What are the benefits of providing mentorship to a young individual in your area of expertise?
Nicolas Fourie
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Once upon a time, there was a young graphic designer named Bob.
Bob had a passion for art and design since he was a kid. Bob remembers feasting his eyes on the Asterix Comic book series. He was young and eager to learn, so off to the University of Technology he went to study Graphic Design. He love Marvel comics and dreamed about launching his own graphic novel one day. He was good at drawing and painting and was the top art scholar in his class. However, Bob felt insecure, he felt like an imposter and did not know how to launch his graphic novel. He had ideas and had a strong portfolio. Bob had loads of charisma, but as soon as executive type personalities stepped into the room, he became shy and withdrawn, doubting that he could really become successful. On top of this, the executive types talked over him, they were loud, and he was…a quiet introvert with an extroverted internal life of boiling hot creativity.
When Bob was in college, he met Mike, a renowned graphic designer who had a successful career in the industry. Bob always looked up to Mike as his “design hero”. He admired Mike's work and his creative approach to design. Plus, Mike had a surging extroverted personality that Bob only wished he had. Bob dreamed of working with Mike one day, but he didn't have the courage to ask him to be his mentor.
One day, Bob was assigned to work on a project that required him to create a design that was beyond his expertise. He was struggling with the project, and he didn't know how to approach it.
He thought of reaching out to Mike for advice, but he didn't want to bother him. Mike was a family man, ran his own design studio and was extremely busy!
Bob connected with Mike again on TikTok. Mike asked Bob how things were going, and Bob in an indirect statement mentioned the project he was working on. He was a bit shy to tell Mike how it was really going, but Mike had a nice way of extracting the story out of Bob. Mike was used to digging deep with his clients and had an intuition of note! Mike was a helpful dude! He picked up on Bobs lack of confidence and to Bobs surprise, Mike offered to help him with the project.
Bob was thrilled and grateful for the opportunity.
Mike spent countless hours mentoring Bob, sharing his expertise, and guiding him through the project. He gave Bob tips on how to deal with difficult clients. The two launched a design mastermind group in their local city.
Through Mike's mentorship, Bob learned the ins and outs of graphic design. He gained invaluable knowledge and skills that he would have never learned on his own. Mike taught him the importance of attention to detail, the value of simplicity in design, and how to create designs that evoke emotions.
Bob's project turned out to be a success, and it wouldn't have been possible without Mike's mentorship. Bob was grateful for Mike's kindness, and he realized the importance of mentorship in the industry.
Mike's mentorship didn't stop there. He continued to guide and support Bob throughout his career, helping him achieve success in the industry. Bob eventually became a successful graphic designer and followed in Mike's footsteps. Today, Bob has a thriving design business and went on to write and publish his own graphic novel that he dreamed about in his varsity days!
WHY CARE ABOUT YOUNG DESIGNERS?
The benefits of providing mentorship to a young individual are immeasurable.
A mentor can share their knowledge and expertise, guide their mentee through challenges, and provide valuable advice and support. A mentor can inspire their mentee to reach their full potential and achieve success in their career.
Mike didn't have to offer to mentor Bob, but he did it out of kindness and a desire to help a young designer in need. His mentorship not only helped Bob but also inspired him to pay it forward and mentor other young designers.
In conclusion, mentorship is a powerful tool in any industry. It can help young individuals achieve success and reach their full potential. It's never too late to offer to mentor someone, and you never know how much of an impact it can have on their life and career.
You don’t necessarily need to find a mentor if you are a young designer. Look for a hero! Steal tips and tricks with your best design assets that you have - your eyes! Listen to other pro designers and read books by the experts so you too can become a confident and thriving young gun! You’re never to young or too old to learn new skills!
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