Each attendee will be asked to fill out a short survey to determine what kind of involvement they are most interested in. This will help inform what group is the best fit for you. Groups will be loosely based on these categories:

• I’m looking for a new opportunity or job
• I’d like to participate in a group project
• I'd like to rework my portfolio
• I’m looking to be a better freelancer
• I’d like to get to know my creative peers better and simply hangout

Do any of these sound like the reason you'd be part of the Mentor program? Or do you have a different goal in mind?

During the kick-off, everyone will get 60 seconds to introduce themselves and you will have the opportunity to meet 79 other mentees and mentors. It's very important that you attend the kickoff to ensure you will be placed in one of the groups. Each group will meet every other week following the kickoff for 6 weeks (June 26, July 10+24, August 7+21, September 4) at locations to be decided by your group.

On the weeks your group doesn't meet, we will offer Studio Tours and Small Talks open to all participants (sometimes with a cap on numbers if the location is limited). Tours in the past have included VSA Partners, IDEO, designkitchen, 37signals and more. This is a great opporunity to get your foot in the door of your favorite Chicago firm.

This program is FREE and open to all AIGA members, as well as non-members who are interested in joining AIGA. Non-members can only be in the program once. If you were previously in the program and have not yet joined AIGA but would like to be part of the program again, please activate your membership by June 19th.

An enormous thank you to the Greater Good Studio team for letting us use their space for the evening and to the wonderful folks at Artisan Talent for their generous sponsorship.

Hope to see you all there!

Questions? Email Katherine Walker  at katherine@chicago.aiga.org