Creative Careers’ Mentorship Program

 

Become a Mentor!

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Become a Mentor! 〰️

About The Program

Creative Careers’ Mentorship Program is a yearly volunteer based opportunity that thoughtfully pairs ArtCenter students with established creative professionals for 10 weeks of one-on-one mentorship where creativity, career, and life can be explored.

The Mentorship Program assists ArtCenter students in building relationships that broaden professional networks and provide insightful feedback for real-world application. Mentors can offer additional perspective and opportunities to learn best practices in navigating a successful career path.

As an Industry Leader we believe you are essential to shaping the next round of leaders that will be launched into the art and design world.

Reasons to Become a Mentor

  • Engage with ArtCenter students in a more informal, casual way

  • Motivate, inspire, and shape future creatives

  • Enhance your leadership skills

  • Learn from the next generation of art and design professionals

  • Feel good knowing you are making a difference to someone else’s life

  • Earn an official ArtCenter Mentor badge issued by Credly

Mentorship Program Details

Program Dates

The Mentorship Program run every Fall for 10 weeks. For Fall 2025, the Mentorship program begins the week of September 15th and ends the week of November 17th.

Time Commitment

Participation in the Creative Careers’ Mentorship Program requires a commitment to ensure a positive and valuable experience for all participants. Meetings with Mentees can be flexible based on personal schedules but on average you should expect to dedicate at least an hour a week to meet with your mentee. We understand that both mentors and mentees have many other commitments, so the program will inevitably look different for each pair. Meetings can be virtual or in person.

Support Materials

Creative Careers is here to support both Mentors and Mentees throughout the program. Participants will receive a Mentorship Manual that outlines program expectations, offers guides for structuring your weekly experience as well as suggestions for discussion and tips for success.

The Creative Careers team will also check in with pairs at the midpoint and final weeks of the program to offer support and learn how your experience is going.

ArtCenter Creative Mentor Badge

 

Mentors participating in the program have the option to earn an official Creative Mentor Badge issued by ArtCenter and Credly. Digital badges are a graphical representation of a person’s abilities and competencies, combined with a verifiable description of the knowledge and activities it took to earn it. Badge earners will be able to display that they participated as a Mentor in Creative Careers’ Mentorship Program by providing expert knowledge and exemplary leadership qualities to an ArtCenter student mentee. 

To earn the badge Mentors must complete all required steps below:

  1. Confirm participation as Mentor

  2. Fulfill the four core areas of engagement defined by Creative Careers throughout the 10-week program

  3. Connect with Creative Careers at the midpoint of the mentorship experience with an update of how the experience is progressing

  4. Complete the final program survey

  5. Provide mentee with a final written evaluation and outline for continued professional development.

Mentor Commitments

  • Be a source of knowledge and real world experience for your mentee. Listen, discuss, and reflect upon their needs and expectations in order to provide direction and suggestions.

  • Help mentees identify goals and provide encouragement so goals can be met.

  • Teach Mentees the importance of good communication skills and professional behavior. Offer constructive feedback when possible.

 

Learn More About the Mentorship Experience

 
 

  • “Oblong Industries has had the pleasure of mentoring students through ArtCenter's Creative Careers' Mentorship Program for the last two years. The students we've worked with are professional, motivated, and thoughtful. The structure of the engagement is flexible enough that in each case, we've tailored things to accommodate busy schedules. Our internal design team has benefited from the fresh ideas the students bring; we have them present their work as well as provide an external perspective on what we're doing. Interacting with the other mentees and their mentors at the closing reception is another great opportunity to connect with interesting folks across a wide range of industries. I've remained in touch with mentees as they've moved out into successful careers with important organizations. It's definitely worth your time.”

    - Director of Interaction Design, Oblong Industries

  • “The ArtCenter mentor program is a great way to connect with the school and get to know a promising student. Besides being really fun, it's gratifying to pass on some of the things I wish people had said to me earlier in my career. Working with a mentee helped me take stock of how much I have accomplished and how much I can learn from younger people in a constantly evolving media landscape."

    - President, Common Myths, Inc.

  • “The ArtCenter mentorship program is not just an opportunity to connect with a student directly, but it also gives an insight on the education that ArtCenter provides. Having been paired with a very talented and responsive student it allowed me to elevate the bi-weekly reviews to a conceptual level and leave most of the basic academia behind. We picked a school project, early on. It gave us the focus needed to set us up in a professional environment and set goals. I enjoyed the process so much and found it so rewarding that I signed up again this year and I can't wait to see who else is going to sign up for it this year.”

    – VP/ Creative Director, Titmouse Inc.

  • “I think the ability of showcasing your work with someone who is currently working and keeping up with standards within the industry was the biggest plus for me. Otto was extremely patient and quite honest with me when it came to the harsh and beneficial realities of the industry which i found very eyeopening and extremely helpful.”

    -Mentee, FA18

  • "I learned a lot about the ins and outs of the industry, including specifics about companies and agencies that I may want to apply for once I am graduated. I also gained a new connection and a mentor that extended past just the program—My mentor and I are still in contact and working together."

    -Mentee, FA20

  • "There are a lot of resources to get mentors, but Creative Careers works really individually and does the heavy lifting as far as finding someone perfect for me."

    -Mentee, FA20

  • "My mentor and I discussed what it was like to be a young Asian American woman in a traditionally white male workspace, and she also set up a meeting with her friend who worked at a studio to give a different perspective. I've also set up a proper portfolio thanks to her, and have approached my work through a new lense."

    -Mentee, FA20

  • "No matter what happens in the future, I have gotten an inside look and have a guideline or a beacon to research, explore, and attempt, by gearing down and working hard, learning on the go and being flexible and adaptable."

    -Mentee, FA21

  • "My Mentor taught me to be innovative and to expand my safe zone. I learned that standing out from other peoples work and trying new and different things will help me stand out in a competitive job industry."

    -Mentee, FA21

  • "The most valuable part of the mentorship is being able to make a new friend. My mentor and I still keep up with each other and having being able to ask about the industry you're interested in is always a plus!"

    -Mentee, FA21

Join the Mentor Pool

Have questions about Mentorship? Please Send Us An Email!