SHINE is a four-month mentoring program. The program matches mentors and mentees around DMV design communities looking to connect, challenge each other to grow, focus on portfolio development, or collaborate on a project of their choice.

Program details

Kickoff: Mentors and mentees meet up and work hand-in-hand to identify the mentee’s career goals and aspirations. Before leaving, each pair will schedule future check-ins and determine how to collaborate together. Over the next four months, mentors and mentees will work together and learn from each other through one-on-one meet-ups and group events.

Midpoint: Pairs meet back up to connect over roundtable discussions.

Finale: SHINE wraps up in May with a celebration and presentation of projects.

Ready to sign up?

Mentors should have 5+ years of professional experience. Yes, it’s a 4-month commitment, but you can set the pace, meeting place, and method with your mentee.

Mentees should have 1-4 years of experience. The focus of our program is to reach emerging designers who are working in the design field, so we prefer applicants to have finished college or another academic program. Returning mentees who have already participated in SHINE will likely not be considered due to the number of new applicants who are eager to have this opportunity. Over the course of this program, you’ll work with your mentor on portfolio development or a design project of your choice. Should you be matched, you’ll be asked to have goals and project ideas ready to discuss with your mentor.

Apply now!

Applications for the 2024 program are now closed.
For information about additional mentorship opportunities, please contact shine@dc.aiga.org.

More About SHINE

Learn more about how the SHINE and EMERGE programs can help young designers from SHINE founders Dian Holton and Kerri Sarembock:

Questions?

Email us at shine@dc.aiga.org or connect with us our AIGA DC social accounts: Twitter / Facebook

Past Committee Members

As with all our work, SHINE could not exist without our volunteers. Thank you to all of the individuals who have made the program possible.

2023

Megan Kimmitt, Chair
Chelsae Blackman
Peter Gibb
Aliana Grace Bailey

2022

Jessica Kerbo, Chair
Chelsae Blackman
Peter Gibb
Sara Suttle

2021

Puneet Kaur, Chair
Chelsae Blackman
Erin Pedati
Koi Hernandez

2020

Mel Charlton, Co-chair
Dian Holton, Co-chair
Chelsae Blackman
Jodie Custudio
Sharon Duke
Nick Fabiani
Dan Rader

2019

Mel Charlton, Chair
Dian Holton
Kerri Sarembock

2018

Kerri Sarembock,Co-chair
Dian Holton, Co-chair
Chris Montwill
Kate Starr

2011-17

Dian Holton, Co-Chair
Kerri Sarembock, Co-chair

If you see a name is missing, please let us know and we’ll update our records.

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