Michael O’Riordan




Hi, I’m Mikey.

I’m a designer, researcher, and storyteller who turns complex ideas into simple, meaningful experiences. I have a wealth of experience as a designer in global higher education, and a growing love of design in healthcare settings. I enjoy working with curious and driven people who challenge norms. I am dedicated to using design to create smarter, kinder, and more human experiences.

hello@michaeloriordan.net



Brand Design & Strategy
Research & Service Design
Everything Else
CV

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Education
Maynooth University 
MSc. Design Innovation (2.1)
2023–2025

Technological University of the Shannon 
BA (Hons) Graphic & Digital Design (1.1)
2017–2018
Student of the Year

Technological University of the Shannon
BA Graphic Design (1.1)
2014–2017
Student of the Year

Art & Design Portfolio
Moate Business College
2013–2014


ExperienceMaynooth University
Research Assistant
HIVE (Healthcare Innovation Value & Evaluation)
2025 - Present

Minerva University
Interim Design Director & Senior Manager, Brand Experience & Strategy
2023 - 2025

Maynooth University
Guest Lecturing
2025

Entrepreneur First
Brand & Creative Consultant 
2022 - 2023

Minerva Project
Designer
2019 - 2022

Freelance Consulting
2014 - Present




Skillset
Adobe Creative Cloud
Figma & FigJam
Webflow
HTML & CSS familiarity
Miro

Brand Identity Systems
Marketing& Communications Strategy
Enrollment Strategy & Marketing
Service Design
Product Design
Universal Design
Digital Content Creation
Video Direction & Editing
Motion Graphics 
Editorial Design
Print & Packaging Design
Web Design
Logo Design
UI & Visual Design
Experience Design
Art & Creative Direction
Visual Communication
Typography

Project Management
Team Leadership & Supervision
Stakeholder Engagement
Co-design & Workshop Facilitation
Mentorship & Teaching
Presentations & Reports

Design Thinking
Design Led Innovation
Design Research & Synthesis
Interviewing & Thematic Analysis
Design Ethnography
Swimlane Diagrams
Journey & Empathy Mapping
UX Research
Prototyping & Usability Testing




AchievementsThematic analysis of FLCIs accepted for presentation at the Global Health Expo in Dublin in February 2027.

Presented ‘Understanding the impact of design-led healthcare innovation programmes: Qualitative case studies from frontline clinicians’ at European Healthcare Design Conference 2026.

Minerva University ranked #1 Most Innovative University in the World for four consecutive years (2022-2025) by WURI and placed in WURI’s Top 20 globally for University Brand & Reputation in 2025.

Featured in 100 Archive: 
“In With the New”

Featured twice in Design Research Society’s “Best of Emerging Irish Design” (2018) for the project Rec’d 
and Ryan Hoey’s ZINEGIRLZ








Anam Ceol Music Therapy






Anam Ceol Music Therapy
Therapeutic Services
ACMT IACAT Profile I brought together creative brand design and therapeutic purpose to give voice to a meaningful and heartfelt initiative, translating the healing power of music into a coherent identity and visual experience. 

I shaped the brand’s creative direction, crafted bespoke visual assets, and aligned the design system with Anam Ceol’s mission to support emotional, physical and mental well-being through music in clinical settings. By doing so, I helped the organisation better articulate its value and connect with its audience across print, digital and experiential touchpoints.

This work is reopening in 2025, as the practice have added Psychotherapy to their core offerings.