Lily Pham

Founding mentor

🐰 5 sessions

Senior Visual Design Consultant @ Cordoniq

4testimonials San Diego, CA Los Angeles (UTC-7) 10+ yrs in design

About

Hello, world! 👋 I'm a visual designer who loves turning complex ideas into experiences that feel engaging, intentional, and clever. Over the years, I've worked across branding, web design, UX, marketing, and visual storytelling. Lately, I've been pushing myself to grow beyond visual design by diving deeper into product thinking, strategy, and creating experiences that make a real impact. I don't pretend to know everything, but I genuinely love learning, asking questions, and sharing ideas through collaboration. Outside of design, I'm usually baking something, checking out new coffee shops with my husband, traveling, or working on a creative side project for fun. I also have a soft spot for mentoring because I know how much a little encouragement or honest feedback can change someone's confidence and career trajectory. If you're looking for someone who's happy to brainstorm, review your work, talk through design challenges, or simply cheer you on, let's connect 😊

How I can help

Helping new designers grow with confidence and intention. I offer friendly, practical support for designers who are breaking into the industry, switching paths, or just trying to make their experience come across more clearly. You can bring me a portfolio, a career question you’ve been stuck on, or I can simply be someone to bounce ideas off of. We’ll go through it together, figure out what’s already working, talk through what might need a bit more clarity, and focus on the changes that will actually make a difference (not just busywork). I’m especially helpful for early-career designers who want honest, thoughtful feedback without feeling overwhelmed. I believe we all get further when we're willing to learn from one another, and I'd be honored to encourage you along the way.

Ask me about

Layoffs

First or only designer

Negotiating comp

Imposter syndrome

First design hires

Growing into leadership

Pivot into design

Returning from a break

Expertise

Product Designer

Visual/Brand

Design Lead

Motion

B2B SaaS

Design systems

Leadership

Graphic Design

AI tools

Education & EdTech

Government & Civic

Also here to learn

Lily mentors on Hop and is growing too. A bit about their own path right now.

Could use a hand with

Returning from a break, First or only designer, Negotiating comp, Building a design system

Testimonials

Lily was super helpful!! We talked about both of our experiences and she gave helpful steps and unique advice moving forward. Highly recommend :D
Aashritha · Sep 2026
Lily was wonderful at helping me get myself, sorted and on track to start working on my portfolio! She gave some helpful tips and resources to get going and was kind and encouraging. :)
Jess · Aug 2026
It’s interesting how a short conversation can go a long way, especially if you find someone with the right attitude and energy to have the conversation with - and that’s what I found in my session with Lily :) For mentees looking for help with specific design challenges, or fellow mentors that want to bounce ideas, I believe you’ll come away with something that you can definitely take into your next conversation!
Michael · Aug 2026
Lily took the time to review my portfolio and gave thoughtful, actionable feedback that I hadn't really received before. She helped me see my work from a hiring manager's perspective and suggested several concrete next steps to strengthen both my portfolio and how I present my experience. She also shared some helpful AI tools and resources that I’m excited to explore. Thanks, Lily!
Grace · Aug 2026

Sessions

Intro chatFree
30 min
Let’s start with a casual virtual coffee chat ☕ We’ll spend this time getting to know each other, discussing where you are at, and identifying the main challenge you’d like to work through. You’re welcome to ask general questions about my experience across visual design, branding, web, UI/UX, B2B SaaS, and multidisciplinary design careers. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of your next step and whether one of my focused mentoring sessions would be helpful. Please note that this introductory chat does not include an in-depth portfolio, resume, or case-study review.
Portfolio Review$50
Async · video reply within a few days
I’ll help you identify what feels clear and compelling, where visitors may become confused, and which parts deserve your attention first. Let's cover: • Your homepage and overall positioning • Project selection and organization • Visual hierarchy and presentation • Navigation and usability • How clearly your skills and role come across • The strongest next steps before applying Please send your portfolio link and tell me what kinds of roles you’re pursuing. You’ll receive honest, encouraging feedback and a prioritized list of changes (not an overwhelming redesign assignment).
Career Clarity for the Multidisciplinary Designer$50
45 min
For the designers who do a bit of everything (branding, websites, UI, marketing, presentations), but struggle to explain who you are as a multi-designer. This session is for designers who feel a little scattered, are thinking about a shift, or just want help making their experience feel more focused and intentional. We’ll cover: • What your strongest work really says about you • How to talk about a broad skill set without sounding unfocused • What roles might actually fit you right now • What to highlight in your portfolio, resume, or LinkedIn • What skills are worth focusing on next (and what you can stop worrying about) My goal for you is to leave with clearer direction, simple language you can actually use to describe yourself, and a few practical next steps. If you want, send over your portfolio, resume, or LinkedIn before we meet so I can take a look ahead of time.

English

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