FDC Mentor Match Program

The Female Design Council Mentor Match Program is a free community program connecting professional level mentors with aspiring designers & college students to assist with pursuing a field in design and architecture. 

Mentors vary in discipline and include interior designers, furniture designers, architects, design business professionals, makers, and more. They offer their expertise and unique perspective in navigating and succeeding in their respective design careers. Mentors have volunteered to guide their mentee(s) in discipline-specific education, business growth, identifying and circumventing potential obstacles in the field, and general creative advice.

SIGN UP TO BE A MENTEE

*Aspiring designers must be at least 18 years of age.
APPLY TO BE A MENTOR

*You do not need to be a member or particular gender to participate!

 MENTOR MATCH FAQs

  • FDC Mentors are established professionals: interior designers, architects, furniture designers, applied artists, and design business professionals, curators and more. Our mentors have navigated their careers successfully, taking a creative journey that led them to their current design, architecture or art practice. Their real-world experience helps to guide mentees in ways that university does not always address.

    • Professional level with 5+ years in a professional design or architecture position

    • Ability to commit to at least three 30-minute sessions with a mentee

    • College students currently pursuing a field in design or architecture

    • Aspiring designers who are at least 18 years of age, looking to explore a design or architecture career.

    • Creatives looking to transfer their skills to a different design- or architecture-related field.

  • We recommend that you ask thoughtful questions that you can’t find out from a book or on Instagram.

    *We also recommend that you write your questions down before your call. It’s important to stay focused in these short sessions in order to make the most of your allotted time.

    You could ask questions like:

    • “How did you get your start?”

    • “Can you tell me more about what you do at your company?”

    • “What do you recommend I focus on once I graduate?”

    • “What computer programs are essential to learn before getting an entry level job in your field?”

    • “I’m interested in expanding my portfolio, what do you suggest I do or show?”

    • “What do people in this field look for when hiring entry level candidates?”

  • We recommend that you schedule another call through our system, and/or ask your mentor how they prefer to handle follow-ups. Not all of our mentors have the time or capacity to continue to mentor people on an ongoing basis, so you’ll need to be respectful of any boundaries your mentor sets. However, it can’t hurt to ask if your mentor is open to further communication or questions, especially if you find a strong bond with them.

  • Each participant gets three total mentorship calls— either three calls with one mentor, or one call each with three different mentors — so as not to overwhelm mentors with requests. This is why it’s important that you stay focused and make the most of your 30-minute sessions. Be prepared, and be strategic about your time and theirs.