The art of giving back
Exploring the unexpected moments that bring someone into mentoring to help kickstart careers, we discuss the motivations and reasons for giving something back with London College of Communication MA graduate and mentor, Lawrence Richards.
If you search hard enough, joy can be found in many places. Lawrence Richards started his career in the creative industry freelancing in design. Then finding himself searching for something more, he began an MA in Service Design at LCC.
Fast-forward and Lawrence now works for Unboxed, a London-based service design and digital product development agency. The purpose of his work at Unboxed runs parallel with his purpose as a mentor – to solve complex real-life problems and positively impact people’s lives.
The butterfly effect describes how small acts can create immeasurable changes, not only for ourselves but also for others. Every day that you wake up, the journey you pursue and the choices you make can shape how you, and others, move forward. Lawrence sees LCC as the driving force in his career.
Lawrence shot straight into the world of work after graduating, joining Unboxed thanks to the help of some LCC alumni. The university’s ongoing outreach and connections to the industry have proven indispensable to him. Whether it be the degree show, guest lectures or employability drives, the ability to catch up with students and tutors is something Lawrence believes to be crucial for breaking into the creative field.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” – H. Jackson Brown Jnr
In 2019 Lawrence was invited to LCC to host a live project with Unboxed and Char.gy (an EV charging point provider). The eight-week workshop consisted of six briefs, challenging students with complex real-life issues and providing insight into the industry. Over the years, Unboxed has established a strong relationship with MA Service Design and brought two recent graduates onboard.
People find a time in their life when they have enough experience share their knowledge, but is there ever a defining moment that proves you’re ready?
When Lawrence initially looked into mentorship, being a mentee appealed to him most. And when the alumni email offering the Mentoring Programme popped into his inbox, he knew he wanted to be involved and give something back.
In Lawrence’s opinion there are no set requirements that enable you to be a mentor but understanding the moments that have got you to where you are definitely helps. “To be a mentor, you don’t necessarily have to have discipline-specific skills, it’s more just having experience of life, situations, and challenges – and they can be transferable. Even just being able to listen to somebody, what they’re going through, being able to play that back to them and offer some kind of support and a different perspective.”
Mentoring relies on a level of selflessness where one person puts in time and effort to help another; creating a balance of push and pull. In the two years since joining the programme Lawrence has gained valuable perspective.
He understands that in the relationship between mentor and mentee, moments that may seem minuscule can, in fact, be the greatest lessons. Yet being a mentor involves trials and tribulations and is not always smooth sailing. “I think language can definitely be a barrier,” says Lawrence. “Especially in terms of service design and research, where often some words are particularly important to be able to articulate what you mean.
“But being able to help someone through something that they are really passionate about but maybe stuck at some point, I think that’s really rewarding.” Being a mentor takes creativity, be it sketching out an idea or gaining a wider understanding of the issue at hand.
“Being able to listen to somebody, what they’re going through, and offer some kind of support”
For Lawrence it’s all about making things more visual and creating a “common language. Even just getting a pack of post-its and working things out together, communicating through journey maps and other service design standard tools.”
Lawrence adds: “I think it has also taught me to be better at explaining things. Which is very useful, especially working with clients who aren’t technical and don’t know all of the jargon that comes with digital design. It’s really useful to be able to explain that in a simple way.”
The Mentoring Programme has benefited many graduates: helping them to enter and sustain their role in the industry; allowing them to see into the creative industry; offering a rounded experience that breaks away from academic education. Equally, it provides the mentors with experience of leadership, communication and the confidence to guide others.
Images provided by Lawrence Richards.
Illustrations by Scarlett Knights