Sandbox U: Your launchpad into the creative world
We’re excited to announce that our Fall 2024 Sandbox U cohort applications are now open. Designed for early-career creatives, Sandbox U is our virtual mentorship program that offers ten weeks of personalized hands-on experience and career preparation—craft-related, portfolio-centric, or general job interview help—for individuals looking to pursue a creative career.
We recently chatted with our designers, motion and senior art directors to learn more about their experiences as mentors and the growth they’ve witnessed from Sandbox mentees. Hear what inspired them to participate in the program, and why they think you should apply, below.
I think it’s a common occurrence for people to be brought down or probed with questions and concerns when it comes to pursuing a creative career. The most fulfilling part of the mentorship program is being able to offer the knowledge of how to be more confident and assured that it’s okay to follow one’s creative passion as a viable career. ”
What initially inspired you to become a Sandbox mentor?
"I was lucky enough to experience Sandbox mentorship when I was in college, and being paired with Mikell as my mentor has inspired me to become a mentor myself. I've always wanted to share my knowledge and help someone younger than me navigate their career, or just be there for them in ways I would have appreciated as someone in high school." — Raniah Al-Obaidi, Designer
"Having switched careers, I’m familiar with how hard it can be and not knowing if you’re doing the right thing. I’ve been fortunate enough to find some mentors along the way and I joined Sandbox in hopes of providing help to people who are just entering the industry, the same way my mentors did for me." — Phil Zhang, Designer
"The initial inspiration came from my own lack of mentorship—I had zero mentorship during/after college. It's such a strange transition and time, so the slightest insight would've been helpful to me. The idea that I could help someone who felt the same as a young creative makes me feel like we're creating a safer space in the creative industry." — Kendra Monterrosa, Designer
What has been the most fulfilling part of your mentorship experience?
"My mentee was at a career crossroads, and I was able to dig into the inspiration she shared with me to see if we could find a path forward for her in a creative field. It was fulfilling to watch that spark of interest in the creative fields grow and see her get excited and surprised by some of the discoveries we made along the way." — Abby Lane, Senior Art Director
"The most fulfilling part of my mentorship experience has been seeing my mentee grow in confidence. I think when a mentee has a “professional” tell them that their work is impressive it gives them more confidence to express their unique creative voice." — Nick Lerum, Motion Director
How have your mentees grown throughout the program?
"My mentee was fairly new to the creative career path and it was amazing to see them approach this mentorship enthusiastically. They learned more about what creative disciplines they were interested in and were able to develop some projects to showcase their growing skillset. And they eventually were able to find an internship in their field!" — Amy Rexford, Designer
"When we first started the Sandbox program my mentee was discouraged and on the verge of leaving the motion design industry entirely. But I encouraged them to hang in there because I could see that their level of talent was quite high, they just needed the right opening to prove themselves. As luck would have it, by the end of our time together, my mentee had landed a multi-month contract with an international video game company and was beginning to see other creative opportunities also begin to blossom." — Nick Lerum, Motion Director
You see growth in little ways. They come to the next session eager with more questions. Or they come back to the next session saying things like, "I looked up what we talked about and found out XYZ," or "I used that tip in Photoshop and made it into this." You see the confidence build in different ways and it’s fun to witness! ”
What advice would you give to someone who's considering applying to Sandbox U, or advancing their creative career?
"I would say go for it! Hook has a lot of talented individuals to learn from and who are willing to help. The program itself is very flexible and the one-to-one nature of it allows the mentorship to be highly catered to everyone’s needs." — Phil Zhang, Designer
"Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. Sandbox U is a great program to ask questions and discover more about the marketing industry and agency culture. It’s also a good program to make connections with other mentees in creative fields and possibly continue those connections outside of Hook’s Sandbox U." — Abby Lane, Senior Art Director
Who Can Apply
Sandbox U is open to all entry-level creatives. Whether you're fresh out of school, self-taught, or somewhere in between, we want to hear from you. No resume, portfolio, or prior experience is required.
Applications for Sandbox U close August 30th. Apply here.