Padraic began his career as a graphic designer with Yellowstone Design on Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, during the hectic years of the Celtic Tiger, a period defined by creative opportunity and demanding project schedules. He now lectures across multiple disciplines, including animation, film, graphic design, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with his recent academic and professional focus centered on Design Thinking, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI) design, entrepreneurship, and professional practice.
Since joining Atlantic Technological University (ATU) from Ulster University in 2016, Padraic has deepened his engagement with Design Thinking, inspired by his studies in the Mastering Design Thinking programme at MIT. This experience shaped his research interests around end-user design, user-centered methodologies, and applied research partnerships. He actively collaborates with industry through innovation vouchers, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and research projects with SMEs and multinational organisations.
A strong advocate for collaboration between academia and industry, Padraic promotes knowledge exchange through live projects, joint research initiatives, and curriculum development. He leads projects with Data to Sustain in UX, supervises Work-Based Learning projects and internships, and applies these connections to design and develop new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Notably, he was a principal contributor to the development of the MA/PgDip in UX Design & Applied Innovation.
Padraic is also the founder of a Design Thinking consultancy and has played a key role in shaping ATU’s approach to Design Thinking. He continues to advance this work through his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), which examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming Design Thinking practice.
