It’s our last working day of 2025, and we wanted to take a moment to say thank you.

It’s been a good year. We’ve worked with valued clients, delivered projects we’re proud of, and collaborated closely with people who’ve trusted us with their creative briefs. That means a great deal to us.

As we switch off the lights and step away for a well-earned break, we’re grateful for the partnerships, conversations, and collaborations that have made this year what it was.

Wishing you a peaceful end to the year and a healthy, successful 2026.

We’ll be back on 5th January.

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Peace, equality and freedom.

#IWD2024

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#internationalwomensday #womenindesign #femalefounders #community #socialchange #inspireinclusion #equality #womenlifefreedom

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February will mark our third full year of running Mentoring Sessions, our studio initiative designed to help Graphic Designers of all levels through expert guidance, feedback, and mentoring.

Over the past year, we hosted 25 mentees – a vibrant mix of emerging and established designers from across the world. Our 60-minute sessions tackled specific challenges, explored future ambitions, and ignited personalised action plans, aiding each mentee to make strides towards their future goals.

While online resources are abound, the overwhelming feedback we have received highlights the value of face-to-face interaction with a seasoned creative mind. Mentees cited overcoming common hurdles and challenges as a key motivator for seeking mentorship, including:

• Navigating career transitions — finding the perfect job, breaking into the industry, or transitioning to agency, in-house or freelance roles.
• Building confidence and self-belief — conquering self-doubt and effectively showcasing skills and potential.
• Expanding design expertise — mastering new skillsets, refining existing ones, and staying ahead of the curve.
• Demystifying career paths — understanding different design roles, responsibilities, and expectations within creative environments.
• Charting a course for growth — taking a current role to the next level and achieving long-term career goals.

As we embark on a sabbatical year from the Mentoring Sessions initiative, we have been keenly aware that our programme has focused beyond technical critique — it has been primarily about human connection, the genuine conversations that can spark self-belief, empowering designers to set goals and realise them. We’ve been privileged to see many find their unique path forward.

We shall resume our initiative in 2025.

Q&A

We asked some of our 2023 mentees why they looked for a mentor and how it helped.

Beatriz Carvalho — Graphic Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
It’s really easy to feel lost in the industry when we are freshly out of the academic world and to not know how to get to the next stage and evolve into the best professional we can be. I felt the need to have some guidance on what I’m doing wrong or how could I improve to get some call backs.

How did it help?
Having the opportunity to speak with Roz and have some advice and even some reassurance that I can make it when I’m just starting my career was truly valuable to keep me moving forward. After putting the advice to work I got great results and hopefully I’ll find that dream job where I can be challenged and surrounded by creative minds.

Yelyzaveta Berestova — Illustrator and Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
Upon graduating, I felt a bit overwhelmed with the job search and started to reach out to designers and studios I admired for a chat, help with portfolio, pointers with hiring etc. Roz and Charlotte from Minx Creative were one of the few people who got back to me and offered a mentorship session, where I didn’t only get to share my work but also practice speaking about it, which is so important in preparation for job interviews.

How did it help?
At the time, I was looking for a helping hand, but what I found was so much more. The Mentoring Session gave me confidence to reach out to new people and essentially became the basis for building my professional network, which is especially important when you are fresh out of university. I’ve also learnt that a chat with someone you admire can go a long way and can be more rewarding than asking for a favour right away.

Emilie Lim — Graphic Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
I looked for a mentor, specifically a creative mentor because I needed assistance in my design journey to get insights and guidance.

How did it help?
The mentorship has been incredibly beneficial, and I’ve made improvements to my CV and portfolio based on the valuable feedback provided.

Matthew Russell — Graphic Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
I had a portfolio that I put together from my time at Shillington, and thought it would help to get some input on my projects and what I could improve. I had been job searching for a while without much response and it was making me doubt my portfolio and whether it was any good. When I saw the mentorship opportunity from Minx Creative, I was delighted and thought it would be really useful to get some input from other industry creatives. There’s not many studios that offer mentoring and I think lots of entry-level designers would benefit from interacting with more experienced designers, as it can be challenging to start out in the industry.

How did it help?
Roz and Charlotte were really great to speak to in the virtual portfolio review, and I instantly felt relief in knowing that my portfolio was well received and that there were projects I could edit without needing to redo too much. The feedback was really concise so I was able to implement the changes with ease, and being able to resend them the updated portfolio for further feedback was incredibly reassuring.

They also helped me with my confidence, and it’s made me feel that I can better present myself in interviews with potential studios. This mentorship experience came at a crucial time as I didn’t have much faith in getting into the industry and needed the validation to keep pursuing to get my first full-time design role. Of all the interactions I have had in my job searching period, this has by far been the best experience.

Lizzie Emrich-Mills — Graphic Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
I sought out a mentor to gain a better understanding of the design industry and what it takes to become a part of it. Graphic design job listings can be quite varied in what they require from candidates so I always aim to speak to real people (recruiters or otherwise) to ask them what they think of my skill set and portfolio projects.

How did it help?
I felt encouraged, motivated by the specificity of the feedback given and confident that I had the ability to improve. I had reached out to a number of different creatives looking for advice, but this session was particularly helpful because it went into detail about the responsibilities of a design agency intern or junior designer.

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Fedrigoni 365

As with previous volumes, this 2023 edition of Fedrigoni 365 showcases a united collaboration of cross-disciplinary creatives with the core inspiration and theme this year being ‘love’.

Each calendar date focuses on the individuals/studio/agency’s interpretation of love, and the outcome is a beautiful collection of diverse artworks, uniquely printed, expertly finished and bound.

This year, we were assigned with the date 19 March, and our approach to the brief: ‘19 flowers for Mum. Happy Mother’s Day.’

Thank you, Fedrigoni — we loved being a part of the collaboration

We encourage everyone to purchase a copy via Counterprint — proceeds from each sale going directly to the British Heart Foundation.

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Peace, equality and freedom.

#IWD2023 #womenlifefreedom

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#internationalwomensday #community #socialchange #genderequal #embraceequity

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This month marks our second full year of running Mentoring Sessions, our studio initiative providing guidance, feedback and mentoring to Graphic Designers of all levels.

Over the past 12 months we have met with 25 mentees, living across the UK and overseas. From emerging designers through to Mid-weight and Senior levels, we spent time talking about current circumstances, work and future goals. Each 60 minute session, being uniquely geared for the mentee, covered as much ground as possible.

Whilst there are a host of resources available to designers online, the opportunity to speak face-to-face and openly with a creative head was recognised as a hugely positive outcome and much needed.

Common hurdles and challenges that continue to be the main decision-maker for mentees reaching out to us in the first instance, include:

• Finding or changing a job
• Breaking into the industry
• Self-confidence
• Building on experience
• Understanding roles, routes and responsibilities
• Expectations of working in creative environments
• Freelancing vs full-time employment
• In-house vs studio/agency
• How to take your role to the next level
• Moving from one skill set to another

We will continue running the free sessions with discussions currently underway to set up group sessions.

Q&A

We asked some of our mentees why they looked for a mentor and how it helped.

Lauren Forrester — Senior Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
There is very little opportunity for mentorship in my current (and previous) roles. Very senior level creatives in fast paced environments are squeezed by so many responsibilities they just aren’t able to spend the time needed with those coming up below them. Particularly so through covid and now we are working remotely / hybrid, those opportunities to get involved in small ways through the day are missing.

How did it help?
It’s not often I would share my concerns about my performance with colleagues. I valued our session because it was neutral, I wasn’t trying to impress anyone (for once!) – I could speak really honestly about my experience and receive supportive and constructive feedback without worrying about it having an impact on my salary expectations or how I’d be perceived in future.

Ana Shuyi — Graphic Designer & Illustrator

Why did you look for a mentor?
I have been working with a starter company for 2 years after I graduate as an oversea student, and through hard work and been given the chance of managing a small team, I became the leading graphic designer of the company. But since I never got the chance to work in a design agency, nor a company with a complete system, I felt the lack of confidence and questioned my abilities as an industrial standard designer. And my status as non-UK resident, brought me more stress and insecurity. And I was lost, I didn’t know if I am actually good or just the kindness of my directors and colleagues. So I reached out and wished to hear genuine thoughts about me from an experienced local designer.

How did it help?
The session was really joyful, the time flied and I felt very comfortable to show my characters as a person and a designer. It was a huge boost of motivation for me, and I got very genuine suggestions, about how and what to do to improve my portfolio & CV, the talk was a gentle push, and I rebuilt the confidence through the talk. As a result, I assured myself that I do have the abilities, I’m on the right track, I just need to push things forward, and I felt I got more energy to achieve my goals. Thank you so much!

Rachel Braden— Graphic Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
The reason I looked for a mentor was for some guidance; I was stuck at the point in my career where I needed some fresh new ideas and just some pointers of where I needed to improve.

How did it help?
Speaking to Roz really helped, made me realise that it’s perfectly normal to feel the way I was and that it happens to everyone from time to time. It also gave me the confidence to keep going and maybe look at things in other ways to help gain inspiration.

Bonnie Agaba — Creative Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
Finding a mentor was and still is a key part in rapid or steady growth in my current career plan. I was completely lost without guidance and needed to find someone who was (or is) willing to pass on their genius and hopefully help grow mine.

How did it help?
Well this part is painfully eye-opening. I was advised to become who I already was but was walking away from. It’s hard to sell African design to Africans so the more ‘modern’ or ‘western’ your design seems, the more likely the Ugandan market will accept it. However I wanted to break from the confines of this market, I needed to become an amazing ‘Ugandan Designer’.

Since receiving this advice, I have pushed my designs to show a stronger connection to the Ugandan and/or African heritage, mainly in pattern building and typography (depending on the project). This got me so excited that I have begun to apply this to UI design as well.

This new touch to my work has grabbed the eyes and trust of a few SMEs that have been lucky enough to get funding from programs like the ‘NSSF Hi innovator’ which is focusing on unlocking the potential of young entrepreneurs in the country. This should allow me the chance to show my country, Uganda, how far you can push design in branding, advertising and UI/UX design.

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It’s our last working day of 2022. In just a couple of hours we’ll be downing design tools and replacing them with a glass or three of something sparkly.

Cheers to you all and here’s to your good health.

Wishing you a happy 2023!

We’ll be back on the 4th January.

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In times when nothing stood⁠
But worsened, or grew strange,
There was one constant good:
She did not change.

Queen Elizabeth II, we thank you for your years of service, loyalty and care.

We shall miss you very much.

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1926-2022

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#RIP
Poem: Philip Larkin
Photography: Dorothy Wilding, 1952

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Introducing a new bespoke typographical series, the Character Collection.

An eclectic yet cohesive series that started out as a studio project which organically became a collaboration between us and our design family (paperware designers), Storigraphic.

The finished collection comprises 26 uniquely designed letter forms, developed for individual use as well as adapted to surface pattern designs, and applied to statement wrapping papers, greeting cards, stationery and eco wooden pin badges.

A full work study will be published soon.

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See the full retail collection here. 20% of sale profits from this particular series will go to homelessness charity, Crisis UK.

Type and form design by Minx Creative. Surface pattern, paperware and product design by Storigraphic.
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We launched our initiative, Mentoring Sessions, in February 2021 — over the past 12 months, we’ve had the privilege of working with mentees of all levels and backgrounds and haven’t looked back. It’s been as much of a learning journey for us as the individuals whom we’ve met along the way.

We’ve uncovered some common hurdles and challenges that designers face today and learned about the impact these issues have on their lives, goals and plans, including:

• Finding or changing a job
• Self-confidence
• Building on experience
• Understanding roles, routes and responsibilities
• Freelancing vs full-time employment
• In-house vs studio/agency

Whilst there are a host of resources available to designers online, seemingly the opportunity of speaking face-to-face made a huge difference. Each 60 minute session covered so much ground, it became evident this approach was incomparable to learning via an online resource. Similarly, the chance to freely speak (one-to-one) with a studio head was seen as a welcome opportunity.

We have heard from the majority of our mentees over the year — some have secured new jobs, taken up internships, expanded their network and joined new groups, and a couple have now become mentors themselves. Overall, we’ve seen positive outcomes.

Our studio will continue with the programme — registration and details here.

Q&A

We asked some of our mentees why they looked for a mentor and how it helped.

Andrea Dona — Visual Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
Last year I decided it was time to look for a new job, after working for the same company for five years. I soon realised that I was out of the job search game for too long, I was struggling to promote my skills properly and I wasn’t really sure my portfolio was good enough to attract the attention of design agencies out there. I really felt that talking to a mentor could help me get an unbiased opinion on the above and get me on the right track.

How did it help?
I was amazed by how much attention and care was put into understanding my career goals! I walked through some of the case studies in my portfolio, and was given some smart and specific feedback, as well as reassurance of my design skills. That one session really paid off. Following the tips, I tweaked my portfolio and found my new job soon after. If you want some honest opinions about your design career and your works (no matter your level of seniority), register for a mentoring session!

Luke Henry — Graphic Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
I was looking for a mentor because I was having a hard time progressing and so I wanted a critique, not only of my work but my direction and attitude towards becoming a full-time graphic designer.

How did it help?
It helped more than I could have imagined. Roz reviewed how I presented myself/work online and my demeanour/body language and gave me a few tasks that have set me on the road to presenting myself as a professional, confident graphic designer! Today I have gained a lot of confidence and joined a design internship.

Hannah Wilson — Graphic Designer

Why did you look for a mentor?
My mentoring session came several months into my first job working at a small start-up as their Graphic Designer. I needed design-specific feedback on my work and tailored advice on where to improve. I also wanted to gain the confidence (and sanity!) that I was on the right track with my design career. I was keen to expand my network too, being relatively new to the world of design after originally studying Fine Art.

How did it help?
The session exceeded my expectations, it was short and sweet, but I walked away feeling energised and more positive about my situation. I gained some direction about what steps to take next and practical advice on how to improve my CV and portfolio. I am very grateful that I came across Minx Creative; they’ve made me feel welcomed!

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