Now in its third year, Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 program has established itself as the leading mentorship and career development program in the architecture and design industry. The unique program brings together game changers, industry leaders, practice founders, product manufacturers, suppliers and sponsors to celebrate and empower the young interior and product designers of the future.

First-time mentor and judge for 30UNDER30 Mim Fanning is ready to be challenged by the successive 30UNDER30 cohort. She believes personal and professional relationships in design should avoid lapsing into transactional territory. “[It’s] a two-way street,” Fanning says, noting that such relationships have the potential to be career milestones for both parties.

Fanning is eager to absorb new ways of thinking and designing that reflects a steadfast commitment to future-proof the industry. For Fanning, design is not just fodder, it is purpose and meaning, and involves arming oneself with a vast community and refraining from the occasionally inflexible and stubborn mindset of ‘doing it alone’. 

“You are not just doing it solo, you are building together,” says Fanning. “You want to protect the industry and make it stronger.”

Australian Design Review recently sat down with Fanning to discuss the importance of goal-setting, passion and strategy as an early career designer, as well as her hopes to develop long-standing relationships with the next 30UNDER30 cohort. 

Australian Design Review: What inspired you to become involved with 30UNDER30?

Mim Fanning: I remember when ADR’s 30UNDER30 started, I really loved the idea that it was something that could give back, because being a mentor is a two-way street.

Was there anything like this when you were first starting out in your career? 

Oh my gosh, no (laughs). There was nothing at all. I don’t even think the word mentor was in the landscape at that point. But for me, seeking out a mentor became a natural progression because you do seek out mentors, unintentionally or intentionally. 

Throughout my career, I’ve probably had about five mentors. And I still have a mentor today, but in a completely different field. Mentors are people you trust, and often a trusted advisor becomes a friend and a very important milestone in your career. You can’t always do everything alone, even in an industry of creativity. If you say that you know it all, you don’t, because there are always new things to learn. Even if you’ve been in this industry for over 20 years, you will never stop learning.

Were there any decisive turning points early in your career? 

I’ve had a pretty long career, so there has been a fair few turning points. Mentors have been really important in my personal and professional growth because they took me down avenues that are not typical interior design work and exposed me to different ways of critical thinking and different strategies. 

What is the best advice you have received in your career?

Always have perspective. It’s not just about what’s in your head, it’s the wider perspective of why you are doing what you are doing and who you’re doing it for, and then creating the best outcome possible. 

There’s also goal setting. When you become really passionate, you just strive and you hit your goals whether they are project-based or career-based. One of my great mentors said to me, work is passion and then passion becomes work. A lot of my goal-setting was project-based – looking ahead and being open to different things. 

Another important piece of advice I received is that everything you do has a strategy, whether it’s design, business strategies or even how you behave.

How important is it for designers to build a community of peers and mentors? 

It’s extremely important. I’m in a practices group with other like-minded interior designers that own businesses and the group is hugely rewarding because it does so many things. We are friends and competitors, understand each other’s businesses and share a common ground. 

You are not just doing it solo, but you are building it together – you want to protect the industry and make it stronger. I believe when you are building a community within the industry, it’s important that you understand how to build trust. For example, having a partnership with suppliers should not be transactional, it’s a relationship where you understand your job better. If I get a new job, I really want to understand the client’s or building developer’s perspective. 

What are you noticing about young designers that makes them different from generations before? 

I think the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that they want to grow at an exponential rate within a very short timeframe and that can put a lot of pressure on somebody. Sometimes great design and great strategies take time. I have also noticed that young designers are extremely passionate about different elements and hone in on particular things, which is lovely to see. 

What will you be searching for when you’re judging the entries into the stream? 

I’ll be looking for somebody who wants a challenge because I also want to be challenged. I’ll also be looking for a really open attitude, as being in that mindset allows you to give your best and get the best inspiration and clarity. 

What are you hoping to get out of your mentoring experience?

Mentoring is a two-way relationship, so I’m looking to assist with goal-setting and perspective. I am also hoping to be inspired and gain some insight into the way this generation thinks and why they’re doing what they do. I want to build trust with particular candidates and have long-standing relationships. 

What do you see as the strengths and limitations of the Australian design landscape?

I think our landscape is outstanding. Australian design is very different to a lot of other countries. We are lucky that we live in a country that fosters individuality, designing for the natural environment and understanding our philosophies. 

I think the next 10 years will involve consumers being educated in design – they see the end picture, but they don’t see the start and everything you need to do to deliver a project.  

Explaining what an interior designer does is really important. We are an investment to somebody who comes to us. We wouldn’t have a job if we didn’t have a consumer. Design is about helping customers understand their practitioners and getting the right practitioners to do the job they need.

Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers stream is brought to you by major sponsor Neolith, alongside gold partners Interface, Miele and Tongue & Groove. The program is supported by practice partners Arent&Pyke, BVN, Billard Leece Partnership, Cera Stribley, COX Architecture, GroupGSA, Hassell, HDR, Richards Stanisich, Rothelowman, SJB and Williams Burton Leopardi.

Check out the program here!