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Michael O’ Riordan


Design, Brand Strategy, and Innovation

      Hi, I’m Mikey. With extensive experience in Brand Strategy and Design, I bring a versatile skillset that allows me to excel in dynamic, interdisciplinary environments. I’m passionate about collaborating with forward-thinking individuals and organizations—innovators and thought leaders who embrace disruption and challenge conventional boundaries.

    Whether it’s creating a brand identity, developing scalable global products, or designing impactful experiences that foster meaningful connections, my mission is always the same: to create work that not only inspires but also educates and empowers. My ultimate aspiration is to contribute at the intersection of design, education, and innovation, where creativity and learning converge to shape the future.

Get in touch with me here:
hello@michaeloriordan.net
Minerva University
  1. Ascent
  2. Civitas
  3. Elevation
  4. Foundation Week
  5. Sapientia Critica
  6. Graduation
  7. Meridians
  8. Quinquatria
  9. Website

Minerva Project
  1. Consequent
  2. Advertising
  3. Website

Entrepreneur First
  1. Brand Consultation
  2. How To Be a Founder
  3. The Polaris Fellowship

Minerva Baccalaureate
  1. Various Works
  2. Website

Various Projects
  1. Anam Ceol Music Therapy
  2. Paul Quinn College
  3. Kayla
  4. BSKC
  5. MINT
  6. REC’D
  7. Miscellaneous

Experience

Minerva Project - 2019/2022
Designer

Entrepreneur First - 2022/2023
Brand Strategy Consultant

Minerva University - 2023 - Current
Interim Design Director,
Senior Brand Designer,
Strategy & Planning Manager

Freelance - Current

Studio93 - 2017
Junior Designer

Education

Moate Business College 2013 - 2014
Art & Design Portfolio

Technological University of the Shannon:
Midlands 2014 - 2017
BA Graphic Design
First Class Honours

Technological University of the Shannon:
Midlands 2017 - 2018
BA Honours Graphic & Digital Design
First Class Honours

MSc. Design Innovation
2023 - 2025
(In Progress)

Accolades

TUS BA Graphic Design - Student of the Year 2017

Featured in Design Research Society 2018 Exhibiton ‘Best of Emerging Irish Design’ for the self-directed project ‘Recd’ and also for work produced in Ryan Hoey’s project ‘ZINEGIRLZ’

Featured in the 100 Archive’s “In with the new” article series.

Part of the team that helped Minerva University get listed as WURI’s “Most Innovative University in the World” in 2022.
Mark
Entrepreneur First

2022 / 2023
Direction & design: Michael O’ Riordan
Design Support: Nick Williams
  
            Entrepreneur First is a talent investment organisation that has nurtured the founders of companies such as Sonantic, Tractable, Ochre Bio, La Vie, Merkle Science and Omnipresent to name a few of the standouts. They seek out people with skill, drive, and talent and sponsor them to join a cohort full of similar people. Within EF’s unique program, these potential founders find another co-founder in the cohort that they can work with, identify a problem that their combined skillset can solve, and build a business together. If EF think they have a unique right to win in their chosen field, good traction with customers and the conviction to achieve these things, EF will invest in and support the fledgling co-founders.

           A contact of mine reached out and asked if I could shake things up in a brand system that was convoluted and misaligned with the business’s positioning. I started by visually capturing the feverish energy that mirrored the co-founder “speed dating” experience; circling good ideas, underlining statements that resonated with people. I tried to get position EF as the most exciting place to start a company with global impact.

            A four month project turned into supporting the global marketing effort for a year, until two more major VC companies entered our visual design space and we had to pivot. Now EF is on the verge of a much deeper brand refresh with MultiAdaptor.

Branding
Design Research
Mark

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