Philip O'Neill, (PhD Researcher)

While working as a designer in Canada, I worked for some of the world’s best-known consumer brands, in packaging design, illustration and advertising collateral for in-store, interactive multimedia and TV advertising. I also worked with many large international corporate clients across Canada and America, such as Armtec, Labatt’s, Cook’s, Sternson Limited and SC Johnson.

More recently employed as an award-winning Creative Digital Designer within the Office for Digital Learning at Ulster for the past 17 years, I have led the multimedia design and development in the Center for Digital Learning at Ulster University. Designing educational content and courses, using design thinking to create innovative teaching, 2D and 3D animation and research using interactive multimedia for higher education. Winning the international 2018 MEDEA overall Award for User-Generated educational content. And the 2018 Distinguished Education Excellence Award for Collaborative Excellence, Ulster University.

Actively involved in the creation of many award-winning digital learning initiatives at Ulster, including the Office for Digital Learning (ODL) Special Call, which was a unique opportunity for teaching and support staff to work collaboratively with creative digital designers, to enhance the quality of their digital learning content on large student focused teaching projects and research.

 Research:

Currently (as of 18^th Sept 2019) I am a full-time PhD researcher at Ulster University, researching innovative design approaches to UX for AR/VR/MR. Having previously conducted, published and presented research in many multimedia design educational areas such as; Serious games, virtual environments, animation and 3D for education, learning object design, instructional video design, design thinking, innovative curriculum design for HE, student/lecturer/designer co-creation projects, design mentoring, development of both entirely online and blended HE course instructional design creation, multimedia for use in multidiscipline teaching interventions and research projects, including dissemination of design and development in both a national and international HE context during my time at Ulster.

Professional Memberships:

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and a Fellow of CHERP (Center for Higher Education Research & Practice) Ulster University (FCHERP).

A member of IDI (Institute of Designers Ireland), a member of the IDF (Interaction Design Foundation) and the UCU (University and College Union). And an ALT (Association for Learning Technology) - Associate Member.