Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring some incredible designers through ADP List, 1:1s at coffee shops, and other spaces. Mentorship has a funny way of being a two-way street—I learn just as much from my mentees as they do from me. Their questions remind me how vast and dynamic the design world is, and every once in a while, they hit me with, "Where does a lonely designer find their design soulmates?" or "Can I prototype my life decisions? Asking for a friend."

Here’s a curated hit list of popular mentee Q&A moments, sprinkled with actionable resources and a dash of humor (because let’s be honest, we all need it).

1. "I work by myself as a designer at a startup. Where can I find my design community?"

First off, I see you, lone wolf! Isolation is real, but the design community is massive and welcoming.
Tip: Join Creative Mornings in your city. Free coffee and camaraderie? Yes, please.
Creative Mornings

2. "How do you collaborate at work?"

Cue every designer's kryptonite: meetings. The antidote? Google’s Design Sprint Kit. It’s like a superhero cape for collaborative problem-solving.
Google Design Sprint Kit

3. "How do I explain UX Design Principles without rambling?"

The secret sauce: Use Laws of UX. It’s concise, practical, and makes you sound like you actually memorized Don Norman’s The Design of Everyday Things.
Laws of UX

4. "What’s the history of design systems? Asking for a retro-loving friend."

Grab your time machine. The NASA Design System from 1967 is where it all started—yes, rocket science and design have always been besties.
NASA Design System

Also, the New York Subway’s system? An iconic design nerd rabbit hole.
NYC Subway Manual

5. "Can you recommend modern design systems?"

Google Material Design: The Beyoncé of design systems.
Material Design
Microsoft Fluent Design: Sleek and corporate.
Fluent Design
Adobe Spectrum: Because we’re all still lowkey jealous of Adobe’s gradients.
Adobe Spectrum

6. "What is accessible brand design?"

The Olympic Committee nailed this one—design for everyone. Inclusivity: always in style.
Accessible Brand Design

7. "Where did you get your coaching certification?"

Shoutout to UBC’s Organizational Coaching Certification, where I learned how to unlock not just doors, but entire houses of potential.
UBC Coaching Certification

8. "What’s the deal with design prototyping?"

It’s like baking before you commit to dinner service—test, iterate, then serve.
Design Prototyping 101

9. "How do you answer behavioral interview questions?"

Ah, the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Amazon basically coined it, so it must be good.
Amazon STAR Method

10. "How do I prepare for a whiteboard challenge?"

No need to sweat it. Coursera breaks it down like a pro wrestling match—step by step.
Whiteboard Challenge Prep

11. "Any resume templates you’d recommend?"

Chris Do’s template is a masterpiece. Your resume will look so good, hiring managers might frame it.
Chris Do’s Resume Template

The Wrap-Up

Every mentee question is a reminder of the incredible curiosity and courage in the design community. Design isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about connecting people.

Got a burning design question? Drop it below—I might just add it to the next hit list!

Yours,
Wynne

Mentee Q&A Greatest Hits: Design Tips, Resources, and Real Talk