About the Mentorship Program:

Mind to Mind (M2M) is AIGA Minnesota’s 10-week mentorship program for emerging designers and design students. Our goal is to empower participants to grow in their personal and professional pursuits by pairing them with experienced creative professionals for connection, insight, and support. 

AIGA MN membership is not required to participate in Mind to Mind. This program is open to all eligible applicants, regardless of membership status.

What to Expect:
The expectation is that pairs will meet for a minimum of once per week, and what happens from there is up to the pairs to decide what they’re capable of taking on. We offer in-person, hybrid, or remote one-on-one mentoring. M2M strives to foster a positive and productive relationship between the mentor and mentee, which ideally continues beyond the program.

Each mentor/mentee pair is encouraged to meet (virtually or in-person) once per week to:

• Set and refine a S.M.A.R.T. professional goal
• Share resources, skills, and feedback
• Build connection and confidence

Over the course of 10 weeks, the mentor and mentee will work toward a professional goal, with the mentor providing guidance and support. At the end of the program, mentees will present their goal project at an in-person closing ceremony, which includes a creative showcase and informal speed networking with fellow designers. 

Key Dates:

• July 13th – All Applications Close
• July 14th – Confirmation Email sent out
• July 28th – Pairings are announced
  
• Aug 14th – Opening Ceremony (In person)
• Sept 18th – Midway Meetup (Virtual)
• Week of Oct 19th – Final Ceremony (In-person)

A full program timeline will be included in the M2M Participant Guidebook, which all mentors and mentees will receive. 

Eligibility:

Mentees
Eligible mentees should be either:

• A junior or senior-level design student
• An emerging designer with 0–3 years of professional experience

Most mentees live in Minnesota, but nearby applicants who are active in the local design community are also welcome to apply. While we do our best to place most applicants in the program, we have a limited number of slots available each term.

Mentors
Eligible mentors must have at least 7 years of professional design experience. We welcome active professionals across all areas of design, communication, advertising, interactive media, and related fields, whether currently employed or retired to apply.

While we aim to include as many mentor applicants as possible, participation may depend on alignment with mentee goals.

What is the cost?

Mentees
For mentees, a $20 program fee is due upon being accepted into the program. This fee helps support and sustain the program. AIGA Minnesota is a 100% volunteer-run organization, and we aim to make this program accessible to all. 

If the fee presents a financial barrier, waivers are available upon request. Please contact [email protected] and [email protected] for more information.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Mentorship leads at [email protected] and [email protected].