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Formation: The Design Mentorship Collaborative
Listen | Learn | Lead

Formation: The Design Mentorship Collaborative is a collective of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students and professionals that envision a more diverse and inclusive design field.

Based in the Portland Metro area in Oregon, we support soon-to-be graduates transitioning from college into the design profession. Through a paid mentorship program, we connect them with a multi-disciplinary design community of students and professionals.

Our program provides a collaborative space for mentors and mentees that amplifies BIPOC perspectives, encourages skill building, and inspires leadership.

Behind the program

The Architecture Foundation of Oregon (AFO), COMMA, and Diversity in Design (DiD) began discussing the role of mentorship in design after connecting at the 2022 Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) Conference.

Since then, AFO, COMMA, and DiD have partnered together to develop Formation to address the gaps in mentorship and professional development opportunities available to and specifically tailored to BIPOC students.

Become a Formation Sponsor

Becoming a sponsor will support Formation’s mission to create a more diverse and inclusive design field. It will allow us to give stipends to mentors for their time and effort spent connecting with students, as well as give them funds for activities so that meet-ups can vary. Students will receive stipends to support their time and effort that goes into learning and expanding their horizons. Sponsorships will also fund group events throughout the year to keep the Formation community involved and up to date with each other. Lastly, it will allow us to support all of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making a great program! By sponsoring our program, you will also be:

Investing in your community to create a stronger and more diverse future workforce.
Granted access to recruitment of top diverse talent and receive brand awareness.
Increasing your staff recruitment and retention by showing authentic engagement in your community.
Fulfilling a part of your DEI focus and being able to use your involvement to hit your corporate social responsibility metrics.
Receiving level-specific benefits including event tickets, logo placement on banners, websites, and program information, presentation opportunities and more.

Please use the following links to pledge a donation or make a donation right away!

Questions? formationmentorship@gmail.com

Online Donation Form

Pledge/Commitment Form

Become a Formation Mentor

Across different backgrounds and levels of experience, we have heard from our members in the design community that they would have benefited from having an advocate early on in their careers. Someone who would inspire, support, guide, and understand the unique challenges and opportunities of navigating the professional world as a person of color.

As a part of the Formation family, Mentors will be able to be that advocate and support network for the next generation of BIPOC design professionals. They will also learn from the students, build connections across design fields, and help to shape our local design community.

BIPOC design professionals from any design background are encouraged to apply to be Mentors including graphic, interior, product, architecture, apparel, experiential, or any form of design that shapes our environment or physical experience.

To learn more about our mentorship opportunities and to apply to be a mentor, click here: Formation Mentors

Questions? Check out our Mentor FAQs for more information about the program.

Become a Formation Mentee

Formation is geared towards soon-to-be college graduates. As a part of the Formation family, Mentees will have access to a network of trusted design professionals who understand the unique challenges of entering the industry as a person of color. Mentors will help Mentees build relationships, skills, and knowledge of what to expect in the design industry.

Mentees will be a part of a supportive community of peers and Mentors who bring a wide variety of lived experience, connections, expertise, and resources to the program. Together, Mentees and Mentors will co-create their own mentorship experience based on the goals of the Mentee. Program focus areas may include job search support, interview skills, self advocacy, collaborative problem solving, technical skills, networking, and more.

BIPOC juniors, seniors, and students planning to enter the design profession in 1-2 years who are currently enrolled in a design program such as graphic, interior, product, architecture, apparel, experiential, or any form of design that shapes our environment or physical experience are encouraged to apply!

To learn more about our mentorship opportunities and to apply to be a Mentee, click here: Formation Mentees

Questions? Check out our Mentee FAQs for more information about the program.