Deepak Padhi is an Assistant Professor and SDAC (Student Development Activity Coordinator) at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar, under the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India. He teaches courses in User Experience (UX), Interaction Design, and Communication Design. He has submitted his PhD thesis at the IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay, on Designing Hyperlocal Educational Videos for Parent-Child Engagement in Low-literacy contexts. His research interests include Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Educational Technology, HCI4D and ICTD.

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He holds degrees in Engineering, Management, and Design, shaping his interdisciplinary approach to research, education, and innovation. He previously co-founded "theUXWhale", a design research studio specializing in research-driven UI/UX solutions.

Deepak regularly contributes to the academic community as a conference chair, reviewer, speaker, and instructor for courses and workshops. He actively mentors students and researchers across academia and industry.

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Outside his academic pursuits, Deepak is a passionate musician and performing artist, with interests in singing and playing the sitar. He also works as a wellness coach, supporting parents in their mental and family well-being journeys.​​​​​​​