From designers to illustrators, strategists to copywriters, 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
Ari Liloan
Freelance Illustrator
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Ari Liloan is a Filipino/Italian Illustrator based in Berlin.
Her work centres exploring timeless topics such as death, love, money, power and fried chicken through a surreal and lighthearted lens. Some clients include Facebook, XBOX Microsoft, Pepsico, The New York Times and Times Magazine.
She is represented by London-based Agency ROAR Artists.
Émilie Chen
Independent Art Director & Graphic Designer
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Émilie Chen is a French award-winning designer and art director based in London. She worked in-house at the National Theatre, Pentland Brands and Penguin Books before setting up as an independent creative, and now works across campaigns, book covers and exhibition design for clients including Netflix, the Young Vic, the Henry Moore Foundation and the Barbican.
Inside and outside of work, Émilie is passionate about making the industry more inclusive. She co-founded and ran the Ladies Wine & Design London chapter for seven years, and has given talks at LCC, Chelsea College of Arts and Birmingham Design Festival.
Ines Smudja
Senior Designer
Jones Knowles Ritchie
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I’m a designer based in London, originally from Italy. After completing a BA in Graphic Design in Florence, I moved to London to study Communication Design. I’ve worked for agencies in both Florence and London, gaining diverse experience. I’m currently a Senior Designer at Jones Knowles Ritchie, specialising in branding and packaging design. I’m passionate about sharing knowledge and nurturing creativity in the next generation of designers.
Karen Ftouni
Senior Strategist
Born Social
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I’m a Lebanese-born, Dubai-raised, London-living Senior Strategist and Photographer with a diverse background spanning design studios, ad agencies, and publishers. I specialize in crafting creative solutions and imaginative strategies for brands seeking to connect meaningfully with their audiences on social platforms and beyond. While my career is rooted in strategy, my true passion lies in storytelling. I’m driven by curiosity, constantly seeking the deeper connections between people and brands to create authentic narratives that resonate and shape culture. My fresh perspective helps brands navigate the evolving landscape and foster lasting engagement with their audiences.
Luke Brown
Lead Designer
Hypebeast
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Designer and Art Director based in London specialising in digital, motion and branding. Working on projects that shape contemporary culture & creativity through the world of design.
Luke is currently Lead Designer at Hypebeast where he has led projects for a number of global brands including Burberry, Moncler, Nike, Emporio Armani, Adidas, The North Face, Hennessy, Audemars Piguet and Chivas Regal.
He often takes on side projects to shape new and existing brands through a cultural lens and bring projects to life through motion and digital design. He is also co-founder of 9by16, a platform dedicated to showcasing creative social content.
Molly Rooney
Midweight Designer
Interbrand
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Hi! I'm Molly, a designer based in London, originally from Brighton. I’m passionate about creating work that’s not only thoughtfully crafted but also beautifully executed. I believe in the power of design to challenge conventions, grab attention, and shift perspectives. Inclusivity and accessibility are at the heart of my design practice. After graduating from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Graphic Design in 2021, I started as an intern at Interbrand. I returned in 2022 after earning my Master’s in Communication Design from Norwich University of the Arts. I'm driven by curiosity and experimentation with a passion for connecting audiences to brands in innovative ways. I’m especially excited about typography and I'm particularly interested in the history of design and it's role in influencing cultural movements, to inform contemporary practice.
Rachael Presky
Freelance Artist & Illustrator
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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.
Chiara Xie
Freelance Illustrator
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Chiara Xie is an illustrator, and her work is all about vivid colours and dynamic perspectives, inspired by the motion and energy of futurism, with a touch of pop art. She loves exploring how movement and colour can tell unique stories. Their themes often explore digitalization, wellness, and the complexities of human connections.
Hannah Tudor
Creative/Copywriter
McCann
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I'm a social creative currently working at McCann Manchester on clients like Aldi, Warburtons and Kia. I've won at all the major awards shows, including most promising creative at the Creative Circle awards.
I'm also visually impaired and often use my voice to shout about diversity in our industry. My personal journey hasn't always been straight forward but it's all helped me get to where I am.
Hayley Flavell
Design Director
Bulletproof
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I’m a design director with eight years experience working in creative agencies. I’m currently working at Bulletproof, one of the world’s largest independent brand agencies. I’ve worked across many global household brands with a keen focus on brand and packaging.
I love seeing an idea go from a quick (usually very rough!) sketch to the shelf in the supermarket. I’m a big believer that an empowered and happy team produces the best and most creative of work.
Jess Lomax
Co-Founder & Director
Inkling Illustration
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In 2021 Jess co-founded Inkling Illustration Agency, representing a curated team of amazing international illustrators and securing projects for them in global industries including publishing, advertising and editorial.
Jess started her career in the book publishing industry, and while working she also completed two design degrees. After ten years she followed her ambitions to become an illustration agent for children’s books.
In the wise words of Anthony Burrill, the Inkling company ethos is to "work hard and be nice to people". There’s a bit more to it than that, but it’s a great place to start.
Kulsum Karolia
Designer
Manchester United
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I am a designer with a multidisciplinary skill set, currently working for Manchester United in both digital and print design. Driven by a strong passion for inclusivity, I actively seek to foster a more welcoming environment within the creative industry. I believe that diverse perspectives enhance creativity and I am committed to making meaningful changes in my field.
Mitch Capurso
Design Director
Office of Overview
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Hello! I’m Mitch, an Australian-born, multi-disciplinary Design Director at Office of Overview. With a deep passion for building brands that play a more meaningful role in people’s lives, I bring a versatile skill set—spanning from strategy and identity to digital and motion, and everything else in between. Over the past 7 years, I've had the opportunity to work on a diverse and exciting range of projects across both Australia and the UK, collaborating with various studios and creatives along the way.
Omar Careaga
Designer & Founder
Arden Studio
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I'm Omar Careaga, a London-based multidisciplinary designer and founder of Arden Studio, a design practice specialising in branding, typography and digital experiences.
I work alongside brands and individuals on innovative projects, from branding to product and graphic design.
Apart from client work, I'm always creating and collaborating on projects where you feel more freedom creatively, allowing you to experiment with different mediums, such as printing, type design, creative workshops and photography.
Thomas Hall
Midweight Creative
Drummond Central
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Hello! I’m an art director, designer, occasional film photographer, more-than-occasional Guinness drinker and proud Mackem.
After graduating from Northumbria Uni in 2022 with a degree in Graphic Design, I started working at Drummond Central – an independent creative agency based in Newcastle – where I’m currently a Midweight Creative. Within my role, I’ve worked on campaigns for clients such as Greggs, Triumph Motorcycles and Fentimans.
I’m passionate about championing creativity in the North, about as much as I am about drinking Guinness. Which is a lot.
Beth Suzanna
Freelance Illustrator
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Beth Suzanna is a mixed-race, London-based illustrator whose uplifting work is rooted in colour and connection. She creates work for picture books, programmes, covers and campaigns. Beth’s work has a strong focus on community and diversity, Using bold figurative paper cut shapes or expressive pastel lines to create tactile, playful and human work. Working across Publishing, Editorial and Commercial briefs, as well as Workshop Facilitation. Over the past few years, Beth has created work for the likes of Bloomsbury Publishing, her debut picture book receiving five award nominations. Editorial Publications, such as Politico US & EU. As well as the V&A Museum and Hay Literary Festival as their 2023 illustrator-in-residence. Her creative collage workshops have seen her collaborate with brands such as Hermès, G.F Smith and Casetify and back in 2022 she was a D&AD New Blood Festival Portfolios Judge.
Georgia Mundy
Designer
Pearlfisher
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With 3+ years of experience as a designer across multiple creative agencies, I've developed skills and knowledge across various sectors that I’m keen to share. My optimistic, curious nature, paired with a strategic approach, fuels my passion for brand creation, packaging, innovation, and campaign design. I am passionate about mentoring emerging talent and eager to offer guidance, share my experience, and help others grow as creative professionals. I want to be the go-to person for mentees, ensuring they never feel alone, and giving them the confidence to take bold leaps in the industry.
Jamie Portch
Freelance Illustrator
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Jamie Portch is an award-winning illustrator, animator, educator and creative thinker working with leading companies and agencies worldwide. His passion lies in bringing projects to life through memorable concept-driven illustration, and he has a sought-after knack for communicating complex ideas with clarity and flair.
Beginning in the editorial realm, his practice has developed to include extensive print-based and digital work within advertising, packaging, web and app design, animation and textiles, and his illustrations have even been used on the occasional cake. His portfolio features work for clients including Yopa, Google, The Guardian, Lloyds of London, The Economist and Prudential.
Katie Mihailovits
Founder and Designer
Bloomin Studio
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I am a Senior Designer with over 10 years experience ranging from working in-house to studios to freelancing and having my own clients. I work across brand, print and digital but have a particular interest in creating visual identities. Other than designing, I have experience teaching, as a part-time lecturer and tutor on Shillington's graphic design course and I am a co-host of the Manchester Ladies Wine and Design group.
Maggie Stephenson
Freelance Illustrator
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Maggie Stephenson is an illustrator whose work spans editorial, advertising, and publishing. She has collaborated with clients such as The Daily Telegraph, Puma, The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, Women’s Health and more. Maggie’s work is inspired by nature and the human connection, transforming concepts into engaging visuals with the use of vibrant colours, rich textures, and playful shapes.
Ollie Jordan
Senior Designer
GeoBrand
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I’ve worked in the creative industries for the past 7 years, where I’ve honed the craft in everything from brand design to typography, editorial design and website design. Whether it’s crafting captivating identities or delving deep into strategy, I thrive on bringing visions to life and creating meaningful impact. One of the things I find most gratifying about my role is seeing designers and students grow thanks to the knowledge that I have shared with them. I’ve been a mentor for a Kent-based start-up education scheme and have also given talks at Ravensbourne and Canterbury Christ Church Universities.
Sravya Attaluri
Creative Director
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Sravya is an award-winning illustrator, designer, and creative director whose work combines art, social impact and strategy. A graduate of the University of Southern California and currently pursuing a Master’s in Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London, her projects often explore mental health and cultural identity. She has collaborated with brands like Adobe, Instagram, and Plan International, and her work has been exhibited internationally in Hong Kong, London, and the US. Featured in notable press and recipient of multiple awards, Sravya continues to make waves in the creative world with her innovative approach.