Teaching, talks & mentoring

Teaching, talks & mentoring

Through design guidance and mentorship, I aim to help others recognise their potential and grow into it. That can mean offering direction, but often it's about listening, reflecting back strengths and building confidence.


Whether guiding students or supporting peers, I create a dynamic that encourages curiosity, self-belief and progress.

Through design guidance and mentorship, I aim to help others recognise their potential and grow into it. That can mean offering direction, but often it's about listening, reflecting back strengths and building confidence.

Whether guiding students or supporting peers, I create a dynamic that encourages curiosity, self-belief and progress.

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching

visiting lecturer, graphic design

University of the West of England

As a graphic design lecturer at UWE, I mentored and inspired students, preparing them for the professional challenges ahead. I led tutorials, workshops and group critiques, and supported final-year students as they developed and refined their final submissions.


Beyond teaching design principles, I contributed to the Professional Practice module over six years, helping students build confidence and real-world skills through talks, activities and assessments. I also prepared coursework, marked work, moderated grades, and interviewed students applying to the course.

Associate lecturer, Creative Computing

Bath Spa University

At Bath Spa University, I taught on the Creative Computing course, delivering the Digital Visual Design module, guiding students through visual communication, user-centred design and creative process.


I led lectures, practical workshops and critiques covering typography, composition, colour, branding, web design and mobile app design.


Alongside taught sessions, I supported students through assessed briefs, 1:1 tutorials and portfolio development, helping them translate ideas into clear, intentional visual outcomes. I placed particular focus on design thinking, iterative making and constructive critique, preparing students for both industry practice and further study.

Talks

Talks

Talks

Guest speaker

WEDF & SW Universities

In addition to teaching at UWE and Bath Spa University, I've given talks at the University of Gloucestershire, sharing insights into digital design, user research and the realities of creative work.


I’ve also spoken at two events hosted by the West of England Design Forum. The first was a talk at the launch of their beautifully crafted book 5–9, which featured my personal project 12 by 12. The book was a showcase of self-initiated creative work made outside the 9–5.


I was later invited to give a presentation at their We Love Design evening, part of the Five Days of Design programme, where I explored using visual programming to create my own generative brand identity.

workshops

workshops

workshops

Photography workshops

Fringe Arts Bath & When Death Comes festivals

As a designer, I often lead workshops, design sprints and hackdays that foster creative thinking and collaboration. Alongside digital work, I’ve run community-facing sessions using photography as a tool for dialogue and reflection.


Photovism, part of Fringe Arts Bath, invited participants to explore how photography might contribute to social or political change. The session opened with examples of activist photography, followed by a practical task: groups headed into the streets to respond to the workshop’s theme, then returned to share and discuss their results.


At the When Death Comes festival, I led a workshop inviting participants to interpret the phrase “When death comes…” through photography. The session encouraged experimentation and open discussion, giving space for people to reflect creatively on a deeply personal topic.

Mentoring

Mentoring

Mentoring

Mentor

The Intrapreneurs Club

As a design lead, mentoring has always been an important part of my role. Whether that’s supporting junior designers, giving feedback, or helping them build confidence and grow their skills.


In addition to this also mentored as part of The Intrapreneurs Club, an initiative focused on improving diversity in tech. The programme supports junior professionals from underrepresented backgrounds through structured mentoring and coaching.


I worked with mentees to clarify goals, build confidence, and navigate their next steps, contributing to the wider mission of fostering a more inclusive and representative tech sector.

© David Gillett 2025

© David Gillett 2025

© David Gillett 2025