Dr Yoshi Pakalkaite

I am an Academic Mentor/Associate Lecturer at the Digital and Technology Professional (BSc) Degree Apprenticeship programme. My work focuses on mentoring over 50 students (across Year 1, 2 and 3) and contributing to the assessment of Reflective Practice/Professional Development modules. Alongside my mentoring practice, I am a researcher and educator working at the intersection of narrative illustration, visual communication and HCI/UI/UX design. My practice research explores hand-drawn illustration, particularly its application in multidisciplinary contexts and innovation. 

Teaching, Public Engagement and Research 

I support staff and teach students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. My teaching practice primarily adopts a research-informed approach. As an Associate Lecturer, I have previously taught undergraduate students in the School of Communication and Cornwall Business School, Falmouth University. As a Visiting Lecturer, I also contributed to the postgraduate Information Experience Design MA programme at the Royal College of Art. As a Digital Wellbeing Consultant, I planned and delivered professional development on digital wellbeing to professional services staff at FX Plus. Through The Scholars Programme (The Brilliant Club), I translated my doctoral research into a university-style course for Key Stage 4 secondary school pupils. These experiences have enabled me to adapt and communicate my research across a variety of pedagogical contexts. 

My doctoral project explores hand-drawn design and narrative illustration as unconventional strategies to innovation and speculative design practice. This involved practice research and collaboration with expert reviewers in Information Technology (IT). The methodological insights from the project are industry-orientated and relevant to creative practitioners, UI/UX designers and large IT companies. My doctoral research has been published and presented at the EVA and MeCCSA conferences and included in their proceedings. My practice research is featured in the latest issue of Slipstream, published by The Literary Platform. It was also presented at the launch event held at the Old Hall, Exeter.

Pedagogical Research and Learning Design

My recent collaborative project focuses on designing for the Expert Learner. Based on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, the project involved creating accessible teaching materials for Law students. I presented this project at an internal showcase last year. I also co-presented this project at the Centre for Innovation in Higher Education (CIHE) Conference 2025 at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. My previous role included student support and learning design for Study Skills and Digital Skills provision. My learning designs and colour-coding concept have been adapted and are currently used within the study skills resources on LibGuides at the University of Exeter. 

Multidisciplinary Collaborations

I collaborate with academics from different disciplines and have previously worked with academics from Communications, Publishing, Politics, Law and Media, especially on art direction and development of visual communication outputs for research projects. I recently served as Art Director for Slipstream, a publication of the Literary Platform and part of the Experiential Storytelling research group. I also designed the visual identity for the TWICEASGOOD research project, producing digital and print outputs, including a logo, event materials and research marketing assets. My UI design for an accessible radio application aimed at supporting mental wellbeing was featured in Jerry Padfield’s doctoral thesis and presented at the MeCCSA conference. 

Collaborations and Mentorship

I enjoy translating complex concepts into visual outputs and working in multidisciplinary contexts. I welcome collaborations on projects, publications and research outputs with academics and professional services colleagues from any discipline. Alongside visual communication and research, I enjoy sharing ideas through writing. I am a contributor to THE Campus blog where I provide advice for educators on learning design and teaching. I also publish a bi-weekly blog called Field Notes where I discuss my practice research, design and illustration processes, present projects and case studies. If you would like to collaborate on a blog post or series of blog posts, please reach out to me. 

Alongside collaborative work, I mentor students who are considering a PhD as the next step of their academic journey. I also support and mentor staff preparing AdvanceHE applications for Associate Fellowships and Fellowships as part of the ASPIRE framework. I have previously peer-reviewed doctoral submissions for the EVA conference. I welcome students and staff to contact me to discuss their research, undertaking doctoral study and AdvanceHE applications.