From designers to illustrators, copywriters to social strategists, we have the perfect mentor waiting to meet you.
Keep scrolling to read more about our legendary mentors, who’ve volunteered their time to nurture the next wave of creative talent 👏
Meet the mentors
Meet the mentors
Ami Vadi
Designer
Golden
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Ami Vadi is a Leeds-based designer known for creating thoughtful, visually refined work that blends strategy, storytelling, and contemporary aesthetics. Currently working at GOLDEN, she collaborates across branding, digital, and creative projects; for brands such as Coca-Cola, Nike and EA Games. Her approach balances creativity with clarity, producing work that feels both distinctive and purposeful. Inspired by culture, typography, and modern visual communication, Ami is passionate about building engaging experiences that connect with audiences in meaningful ways. She values collaboration, curiosity, and craft, continually evolving her practice through experimentation and research and innovation.
Anna McClellan
Senior Designer
Derek&Eric
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Hey, I’m Anna! I started my journey fresh from uni as a placement straight into luxury packaging and branding at Studio Minerva, and have recently taken the leap into FMCG at Derek&Eric as a senior designer.
I had the pleasure of entering the industry in the pandemic, and found myself surrounded by amazing people who were always willing to help, share their knowledge and connections to get me in and succeed during the hardest of times. I promised myself that I would always pass that on, give back as much as I can and be the person to offer support or just a friendly face in the industry like all those amazing people who had helped me get to this point.
Angus Meikle
Design Director
Red Dot Studio
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Originally from Morecambe, I studied Game Design before completing a Graphic Design degree at the University of Central Lancashire. After starting my career at Pearlfisher, I helped launch Red Dot Studio, where I’ve spent the past five years and now work as Design Director. I love creating simple, witty ideas that connect with people and am passionate about supporting the next generation of creative talent.
Ariana Cowan
Graphic Designer
Raptor
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I am a graphic communication designer, with a focus visual identity and brand design. My personal practice sits at the intersection of art and design often driven by themes of identity, self expression and people.
Through every experience in design; personal and professional, storytelling is at the crux of everything I create that results in thought-provoking work and inspires conversation.
Monocon, my own independent initiative, is a space for visual artists and designers to collaboratively realise their creative genius through dialogue, conversations and interactive workshops.
Eleanor Spickett
Senior Creative
LOVE.
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Eleanor has been part of LOVE for over three years, joining the studio after working at multiple London agencies and graduating from the University of Central Lancashire.
Her experience spans branding, packaging and art direction, alongside close collaboration with spatial teams to help bring to life tangible experiences for brands.
A standout career highlight includes working on the Back to Nature rebrand, packaging, campaign and pop-ups.
Eleanor has a strong eye for detail and a skill for creating cohesive brand experiences, with bold, new ideas always at the heart of her work.
Dave Bain
Freelance Illustrator & Muralist
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I'm a freelance illustrator and mural painter. After graduating from Falmouth, I set up my illustration studio in Bristol, UK, inside Jamaica Street Studios. I enjoy working as a commercial illustrator on editorial, promotional, advertising, branding and publishing commissions.
My idiosyncratic illustrations are colourful, distinctive, wildly expressive and feature stylised characters. I'm inspired by screen-printing and risograph techniques, colour theory, picture books and mid-century illustration (for example, Jim Flora). I love listening to jazz and electronic music.
Clients I've worked with include the NHS, Hachette, The Observer, Starbucks, Time Out, Oxfam, Aardman and The Teenage Cancer Trust.
Francesca Hadland
Writer
Reed Words
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Francesca - or Cesca for short - is a London-based writer and creative with the rather wonderful job of bringing brands to life and drawing people to them.
She's served up the right (and sometimes award-winning) words for Costa Coffee and Lidl, bolstered furniture houses with new names and voices, and worked on copy and concepts for brands like EDF, VodafoneThree and The Royal Mint.
When she's not doing some/all of the above, you'll find her watching movies, writing on Substack, chilling with her British Shorthair, Pudding – and helping the next generation of creatives shake up the industry.
Jess Braham
Client Services Consultant
Represent Recruitment
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Former client services professional turned recruiter, I bring a deep understanding of the industry and the nuances of client services and account management roles.
Having spent many years working within design agencies, I understand both the agency and client-side landscape from a candidate’s perspective.
Jacob Straffon
Midweight Designer
Chase Design
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Hey! My name’s Jacob, and I’m a designer at Chase Design Group UK. I had an unconventional start to my career. While many went straight into full-time roles, I spent my early years moving between internships, learning as much as I could along the way. I’ve since shaped those experiences, both good and bad, into the internship scheme I now run at Chase. I’m really looking forward to sharing what I’ve learned and supporting the next generation of designers.
Jezzie Hill
Midweight Designer, JDO
Illustration Business Owner
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A designer working in packaging and branding - working on major brands like Dove & Radox. On the side, Jezzie owns her own illustration business specialising in location art prints - She has been doing this for over 6 years and has sold thousands of prints in high street stores, Etsy and Shopify.
Lekha Nanavati
Brand Design Director
The Otherly
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Lekha Nanavati is a Brand Design Director at The Otherly, building distinctive, culturally resonant brands that create real impact for the people and businesses she works with. She specialises in strategic brand storytelling and big conceptual ideas that solve commercial challenges and lay the foundations for engaging brand worlds.
She is also a Community Leader with Brwn Ink, advocating for underrepresented talent in the industry. When not working, she can often be found reading a good book or travelling in pursuit of good food and adventure.
Kyle Ayuba
Designer & Art Director
McCann London
Lilla Cseh
Graphic Designer
Here Design
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Lilla is a designer at Here Design with three years’ experience crafting luxury packaging and brand identities. With a strong focus on detail, form and materiality, she brings ideas to life through 3D exploration, tactile making and digital experimentation.
Her work spans identity, packaging and illustration for globally recognised brands including Bacardi, Finlandia Vodka, Natura Brasil and Monica Rich Kosann, as well as over 400 illustrations for Thames & Hudson’s Ocean. She creates thoughtful, immersive brand experiences that balance craft with contemporary design.
Maria Vidal
Midweight Designer
Jones Knowles Ritchie
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I’m a Midweight Designer at JKR, where I’ve been working for the past three years across mostly branding and packaging. I have a big love for playful design and illustration.
Originally from Portugal, I understand both the opportunities and challenges that can come with building a creative career, so I’d love to support students navigating that experience themselves.
Luke Tonge
Independent Graphic Designer
Co-Founder, Birmingham Design
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Luke is a graphic designer (mentor & occasional lecturer), originally from Notts and now, via Falmouth, proudly flying the flag for the West Midlands, where he & his wife Tash live. With a passion for craft, nourished by pop culture, his practise focuses on creating compelling & colourful identity & editorial work for brands, agencies and charities. As co-director of Birmingham Design, the organisation responsible for the Birmingham Design Festival & Gather, he spends much of his time championing the creative community and supporting the next generation. He is very into kindness, fun and wearing shorts.
Neel Panchal
CEO & Creative Director
Panchal™
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Neel Panchal is a Creative Director and Graphic Designer from North West London with over two decades of expertise spanning design agencies, fashion, culinary arts, and the music industry.
As Creative Director at BMG, he founded The Studio, delivering award-winning creative for The Rolling Stones, Fatboy Slim, and Kylie Minogue. In 2019, he launched Panchal™ — an independent studio for the ones who refuse to follow. Obsessed with meaning, Neel creates concept-driven work that cuts through trend-chasing, helping bold musicians and maverick brands articulate their message and move culture forward. Clients include Universal Music, Warner Music, Jeff Goldblum and Idris Elba. (Mavericks only).
Rachael Presky
Freelance Illustrator & Muralist
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I’m a freelance illustrator and artist who specialises in large-scale mural artworks and commercial, branding and packaging projects. I bring my varied background to my work, creating artworks around inclusivity, with my characters having as big of a variety of people as possible with a main focus on women in sport. As a result of a disability which impacts my throat and ability to speak, I focus on being as inclusive as I can be within my work, to give everyone a voice.
I’ve worked with clients such as Adobe, adidas, Vans, and have a project coming out soon with Neutrogena.
Obehi Ejele
Middleweight Designer
Ogilvy
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Bio coming soon…
Rose O’Mahony
Senior Designer
Springetts Brand Design
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Hi! I’m Rose.
I’m a senior creative with 12+ years in a brand and packaging studio, working across everything from early ideas through to final delivery. I’ve spent much of my career leading projects, working closely with clients, and making sure strong ideas actually make it into the world.
I love the tactile side of design, drawing, making, getting messy, and the moment when ideas come from strange and unexpected places and turn into something real.
I’d love to mentor and help others navigate this mad, creative world.
Shania Janine Saldi
Social Creative
Adam&Eve\TBWA
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Hi, I’m Shania (shan-ee-yuh)!
I’m currently a Social Creative at Adam&EveTBWA - I love working at the intersection of design, copy, and storytelling, turning personal (but universal) experiences into work that makes you feel things. You’ll usually find me writing, journaling, or making content.
In the past year, I graduated with a BA in Graphic Design from Central Saint Martins and worked at an amazing startup before landing in my current role. On the side, I freelance as a graphic designer and Notion consultant, where I create custom workspaces for small businesses or individuals.
Ruby Jones
Designer
Coley Porter Bell
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I’m Ruby, a packaging designer based in London after moving from Leeds. I started my career at Honey and joined Coley Porter Bell this year. I’ve worked on brands including Napolina, Crosse & Blackwell and Branston.
A few years ago, I was an Arena mentee myself, and it showed me how valuable the right support can be. Confidence has never come naturally to me, so I know how overwhelming the design industry can feel. I’d love to help my mentee feel more confident and realise what they’re capable of achieving.
Wiktoria Radkiewicz
Senior Illustrator
Bloom
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In-house illustrator at Bloom, a branding agency. I help Bloom's internal internship team, and enjoy mentoring, and I volunteer at a mental health organisation.
I have exhibited at comic expos in the UK and France, and at self-organised art exhibitions in London. I have published several books and graphic novels, as well as worked with publishers. All around creative, excited about world, history and film, and finding inspiration everywhere.