Mentoring Spotlight: Wen Li x Tuesday Dé Máirt
- Written byChloe Murphy
- Published date 15 February 2024
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London College of Communication (LCC) is home to makers, thinkers and innovators. Bringing inspiring ideas and ways of working to a range of diverse industries, we change the world around us and make a positive difference to society.
One of the ways in which we support our students to take the next step in their development is by offering vital support through our Industry Mentoring Programme. This initiative connects current LCC postgraduates and recent alumni to professionals from the creative sectors, all of whom channel profound understanding, experience and insight through opportunities that shape the journeys of those at the beginning of their careers.
Together, mentors and mentees catch up regularly to explore ideas and aspirations that are tailored to specific goals - helping students to feel more confident, informed and engaged in the professional landscape while also enabling mentors to further develop their own skill sets and form new contacts across LCC's vibrant network.
Our Industry Mentoring Programme runs alongside a programme of initiatives designed to empower our College community to achieve their career ambitions while contributing to a more diverse, inclusive and innovative society. Managed by our Graduate Futures team, complementary activities range from rapid review sessions and speed networking to our incubation programme, LCC Accelerate, which supports recent graduates to level-up their business ideas through practical advice and creative inspiration.
Over the past few years, our Industry Mentoring Programme has continued to evolve and grow, fostering long-term relationships with organisations such as publishing houses Whitefox and Penguin Michael Joseph, along with the international design and transformation consultancy, EY Seren.
We caught up with recent MA Interaction Design graduate Wen Li and her mentor at EY Seren, Product Design Manager Tuesday Dé Máirt, to share their experiences of the programme: from navigating new career landscapes to the importance of instilling confidence in your creative practice.
Industry Mentoring Programme | London College of Communication
Wen, why did you decide to study an MA in Interaction Design at LCC?
As I started applying for MA courses, I found that most universities require you to have a bachelor's degree in a directly associated field, which wasn't the case for me. A friend who studied in the UK suggested I try UAL as they welcome students with an interdisciplinary background as long as their portfolio shows potential and has that ‘wow’ factor.
After exploring the UAL website, I found myself hooked by its design and content, all of which carried the idea that creativity matters.
As I’ve been always interested in experimental practice, I found that LCC's MA in Interaction Design aligned perfectly with my interests, so I decided to apply for it - and I can now say that I made one of the best decisions of my life.
Why did you decide to participate in the Industry Mentoring Programme?
Wen: As an international student, I had several years of work experience in Shanghai, but had never worked in the UK before.
I felt that the Industry Mentoring Programme presented an ideal opportunity to gain insights and guidance from professionals who could help me to navigate a brand new landscape.
Tuesday: I've always found joy in sharing my career journey and learning from others in the process.
Over the past few years, mentoring has become a fulfilling way for me to exchange experiences and insights with others.
What did you hope to achieve by taking part in the initiative?
Wen: My objective was to network with experienced mentors and peers who were either seeking job opportunities or connections, or who shared similar interests to me.
Tuesday: My goal was to empower individuals to recognise their uniqueness and foster confidence while encouraging them to share their experiences with upcoming graduates.
Tuesday, how did you support Wen to work towards her goals?
Establishing a blend of in-person and virtual monthly meetings, I tried to maximise Wen's mentoring experience from the very beginning.
In order to make the most of the time we had together, I asked her to send questions beforehand and come prepared with a framework for discussion. This enabled us to cover more ground, and to focus on practical ways of helping Wen meet her objectives.
Wen, what have been the highlights of your experience?
A standout moment was when Tuesday and her colleagues graciously invited a few of us to the EY Seren workplace. They provided us with an office tour, introduced their team and generously included us in a brainstorming session.
This exposure offered me a first-hand view of a large company's work environment in London, and enabled me to forge connections beyond my mentor. And it all happened because my mentor and her colleagues were so nice and willing to spend their valuable time arranging things just to give us an idea of what their professional environment and experiences look like.
How will you take the lessons learned through mentorship forward into your own creative career?
Tuesday has always been very encouraging, and 2 suggestions in particular from her continue to inspire me.
One is to ‘never give up, and just do things bit by bit at your pace’; the other is from her observation of interviewing female and male candidates. She found that female candidates tend to be less confident than male ones, even when they’re doing better in the same field - but on so many occasions, it’s the confidence itself that matters. As a result, she suggested that I shouldn’t be not afraid of ‘bragging’ a bit when it comes to interviews, and to just be proud of my work!
As a female practitioner in a creative field, I feel doubt comes along with the whole process, but Tuesday convinced me that we should be confident and feel secure enough in our work for the sake of not losing an opportunity that should have been ours.
Tuesday, how has participating in the mentoring initiative helped you to grow as a practitioner?
This experience has broadened my knowledge base and also bolstered my own confidence.
Witnessing the impact of my guidance on someone's success has been incredibly rewarding, reinforcing the value of sharing - and also learning from - each other's achievements.
Wen, why should other students sign up for the Industry Mentoring Programme?
Mentoring provides a priceless opportunity to network with seasoned professionals in the creative field while fostering connections among fellow students, and can even lead you to the entrance of a career path that’s right for you.
It's a really beneficial programme to be involved in, especially for international students who don’t have any direct work experience in the UK. I think the programme can help them to understand industry nuances, and to become familiar with the UK's professional landscape.
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Graduate Futures Manager Luminita Molico explained that Wen and Tuesday's relationship exemplifies the supportive, informative and inspiring nature of LCC's mentoring community.
"Wen Li and Tuesday Dé Máirt's experience really shows what the Industry Mentoring Programme is all about at London College of Communication," she said.
"It's a perfect example of how we're dedicated to helping our students and recent grads make it in the creative world. By connecting them with pros like Tuesday, we're not just helping them get a foot in the door; we're giving them the confidence and networks they need to succeed.
"Wen's journey as an international student finding her confidence in a new career landscape with Tuesday's guidance is exactly why we do this. It's more than just job prep - it's about making sure our students have what it takes to stand out and make a real difference in the creative industries."
Related links:
- Explore more work from Wen on her website.
- Discover the world of EY Seren.
- Learn more about our MA Interaction Design course.
- Find out more about our Graduate Futures team.
