You’re a new designer. How can you gain the most from a mentorship program?

1 Set clear goals

Before you begin your mentorship, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you want to grow as an environmental designer. Do you want to improve your technical skills, such as software, modeling, or rendering? Do you want to learn more about the design process, such as research, ideation, or prototyping? Do you want to gain insights into the industry, such as trends, challenges, or opportunities? Write down your goals and share them with your mentor, so that you can align your expectations and plan your sessions accordingly.

3 Be proactive

A mentorship is not a one-way street, where your mentor does all the work and you just sit back and listen. You have to be proactive and take initiative to make the most of your mentorship program. This means that you should prepare for your sessions, do your homework, follow up on your action items, and communicate regularly with your mentor. You should also seek out opportunities to learn from your mentor, such as shadowing them on a project, attending a meeting with them, or joining them at a networking event. By being proactive, you show your mentor that you are eager, committed, and respectful of their time and expertise.

4 Be curious

A mentorship is also a great chance to explore new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities as an environmental designer. You can learn a lot from your mentor's experience, knowledge, and style, but you can also challenge yourself to ask questions, try new things, and experiment with different approaches. Be curious about your mentor's background, interests, and goals, and how they relate to yours. Be curious about the environmental design field, its current issues, its future trends, and its best practices. Be curious about yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses, and your potential. By being curious, you foster a culture of learning, innovation, and growth.

5 Be grateful

Last but not least, be grateful for your mentorship program and the opportunity to learn from a seasoned environmental designer. Your mentor is voluntarily sharing their time, wisdom, and resources with you, so make sure you appreciate their generosity and kindness. Express your gratitude regularly, whether it's through a thank-you note, a small gift, or a genuine compliment. Also, show your gratitude by applying what you learned, delivering quality work, and exceeding expectations. By being grateful, you build a positive and lasting relationship with your mentor, and you may even become a mentor yourself someday.