Introducing Pair Up: Free one-to-one advice from people working in the creative industry
Chapters
Looking for feedback on your portfolio, advice on finding your first role or someone to talk through your next steps with? Meet Pair Up, our new way to connect emerging creatives with industry professionals for free, 30-minute video calls. Applications are now open for an early preview.
Sometimes, a conversation with someone working in the industry can help you see a way forward. Maybe you have a project you’re struggling to finish, questions about what employers look for, or want feedback on your portfolio. Finding someone to ask, however, isn’t always easy – especially when you’re still building your network.
That’s what led Myles Palmer to create Pair Up in 2018. It began as a form on his personal website, where people could book 30 minutes of his lunch break to talk about design and get advice. During lockdown in 2020, it grew into a platform connecting creatives for free, informal conversations, with nearly 1,500 people signing up over the years.
Now, Myles has passed Pair Up on to Creative Lives in Progress to take it into its next chapter. We’re building on his belief that access to advice shouldn’t depend on who you know, where you live or your background – and keeping sessions free for those seeking support.
We’re starting with a soft launch, with people from Creative Lives in Progress and It’s Nice That offering the first sessions. Read on to find out who you can meet, what to expect and how to apply.
What is Pair Up?
Pair Up offers free, 30-minute, one-to-one video calls with people working across the creative industry. Depending on the session you apply for, you can opt for a ‘Portfolio Review’ or ‘Career Advice’.
It’s designed with emerging creatives in mind, usually those in the first five years of their career, but anyone can apply. You just need a Creative Lives in Progress account.
More on the two types of session:
- Portfolio reviews: Get feedback on one or two projects, or look at your portfolio as a whole – from its structure and design to the mix of work you’ve included. Bring something you’d like to improve, and let your Pair Up pro know what you’re hoping to get out of the conversation.
- Career advice: Ask about breaking into a discipline, approaching freelancing, applying for junior roles or making your next move. You don’t need to show any work; coming with a few specific questions will help you make the most of your time.
Who can you meet?
For our first round, we’re opening up conversations with people from our own teams at Creative Lives in Progress and It’s Nice That. Together, they bring experience across illustration, art direction, creative work, events, partnerships and project management.
After the pilot, we’ll open Pair Up to our Company Partners, bringing more creative professionals into the programme and giving you access to advice across a wider range of roles and disciplines.
The first line-up includes:
- Ashley Kirby, Senior Art Director at It’s Nice That
- Saskia Vokes, Junior Creative at It’s Nice That
- Will Hudson, Co-Founder of It’s Nice That
- Alex Bec, Co-Founder of It’s Nice That
- Zsófi Szendrei, Event Project Manager at Creative Lives in Progress
- Roshannah Bagley, Head of Community and Marketing at Creative Lives in Progress
- Zak Agnew, Senior Partnership Manager at Creative Lives in Progress
- Beth Suzanna, Event Production Assistant at Creative Lives in Progress and freelance illustrator
- Alfred Acheampong, Partnerships and Projects Manager at Creative Lives in Progress
Each pro has two slots available in this first round. Explore their profiles to find out more about their experience, the sessions they’re offering and their application deadlines.
How do you apply?
Head to the Pair Up page, browse the available sessions and apply through your Creative Lives in Progress account. Each listing has its own closing date, so check the details before submitting.
You can apply for more than one Pair Up – and we’d encourage you to explore different perspectives. If you’re selected for a session that clashes with another application, you’ll automatically be withdrawn from any other Pair Ups taking place at the same date and time.
If selected, you’ll receive an email and calendar invite with a Google Meet link for your session. All calls take place online, so you won’t need to travel to meet your pro.
Why are we launching a pilot?
We’re testing Pair Up with a small first round so we can learn what works and develop it from there. That includes how applicants are selected: during the preview, each pro will either review applications or select at random.
Spaces are limited at this stage, but we’re adding more pros and will share more about the selection process once testing is complete. After the pilot, we’ll open Pair Up to all our Company Partners, bringing more people and perspectives into the programme.
Ready to Pair Up?
Whether you want a second opinion on your portfolio or advice on a decision you’ve been weighing up, take a look at the first sessions and find someone you’d like to speak to.
Explore the available Pair Ups and apply now.
You can also sign up to the Pair Up newsletter on the page to be the first to hear when new slots become available.
