How to find the right mentor, with BDF’s Luke Tonge and The Arena’s Lauren Archer and Dom Edwards

There is no age barrier to good advice, and contrary to common misconceptions, mentors are not just for the young or newly graduated. While your colleagues may be willing to answer work-related questions, there is a time and place for career guidance and portfolio feedback. This is where having a mentor can be extremely helpful as they can provide not only portfolio and CV advice but also general support throughout your career. We sought the insights of mentor maestros, The Arena, a not-for-profit creative community and mentoring platform run by run by Lauren Archer and Dom Edwards. Birmingham Design Festival Co-founder, graphic designer and experienced industry mentor Luke Tonge also offers his advice. Why should you consider finding a mentor? As Archer and Edwards from The Arena point out, regardless of experience, there’s always something to be learned from a mentor, and (hopefully) vice versa! “Mentorship helps level the playing field,” they add, “giving you someone you feel like is in your corner.” On the whole, it can be a valuable tool for growth: from a confidence perspective and consequently a wider career-long viewpoint.