Mentoring designers has taught me as much as it’s taught them. Every conversation, critique, and review becomes a mirror - showing how people think, where they struggle, and what truly motivates them to grow. Over time, I’ve realized that mentorship isn’t just about transferring skill; it’s about building confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that appreciation works far better than criticism. Designers, especially early in their careers, are constantly balancing insecurity with ambition. A well-timed acknowledgment of effort - even when the result isn’t perfect - goes a long way. It tells them they’re seen, valued, and progressing. Criticism might fix an error; appreciation fuels improvement.

When mentoring, I’ve found it helps to start by highlighting what’s working before diving into what’s not. It’s not about sugarcoating - it’s about setting the right frame. If someone feels recognized for what they did right, they’re far more open to hearing what could be better. Feedback becomes collaborative instead of defensive. It shifts from judgment to growth.

Another thing I’ve learned is that not everyone learns the same way. Some designers thrive on open-ended exploration; others prefer structure and examples. As a mentor, adapting your style to the person in front of you is essential. It’s less about teaching a method and more about helping them discover their own way of thinking - guiding rather than directing.

Patience is another quiet skill in mentorship. Progress in design isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it takes months for a concept or critique to click. Early on, I used to expect immediate change. Now I focus on planting ideas, knowing they might take time to grow. A good mentor doesn’t measure success by how quickly someone improves, but by how deeply they internalize what they learn.

Building trust is at the core of all mentorship. Without it, feedback sounds like correction instead of care. I try to make space for honest discussions - not just about design work, but about motivation, burnout, and creative blocks. Those moments often reveal what’s really holding someone back, and it’s rarely technical skill. Most of the time, it’s confidence, clarity, or fear of judgment.

Something else that surprised me is how much mentorship sharpens your own thinking. Explaining design decisions to others forces clarity. It exposes gaps in your reasoning and reminds you of fundamentals that experience sometimes makes you overlook. Mentoring doesn’t just help others grow - it deepens your own craft.

Over the years, I’ve come to see mentorship as part of leadership. It’s about creating an environment where designers can explore ideas without fear, where feedback feels safe, and where small wins are celebrated as much as big breakthroughs. The goal isn’t to shape people into copies of yourself but to help them find confidence in their own voice as designers.

In the end, appreciation and guidance go hand in hand. Criticism identifies problems, but appreciation identifies potential - and that’s what truly develops talent. The best mentors I’ve had didn’t just point out my mistakes; they made me believe I could do better. That’s what I try to pass on now - because when people feel supported, they don’t just improve their work; they grow into designers who inspire others in turn.