Some common themes emerged after hosting 39 mentoring sessions, and being recognized as one of the top 1% mentors in Design during the month of October 2023 at adplist.org:
Career transitions
Many designers come from diverse industries. Their first impression is that they have to start from scratch. When, in reality, their previous experiences can help shape and expand their skillset.
Visual work isn’t all
Designers feel judged by their visual skills when presenting their work. Even though this is true, it’s important than the process and methods stand out more than the final deliverable.
Communication is underrated
Regardless of the industry you operate, it’s critical to understand that design is all about conveying messages and conversing with the different actors involved in the process of product design.
Need for more self-reflection
The same way you do a team retrospective after launching a product, make sure you take time to reflect on how things went for yourself. Keep your bias in check by requesting feedback from peers and mentors.