For four years at Thinkful I mentored aspiring designers one to one — reviewing portfolios, running mock interviews and working through the job search with them. Ten-plus people, and 85% of them landed roles.
I love this part of the work. Watching someone go from copying layouts they admire to arguing for their own decisions is the most grounding thing I do, and it is where the Innovation Lab came from.
Of the designers I mentored went on to land roles — 10+ people guided through portfolio reviews, mock interviews and job-search prep.
Have an insatiable appetite for learning. I always tell my students at Thinkful there is no one stopping you from learning how to code and user-research.
Aspiring designers mentored one to one
Went on to land design roles
Mentoring alongside full-time design work
A few of the designers I worked with one to one — where they were headed then, and where they are now.
The full interview — eleven questions on the craft, the career and the advice I give — lives on my portfolio.
