Knowledge is not lost. It is passed.
BDH's year-round mentorship program. 4–6 week cohort cycles.
Georg Olden didn't figure it out alone. Neither did Cheryl D. Miller. The designers who built this industry were taught — by communities, by mentors, by rooms that made space for them. The Lineage is how BDH makes that room, deliberately and continuously.
Mentorship Program — BDH
The Lineage
“Knowledge is not lost. It is passed.”
Cycle length
4–6 weeks
Cadence
Year-round
Sessions / cycle
4–6 sessions
Format
Designer's choice
The industry has a lineage. So do we.
Georg Olden. Tom Burrell. Cheryl D. Miller. The Black designers who built the industry — who broke rooms and redefined what design could say — did not stop at surviving the room. They pulled others through.
The Lineage is BDH's year-round mentorship program. It is a continuous, community-built structure through which knowledge, relationships, and professional intelligence move from one generation of Black designers to the next.
How The Lineage works
Mentorship is peer-informed
We pair based on alignment, not just seniority. A 5-year designer and a 15-year designer can both learn from each other. BDH doesn't assume experience always flows one direction.
Mentorship is not charity
Both mentor and mentee invest. Both benefit. The Lineage is not a service delivered to emerging designers — it is a mutual commitment that makes the whole community stronger.
Mentorship is culturally grounded
Mentors at BDH understand the specific experience of being a Black designer navigating predominantly white spaces. This is not optional context. It is the context.
The community is stronger because of it
The knowledge, relationships, and doors that BDH's senior members have earned do not belong to them alone. The Lineage is how that inheritance moves forward.
Who this is for
Mentors
You earned the room.
Now pull someone in.
5+ years in a design-adjacent profession
Active participation in The Studio or The Council tier
Committed to 4–6 sessions per cohort cycle
Open to honest, unfiltered professional conversation
Understanding of the specific experience of being a Black designer
Mentees
You don't have to figure
it out alone.
Black designer at any career stage
Member of The Circle, The Studio, or The Council
Clear on what kind of guidance you are seeking
Open to being challenged and held accountable
Committed to at least 4 sessions per cohort cycle
How we match
Design discipline alignment (branding, UX, illustration, motion, etc.)
Career stage and professional goals
Shared values and program interests
Geographic proximity where possible (Houston-area preferred for in-person)
Expressed mentor and mentee preferences from intake form
Commitment
Minimum 4 sessions per cohort cycle. Recommended monthly check-ins, ad hoc availability.
Format is designer's choice: coffee, video call, studio visit, or a walk around the block. The structure is the commitment. The form is yours.
Matching happens at the start of each cohort cycle. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. The Lineage runs year-round — there is always a next cohort.
Every cohort cycle runs 4 to 6 weeks. Every cycle matters.
The Lineage operates on a rolling cohort model. Six cohorts per year. Applications always open. Each cycle follows the same five-phase structure — from matching to close.
Week 1
Match
Applications reviewed. Mentor–mentee pairs announced based on discipline, goals, and compatibility. Introductory email + onboarding guide shared.
Weeks 1–2
Connect
First meeting. Mentors and mentees set expectations, establish communication preferences, and define 2–3 goals for the cohort cycle.
Weeks 2–4
Build
Active mentorship sessions. Flexible in format: portfolio reviews, career strategy, skill deep-dives, honest conversations. Minimum 2 sessions during this phase.
Weeks 4–5
Reflect
Mid-cycle check-in. BDH sends optional prompts. Mentors and mentees assess progress and adjust goals or cadence if needed.
Week 5–6
Close
Final session. Document what was accomplished. Mentees complete a brief feedback form. Mentors invited to continue or rotate in the next cohort.
The Lineage runs year-round — 6 cohorts annually
Cohort 1
CLOSEDJan – Feb
Cohort 2
OPENMar – Apr
Cohort 3
UPCOMINGMay – Jun
Cohort 4
UPCOMINGJul – Aug
Cohort 5
UPCOMINGSep – Oct
Cohort 6
UPCOMINGNov – Dec
Cohort dates are illustrative and updated seasonally. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. You will always be placed in the next available cohort.
There is always a next cohort. The Lineage is not seasonal. It is how BDH passes knowledge forward — continuously, year-round, without exception.
Apply to The Lineage →Mentorship Program
The industry didn't make room for us. So we make it for each other.
Give back
Become a Mentor
“You earned the room. Now pull someone in.”
BDH mentors are experienced Black designers and creative professionals who make time to build genuine relationships with emerging practitioners in the community.
Who this is for
5+ years in a design-adjacent profession
Active participation in The Studio or The Council
Committed to 4–6 sessions per cycle
Open to honest, unfiltered professional conversation
Level up
Find a Mentor
“You don't have to figure it out alone.”
BDH mentees are Black designers at any stage who are ready for honest, substantive guidance — not just networking. We match based on discipline, goals, and real compatibility.
Who this is for
Black designer at any career stage
Member of The Fold, Circle, Studio, or Council
Clear on what kind of guidance you're seeking
Open to being challenged and held accountable
Mentorship at BDH is not a transaction. It is an investment in the community's infrastructure. Matching happens quarterly. Learn about membership tiers →