Built on autonomy, connection and play, Stupid Studio shares its open-source mentorship framework

Stupid Studio, a design and communications studio based in Denmark, has created an innovative mentorship framework. “As a team, we always pursue opportunities to learn something new,” the studio tells us. “But we also realised there was so much skill, talent, and experience within our studio, and that we needed to take full advantage of that. What we were missing was a framework that could help us all share and receive knowledge.” Born from this deep-rooted passion for continuous learning, collaboration, and the joy of knowledge sharing, this mentorship framework shakes up traditional learning paradigms, fostering a unique two-way exchange of knowledge. In Stupid Studio’s mentorship framework – which is available free of charge – both the mentor and mentee actively participate, each entering the relationship with individual objectives. They work together to define actionable steps, maintain momentum and commit to assisting each other towards achieving their goals. “In our view, a mentorship is a learning space where different ambitions can co-exist,” explains Visual Designer and Illustrator Emilie Noer. “Perhaps a mentee is there to pursue better presentation skills, while a more seasoned mentor wants to practise leading with empathy.” When developing the framework, Noer reveals that the team looked into best practices and asked about people’s personal preferences and experiences. “What do we seek in a mentorship? What works? What doesn’t? What would an ideal structure look like? We found that most people want just the right balance between structure and autonomy,” the studio responds. Unfolding over a year, the mentorship framework includes monthly meet-ups, regular evaluations, and targeted action points that steer participants towards their objectives. This structure provides a roadmap while enabling participants to customise the journey to fit their unique situations and goals.