Design Roots Mentorship Program

A strong root system is the foundation of a thriving graphic design career—and that growth starts with connection. Design Roots is more than our 8th annual mentorship program; it’s a creative ecosystem where seasoned professionals and emerging designers come together to exchange ideas, experiences, and inspiration.

Learning how to navigate the professional world can be a tricky and overwhelming experience for new creatives. We’re here to help you plant the seeds and start cultivating roots to strengthen and expand your creative network. Our program brings seasoned creatives (professionals with at least 4 years of experience) together with emerging talent (college juniors, seniors and emerging professionals with up to 3 years of experience). We provide valuable networking opportunities and encourage open dialogue focused on professional and personal development.

Whether you’re looking to give back as a mentor or grow your skills as a mentee, Design Roots offers the opportunity to build meaningful relationships that nourish long-term success. Involvement in our mentorship program is a great way to become active in and help support Kansas City’s dynamic design community. With graphic designers from an array of industries, and career and educational backgrounds, we hope this program provides an opportunity for participants to learn, grow and give back while building sustainable relationships.

How it works:

• One-on-one mentor-mentee pairings
• 2 design studio tours (Midtown/Crossroads area)
• In-person casual meetups (Midtown/Crossroads area)

In addition, each mentor-mentee pair will be assigned to a larger group that can meet during our monthly meetups, further facilitating connection among peers.

Expectations and Timeline:

The program kicks off in September and lasts through December! Although there is no official time requirement, in order to get the most out of this experience, we ask that each pair try to communicate at least twice each month (roughly five hours total). Whether this communication takes the form of an in-person meetup, phone call, virtual chat, coffee break, or office meeting is entirely up to you. See our dates below, with more final details to come soon!

• Kickoff: Thursday September 4,6-7:30, encompas
• Casual Meetup: Thursday, October 2, 6-7:30 p.m., Rochester Brewing & Roasting (Crossroads)
• Studio Tour: October, TBD
• Casual Meetup: Thursday, November 6, 6-7:30 p.m., Rochester Brewing & Roasting (Crossroads)
• Studio Tour: November, TBD
• Wrap-Up Party: Thursday, December 4, 6-7:30 p.m., encompas

Please direct any questions to [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

encompas - Haworth Dealer, 1512 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, United States