There’s something uniquely satisfying about mentorship as a design leader — not just because of the growth you witness in others, but because of the unexpected lessons it teaches you. I’ve learned that mentorship rarely looks like a single big moment. It’s often built through repetition, trust, and helping someone see their value more clearly than they did before. Some of the most meaningful growth I’ve seen didn’t happen overnight — and didn’t follow a playbook.

In February 2025, I found myself at the helm of one of the most ambitious UX initiatives our team had ever taken on: redesigning and migrating seven distinct brands to a unified Shopify platform. Each brand came with its own legacy, expectations, and audience—and each needed a fresh, modern web experience that aligned with a new design system we were building from the ground up.

As a UX leader, one of the most fulfilling aspects of my role is helping others grow—not just in their craft, but in their confidence, leadership, and ability to support others. Recently, I had the opportunity to co-create a skill-building initiative with a Senior Designer on my team that embodied those values. It was a project rooted in mentorship, collaboration, and a shared growth mindset—and it turned out to be a win for everyone involved.

Project Ascent is a strong proof-of-concept for what’s possible when the right resources, mindset, and methods converge. Faster cycles, smarter prioritization, and measurable outcomes—it’s a model that’s reshaping digital commerce from the inside out.

As a designer, I create digital products to make experiences easier for all users. Disability or not. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on just one digital accessibility standard: COLOR ACCESSIBILITY.