The Make & Mentor Mindset: How Design Mentorship Deepens Your Craft

Why Design Mentorship Feels Different

The funny thing about design mentorship is that it rarely unfolds the way you imagine. I used to think mentoring meant showing up with answers. Maybe you’ve felt that pressure too — the assumption that, as the “mentor,” you need to be the expert in the room.

But ask any designer who’s been through it, and they’ll tell you: the real growth happens when things get messy. When you’re sketching side by side, troubleshooting in real time, or learning something unexpected from someone you thought you were there to teach.

What Does Good Design Mentorship Look Like?

Let me share a moment. During a rebrand project, I had a junior designer question why a certain type choice mattered. Instinct kicked in: I started explaining, laying out the rationale. Then came their suggestion — “What if we tried it this way?” Suddenly, the room shifted.

Their idea unlocked a better system than the one I had planned.

If you’ve ever been on the other side, you know how empowering it feels. As a mentee, you’re not just absorbing theory, you’re actively shaping the work. As a mentor, you’re forced to articulate your choices, to really test your thinking. That push-and-pull is where the magic happens.

Key Takeaway: Mentorship works best as a collaboration, not a lecture.

How Design Mentorship Strengthens Everyone Involved

When you make and mentor at the same time, the benefits flow both ways:

• For the mentee → real-world learning under actual project constraints.

• For the mentor → sharpening problem-solving by explaining the “why.”

• For the team → stronger trust, faster alignment, and more resilient culture.

• For the organization → leadership pipelines built from the ground up.

Design leaders who invest in mentorship often see these outcomes accelerate. Research shows collaborative mentorship helps teams build creative confidence 20–30% faster. And in my own career, some of the portfolio work I’m proudest of came directly from these co-created sessions.

Why Mentorship Matters for Creative Leaders

If you’re leading a team, mentorship isn’t extra work — it’s leverage. When you invite someone into the process before it’s perfect, you’re not just teaching; you’re building systems, creating efficiency, and often discovering ideas you wouldn’t reach on your own.

I like to think of it like multiplayer mode in a game. Sure, you can grind through the level solo. But when you co-op, the strategies multiply, the play gets richer, and the win feels shared.

FAQ on Design Mentorship

Q: Do I have to be an expert to mentor? Not at all. Share what you know, admit what you don’t. That honesty builds more credibility than pretending.

Q: How do I mentor when I’m slammed with deadlines? Bring people into the work you’re already doing. Co-create instead of bolting on “extra” projects.

Q: What if I screw up in front of them? Great. They’ll learn that even experienced designers adjust on the fly — which is a skill in itself.

Q: Isn’t mentorship just “extra management work”? Not if you frame it right. Good design mentorship happens in the flow of work, not in an extra meeting tacked onto your calendar. Think of it as working smarter with someone beside you.

Q: How can mentorship help me as the mentor? Teaching forces you to slow down and explain your decisions. That process sharpens your craft and often sparks new ideas you wouldn’t find alone.

Q: What if my team resists being mentored? That’s natural. Nobody likes being “taught at.” Instead, invite them into the process. Ask questions, share drafts, and let them help shape solutions. Engagement usually follows when people feel like contributors, not students.

Q: Can mentorship really influence my career growth? Yes. Leaders who mentor develop stronger communication skills, get noticed for building others up, and often grow into higher leadership roles faster. Companies see mentorship as a multiplier, not a distraction.

The Big Picture

Here’s the truth: design mentorship isn’t a polished keynote. It’s a live jam session where both players grow sharper. You improvise, discover, and deepen your skills together.

Pro Tip: Next time you’re tempted to wait until the deck or the prototype is “ready,” don’t. Invite someone in early. You’ll both walk away stronger.

This week, try opening your process up before it feels perfect. Let a colleague into the draft stage, ask for their input, and see what you discover together. (And if the results surprise you, I’d genuinely love to hear about it.)

By Tony Hanyk, UX & Brand Leader