants across the broader design community. This is inclusive of Brand and Product Designers, Producers, Studio Owners, Strategists, Service Design, Animators and many more! Feel free to reach out to our team if you have additional questions about how your needs could be met by the program.

Corporate Sponsorship

Is your organization interested in partnership or corporate sponsorship? Please contact Stacey Panousopoulos here →

Questions?

Email us at mentorship@newyork.aiga.org with any questions regarding the mentorship program.

AIGA NY Mentorship is volunteer-based. If you wish to donate, reach us at stacey@aigany.org