Services
$350 / month
Start free, decide later
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1
Free intro call
No card needed to book. -
2
Ongoing calls + chat
4 × 60-min calls per month, unlimited Q&A. Replies in 2 days. -
3
No lock-in
Month to month, no contract.
MentorCruise summary
Chris is a Graphic Designer in Video Production at Netflix. He has worked across branding, motion, web, video, and packaging for brands including Disney+ and Amazon Prime. He helps designers clarify career goals, improve portfolios, and build practical design skills.
Based on 16 verified mentee reviews
- Reviewers often praise his patient, supportive feedback and calm, encouraging approach.
- Mentees value his practical guidance on portfolios, typography, layout, and design skills.
- Several reviewers describe how he helped them set goals, find direction, and turn ideas into clear next steps.
About
Hey, I'm Chris 👋
I'm a designer, freelancer, content creator, and mentor. Over the years, I've worked across branding, motion, web, video, packaging, and more, with clients and brands around the world, including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
My career didn't follow a straight line. I started without connections in the creative industry, built my career online, worked as both an employee and freelancer, started my own business, experimented with different creative fields, taught, created a YouTube channel and podcast, changed directions, made mistakes, and figured things out along the way.
That's also shaped the way I mentor.
My goal is for you to eventually not need me.
I don't want to make decisions for you. I want to help you become better at making them yourself. I'll often answer questions with more questions, helping you understand why you're making a decision rather than simply telling you what I would do. But when my experience can help, I'll share it openly.
We might critique your portfolio, brainstorm a project, jump into Photoshop or Illustrator, discuss a difficult client, pricing, freelancing, business, career decisions, or whatever is most useful that week.
When we start, I want to understand more than your next career goal. What would you like your life to look like in 1, 3, 5 or even 10 years? What matters to you outside of work?
Success means something different to everyone: money, freedom, recognition, creative fulfillment, or simply more time. We'll define what it means to you, work backwards, break bigger goals into smaller steps, and adapt as life changes.
You don't need everything figured out. You don't need perfect discipline, and I don't expect every task to be completed every week.
But you do need to put in the work.
Be curious. Ask questions. Experiment. Take initiative. Be open to criticism. Communicate when you're struggling and be willing to act on the feedback you ask for.
Mentorship isn't a shortcut. Ideally, over time you'll become more confident, consistent, self-disciplined, and independent.
I keep my mentorship intentionally small. I'm still actively working as a designer and dedicate only a limited part of my week to mentoring. I also prefer longer-term mentorship because the better I understand you, your work and your goals, the more useful I can be.
That's why I don't automatically accept every application.
We'll start with a discovery call. It's not a sales call. It's a chance for us to get to know each other, understand what you're trying to achieve, and decide if we're a good fit.
I believe in good people. Good work is secondary. 😊
And if mentorship isn't in your budget right now, you can find my YouTube channel and podcast, where I share what I know for free.
🔗Links: www.chrisellinas.com/links
What mentees say
5 out of 5 stars
I had a great experience working with Chris as my mentor. He was always patient, understanding and supportive. His calm demeanour and encouraging approach made our sessions feel comfortable and constructive, even when I felt a little unsure about what my next steps should be. Although our time working together was relatively short, I really appreciated his guidance and the positive experience he created. I'd happily recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, patient and supportive mentor!
Mila
Lite Plan • 1 year
5 out of 5 stars
When I started working with Chris, my portfolio looked like a generic student work. It was completely disconnected from who I actually am as a designer and a person. Chris didn't sugarcoat anything, he immediately recognized that gap and helped me to strip away the fillers, make bold creative choices, and build an atmospheric portfolio which showcases my skills and strengths. I didn't just rebuild my work thanks to his guidance, this mentorship completely changed the way I think and approach things as a professional. I am much more confident in my work and skills now, and that is a huge win and also a personal improvement! If you are looking for a mentor who will challenge you, help you find your design identity, give constructive and honest critique but also support you when you need it - Chris is the absolute best, can't recommend him enough!
Alexandra
Standard Plan • 6 months
5 out of 5 stars
From the first conversation, I understood that Chris is the long-term mentor I had been looking for a long time. I needed someone who doesn't tell me what to do but rather guides and helps me on my journey. One of the most valuable things he brought in just the first month was structure and direction; I felt less lost in my freelance journey. Looking forward to continuing my journey with his help!
Katerina
Standard Plan • 1 month
Get to know Chris
What happens when you start
You tell Chris your goals. They see exactly what you want to work on before session one.
You meet within days. Chris reviews your application and books your first session, usually within a day or two.
You leave with a plan. Concrete next steps and a weekly rhythm from your very first week.
