Inside Student Mentoring

Nov 04, 2024 By Jessica Jones

Take a peek behind the scenes of the IIDA Student Mentoring Program—students and mentors share the impact of this experience and the power of mentorship

By Jessica Jones Nov 04, 2024

Published in Articles

Although the classroom can be where a design education starts, the learning doesn’t end there—much like any career, education isn’t always linear. For students, real-world experiences like mentorship, networking, and access to resources are valuable tools in laying the groundwork for their careers. IIDA’s Student Mentoring Program (SMP) provides more than 500 students a year across the United States with a hands-on, personal approach to mentorship that allows them to explore any facet of the interior design industry and blaze their own career paths.

Project designers Delaney Bement and Jacqueline Childress, Assoc. IIDA, from VIA Design teamed up as mentors for the 2024 SMP and were both paired with Layla Caldwell, Student IIDA, an interior architecture student at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Bement and Childress looked at mentorship not only as a unique opportunity for students, but for design professionals as well—an opportunity to be an active member of the design community, and be reminded of the excitement of discovering your passion. For Caldwell, there was an opportunity to connect with design firms from out of state as she hopes to move post-graduation. Follow along as we get to see what a day in the mentoring program looks like through both the mentor and mentee’s eyes, and the impact it has on students and design professionals alike.

Delaney Bement
Project Designer
VIA design

Layla Caldwell, Student IIDA
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jacqueline Childress, Assoc. IIDA
Project Designer
VIA design

Why is this program an important component in design education?

Layla Caldwell (LC): As a student I think that mentorship is important for your education because you are able to have someone that is not one of your professors be at your disposal to ask questions and ask advice.

Delaney Bement (DB): This program is so important to design education because it gives students firsthand perspective, it allows them to experience the reality of what they are learning in school without going through the early stages of an internship, like organizing the material library. They get to jump right into the core of our work.

Jacqueline Childress (JC): Participating in mentorship programs, [job] shadowing days, or internships is an important component in design education because these activities bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real world of design. By providing students with firsthand experience working alongside practicing designers, they gain a realistic understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and rewards of the profession. This exposure helps them develop practical skills, build professional networks, and make informed decisions about their career paths.

What do you want to see more of in design education?

LC: As a design student I would like to see more hands-ons and more real-world practice. When I was at VIA, I was able to learn and experience new things. Also this summer I had an interior design internship which was very helpful in helping me figure out which design path I would want to continue down in the future.

To prepare for a day of mentoring, Bement and Childress break down what will be most impactful for their mentee that day. They plan a “coffee and questions” sit-down meeting to engage with Caldwell and make her more comfortable before going through her portfolio.