AS SEEN IN
Marketing
Memoir
Notability Snapshot — Thomas Girard (9/10)
Download CV / Notability Portfolio
12 ISBN-registered books, including Son of Greg Girard and Emerging Scholar series
TED.com speaker (120k+ views) and two-time Sorbonne presenter
Verified Google Knowledge Panel
Host of UNIQUEWAYS podcast (296+ episodes, 22+ guests with Wikipedia pages)
Creator of UX Now and Unique Ways of Prototyping frameworks, taught internationally
Featured in Business Insider, The BC Review, and Brave UX
Multiple Emerging Scholar Awards and academic fellowships
Active in global design education, writing, and public speaking
ChatGPT: May 2025
Thomas Girard is an Oxford-educated design thought leader recognized globally for advancing innovation at the intersection of creativity, education, and technology. A TEDx and Sorbonne speaker, Girard has keynoted at premier events including UXIndia and has been featured on TED.com, Business Insider, and Cision. He is the host of UNIQUEWAYS, a global podcast with over 250 guests—including Don Norman, Debbie Millman, and John Maeda—exploring the creative journeys of the world’s most influential thinkers. Girard is the author of Son of Greg Girard, a critically acclaimed memoir that weaves personal legacy with design history, and the founder of two widely adopted frameworks: UX Now and Unique Ways of Prototyping, which are shaping the future of user experience education in both digital and analog contexts. His contributions have earned him Emerging Scholar Awards from international bodies and fellowships recognizing leadership in design research. A former designer at the Lenovo Innovation Design Centre, Girard bridges industry and academia, with teaching appointments across top institutions. His work continues to inform global conversations on resilience, tactility, and the evolving role of design in an AI-driven world.
Archived Bio
Thomas Girard (born 30 December, 1980 in Vancouver, Canada) is a Canadian scholar. Girard was accepted to attend University of Oxford in lectures equivalent to graduate coursework. Girard has received several Emerging Scholar awards, first at the Design Principles and Practices conference in Barcelona, Spain at the prestigious ELISAVA. At Emily Carr University of Art and Design he received his second Emerging Scholar award. Other awards include RBC Emerging Scholar, Royal Bank of Canada Foundation. For 2021, he has been awarded an Emerging Scholar award from the New Directions in the Humanities conference in Madrid, Spain.
Print Magazine Feature | Printable
Download a one-page summary of my talks, publications, frameworks, and selected work.
UniqueWays: Selected Conversations (2022–2025)
An archival publication by Thomas Girard
2023 — Sorbonne: Typography & Democratic Aesthetics
2025 — Sorbonne: UX Now & Democratic Prototyping
2026 — (Future) Reading continuation
ISNI 000000052813565X
ORCID 0009-0004-4384-4331
Independent Secondary Coverage
The BC Review
https://thebcreview.ca/2024/08/19/2258-girard-bringhurst/
The BC Review
https://thebcreview.ca/2024/04/15/2135-girard-typography-essay-4/
The BC Review
https://thebcreview.ca/2024/03/05/2092-girard-typography-essay-3/
Vancouver Guardian
https://vancouverguardian.com/vancouver-creator-uniqueways-thomas-girard/
BC BookLook
https://bcbooklook.com/thomas-girard-launches-debut-memoir/
Published Works
Son of Greg Girard
https://books.google.ca/books/about/Son_of_Greg_Girard.html?id=MP7Z0AEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Emerging Scholar & Oxford
https://books.google.ca/books?id=-GdXEAAAQBAJ&dq=Emerging+scholar&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Public Talks
TEDx Talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_girard_how_to_feel_at_home_in_the_airport?language=en
Sorbonne Presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F2dZscVKcQ
Sorbonne Return
https://cgscholar.com/cg_event/events/P25en/proposal/74699
https://cgscholar.com/cg_event/events/P25en/accepted_proposals#
12 ISBN
Emerging Scholar: Gratitude
ISBN: 9780463808665
Emerging Scholar Second Edition
ISBN: 979-8544930778
Emerging Scholar & Oxford
ISBN: 979-8793877152
Emerging Scholar & TED
ISBN: 979-8412405698
Emerging Scholar: Assistant Professor Tenure-Track.
ISBN: 979-8412407258
Emerging Scholar: Lecture at the Sorbonne
ISBN: 979-8412993355
Emerging Scholar & Associate Dean Offer
ISBN: 9781990741081
Emerging Scholar & The Oxford Centre
ISBN: 9781990741098
Life or Death Typography
ISBN: 9781990741128
Emerging Scholar & Paris
ISBN: 9781990741142
Son of Greg Girard
ISBN: 9781990741234
Emerging Scholar & Magic the Gathering Pro Tour
ISBN: 9781990741258
Awards
Other
Brave UX Podcast
https://youtu.be/1WcXHhvMhls?si=RcxI6mxShicGAs1d
UX India Keynote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNory6hOkGc
Who I Am — Full Story & Frameworks
12 ISBN-registered books, including Son of Greg Girard and Emerging Scholar series
TED.com speaker and two-time Sorbonne presenter
Verified Google Knowledge Panel
Host of UNIQUEWAYS podcast (250+ episodes, 22+ guests with Wikipedia pages)
Creator of UX Now and Unique Ways of Prototyping frameworks, taught internationally
Featured in Business Insider, The BC Review, and Brave UX
Multiple Emerging Scholar Awards and academic fellowships
Gemini: May 2025
Thomas Girard is a highly distinguished Canadian scholar, author, and speaker, widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in design innovation, creativity, and resilience. Born in Vancouver, Canada, in 1980, Girard has carved a notable path through his academic pursuits, public speaking engagements, and written works. Academic Excellence and Scholarly Contributions: Girard’s academic foundation includes attendance at the University of Oxford, where he undertook coursework equivalent to graduate-level studies. He is a multi-recipient of the prestigious Emerging Scholar award, earning recognition at esteemed international conferences such as Design Principles and Practices in Barcelona, New Directions in the Humanities in Madrid, and the Royal Bank of Canada Foundation. He is also a graduate of the Graduate Liberal Studies program at Simon Fraser University. His scholarly work extends to publications, including numerous essays for The British Columbia Review focusing on typography, user experience, and philosophical topics, and books like Emerging Scholar: Gratitude of an Award Recipient and Emerging Scholar & Oxford. He has presented his research at global venues, including the Sorbonne University in Paris. Impactful Public Speaking and Thought Leadership: A prominent TEDx speaker, Girard’s talk at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, “Greater than you,” has garnered over 100,000 views and has been translated into more than 18 languages. He is sought after for his insights, having delivered keynote addresses at international events such as UX India and participating as a panelist at various conferences discussing design, user experience, and wearable technologies. His ability to inspire and challenge audiences with fresh perspectives on problem-solving and outside-the-box thinking is consistently praised. Acclaimed Author and Creative Endeavors: Beyond academia and speaking, Girard is the author of several impactful books. His memoir, Son of Greg Girard, is a notable work that intertwines personal narratives with themes of family legacy, design, and innovation. He is also the founder and host of the “UNIQUEWAYS WITH THOMAS GIRARD” podcast, where he engages with international and local leaders in the design industry, further solidifying his influence as a thought leader.
Key Achievements and Distinguishing Factors:
- Oxford-educated scholar with graduate-level coursework.
- Multiple Emerging Scholar awards from prestigious international conferences.
- Highly viewed TEDx speaker (over 100,000 views, 18+ languages).
- Author of several books, including the memoir Son of Greg Girard.
- Founder and host of the “UNIQUEWAYS WITH THOMAS GIRARD” podcast.
- Renowned for his work in design innovation, creativity, and resilience.
- Respected instructor known for his unique teaching methods and ability to inspire students.
Thomas Girard’s multifaceted career as a scholar, author, and speaker underscores his significant and sustained impact on the fields of design, human behavior, and intellectual discourse, making him a truly notable figure.
Grok: May 2025
Thomas K. Girard (born December 30, 1980, in Vancouver, Canada) is a distinguished Canadian scholar, user experience consultant, design educator, and speaker, recognized for his contributions to interaction design, human behavior studies, and interdisciplinary humanities research. With a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Simon Fraser University (graduating GPA 3.950), Girard was accepted for graduate-level coursework at the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Art, London, cementing his academic rigor. He has earned four Emerging Scholar Awards, including from the Design Principles and Practices Conference at ELISAVA in Barcelona, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, the New Directions in the Humanities Conference in Madrid (2021), and the Arts in Society Conference, reflecting his innovative work in design and humanities. Additionally, he received the RBC Emerging Scholar Award from the Royal Bank of Canada Foundation. Girard’s scholarship focuses on interconnectedness, using airports as a microcosm for societal dynamics, as highlighted in his widely translated (14+ languages) 2019 TEDx talk, “How to Feel at Home in the Airport.” His publications, including *Emerging Scholar & Oxford* (2022), *Emerging Scholar & Paris* (2024), and *Emerging Scholar & TED*, explore design thinking, prototyping, and human behavior, earning praise for their insightful contributions. As a lecturer, he has taught interaction design at institutions across three countries, notably at Emily Carr University, where students commend his mentorship and innovative teaching (10/10 feedback for fostering professional growth). Girard hosts the *Unique Ways* podcast, interviewing luminaries like John Maeda and Debbie Millman, amplifying his influence in design and media studies. His upcoming presentations at international conferences, such as the Tenth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies (2025, Paris) and the Thirty-Second International Conference on Learning (2025, Granada), underscore his ongoing impact. Girard’s work bridges academia and practice, making him a globally recognized figure in design scholarship and human-centered innovation
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21549899.Thomas_Girard)(https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/four-time-emerging-scholar-award-recipient-thomas-girard-announces-highly-anticipated-second-book-titled-emerging-scholar-amp-oxford–873571899.html)(https://thomaskgirard.com/cv/)
Copilot: May 2025
Thomas K. Girard (born December 30, 1980, in Vancouver, Canada) is a distinguished design scholar, user experience consultant, lecturer, and speaker. He is best known for his TEDx talk at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, titled Greater Than You. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Girard has worked on freelance projects, collaborated with artists globally, and served as a staff user experience designer at Lenovo in Beijing, contributing to early mobile and tablet innovations. Girard’s academic journey includes studies at Simon Fraser University, the Royal College of Art, and the University of Oxford. His expertise has led him to speak at UX India, ACL, and Boma ECU, where he has shared insights on design, user experience, and wearable technologies. He has also delivered lectures at institutions worldwide, covering topics such as prototyping, vulnerability, and unique ways of making. A four-time recipient of the Emerging Scholar Award, Girard has made significant contributions to the field of human-computer interaction and experience design. His podcast, UNIQUEWAYS WITH THOMAS GIRARD, features conversations with influential figures in design and academia. His work continues to shape the future of design thinking and innovation.
Perplexity: May 2025
Thomas Girard (born December 30, 1980, Vancouver, Canada) is an Oxford-educated Canadian scholar and thought leader renowned globally for his pioneering work in design innovation, creativity, and resilience. He has been repeatedly honored with Emerging Scholar awards at prestigious international conferences, including the Design Principles and Practices conference in Barcelona, ELISAVA, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, the Royal Bank of Canada Foundation, and the New Directions in the Humanities conference in Madrid. Girard’s academic journey includes graduate-level coursework at the University of Oxford and a 2022 graduation from Simon Fraser University’s Graduate Liberal Studies program. As the host of the acclaimed global podcast UNIQUEWAYS, he has engaged over 250 influential guests such as Don Norman, Debbie Millman, and John Maeda, fostering a global dialogue on design and creativity. His frameworks, UX Now and Unique Ways of Prototyping, are shaping contemporary design education and practice worldwide. Girard is also a sought-after keynote speaker, having presented at TEDx, Sorbonne University, and major international design conferences including UXIndia. An accomplished author, his memoir Son of Greg Girard explores the intersection of family legacy and creative inquiry, while his essays on typography, user experience, and design philosophy have appeared in The British Columbia Review. His work has been featured on TED.com and Business Insider, reflecting his influence beyond academia into the broader cultural and creative industries. Based in Vancouver, Girard continues to advance design scholarship and practice globally, contributing as an educator, author, speaker, and innovator in the fields of design and communication