I currently serve on three advisory boards & committees where I contribute to shaping academic research and curriculum development to ensure education and research remain closely aligned with industry needs in human-computer interaction, UX design, and accessibility.
Inclusive Data Visualisation for Human-Centred Decision-Making
City, St. George’s University
Advisory Committee Member (2024–Present)
The project investigates how people with language disabilities, specifically aphasia and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), engage with data visualisations in everyday decision-making.
The advisory committee meet regularly alongside peers from data visualisation, HCI, speech and language therapy, and industry and charity partners, including people with lived experience of aphasia and DLD. My role is to provide feedback on project progress and help shape future work packages for this EPSRC-funded research initiative, which seeks to expand accessibility standards in data communication.
College of Computing
Birmingham City University
Industry Advisory Board (IAB) Member (2025–Present)
The IAB’s aim is to contribute to the strategic implementation of BCU’s 2030 Strategy, which aims to create and disseminate knowledge for a more prosperous and inclusive society. The strategy is built on three pillars: developing the talent for tomorrow, creating knowledge for good, and powering prosperity.
The board works to integrate industry engagement into course design and delivery through problem-based learning, ensuring students gain practical experience, real-world context, and employability skills. We advise on opportunities for applied research, collaborative R&D, knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs), and other mechanisms that connect students, academics, and industry.
This strategic advisory work supports BCU’s ambition to ensure graduates gain meaningful employment within six months and encourages collaboration between industry and education to meet the needs of today’s digital economy.
Masters in UX Design & HCI
Birmingham City University
Industry Advisory Board (IAB) Member (2025–Present)
I provide industry insights to Birmingham City University’s UX Design and HCI IAB to help shape course content and ensure a strong pipeline of graduates who are equipped to succeed in an evolving UX and accessibility landscape.
My contributions focus on identifying the essential skills students need to thrive in both current and future industry contexts, highlighting the critical role academia plays in developing these skills. A key area of discussion is the rapidly changing impact of AI on UX design education and professional practice.
Through collaboration with academic staff and fellow board members, I support the integration of real-world challenges and help prepare students for meaningful, adaptable careers in a dynamic tech landscape.
Inclusive Digital Content for People with Aphasia
City, St. George’s University
Advisory Committee Member (2017–2021, past appointment)
I contributed to the EPSRC-funded INCA project, which aimed to improve access to digital content for people with aphasia through inclusive design and co-created technologies. My involvement began as a researcher on Work Package 1, where I led efforts to audit and evaluate existing digital tools with people with aphasia, helping to identify key usability and accessibility gaps.
Following the completion of this work, I was invited to remain on the project as an Advisory Committee Member, supporting the team throughout the remainder of the four-year initiative. The project led to the development of tools like MakeWrite, Comic Spin, and CreaTable, as well as inclusive design methods promoting digital inclusion for people with language impairments.
Brian Grellmann 