Design Wings mentors embody the balance of knowledge and experience, the ability to solve problems, and the leadership principles based on professionalism, impartiality, integrity, confidentiality, equality, and collegiality. They will help novice designers and companies connect with each other and will guide them to the final creative output.
The mentors' main tasks:
- To evaluate, shortlist, and bring together the participants of the Design Wings project — novice designers and companies — and work with them to achieve a joint creative outcome;
- To share experience, give advice, and support both the project team and participants in the development and implementation of new design solutions in their respective fields;
- To participate in project training and other activities;
- To evaluate and validate the achievements of project participants and contribute to their final reports;
- Collaborate with the Lithuanian Council for Culture team and other organisations to achieve successful project outcomes.
Meet the mentors of the Design Wings project!
Karolis Bakūnas
Product desing
Karolis Bakūnas is a graduate of the Design Faculty at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, where he earned his Master’s degree in Design in 2015 and his Bachelor’s degree in 2013.
Karolis is an innovative industrial designer with over 10 years of experience in developing functional, aesthetically refined, and production-ready products. He specializes in the full product development process - from concept to final solution - working closely with clients, engineers, and manufacturing teams. His strengths include analytical thinking, solving complex problems, attention to detail, and the ability to align design solutions with business and brand objectives.
He works with 3D modeling, visualization, prototyping, and CAD optimization, while continuously following the latest trends in design and technology.
Key Projects:
- “Yos” bottle with tablet compartment, 2018
- “Summit” electric sauna heater, 2025
- “Hester” window-cleaning robot, 2025
- “Ratiotech” money verification device, 2019
- “Rubbee” electric bicycle battery, 2018
Awards:
- European Product Design Award for the “Yos” bottle
- A’ Design Award (Silver) for the “Reed Precision” turntable
- A’ Design Award (Gold) for “Technokosmeda 5000x”
Karolis finds mentorship particularly meaningful, as he works both with students as a lecturer and with clients as a business owner. Being a mentor allows him to bring these two worlds together - helping young designers learn how to work with real-world briefs and challenges.
He believes that design can create social impact through accessibility, systemic solutions, and behavior change. According to Karolis, design can make products more accessible for older users or reduce cognitive load. It can also influence consumption patterns - for example, through more sustainable construction that reduces waste or products designed for easier repair, extending their lifecycle.
Karolis’ motto: I turn complexity into clarity
Designer Rapolas Šlevas, company “Belt2belt”
Saulius Leonavičius
Visual communication
Saulius holds a Doctor of Arts degree from the Vilnius Academy of Arts and has over 20 years of experience in the field of design.
Among his most notable projects, Saulius highlights the launch campaign for the Pragiedruliai Creativity Center, the rebranding of Žalia Giria, and a campaign for the Urmas retail town. He has also received awards at the Adrenalinas advertising festival for campaigns created for Pildyk and Swedbank.
According to Saulius, a contemporary designer cannot survive in the job market without mastering AI tools, while a strong design idea and its successful execution require confidence in one’s own naivety.
In his view, design can contribute to social impact by resisting the temptation to focus solely on profit.
Saulius identifies stylistic pluralism and mannerism as key trends in communication design. It has become increasingly easy to create professional-looking and functional design solutions thanks to accessible tools and the growing visual literacy in society.
Saulius’ motto: If a creation breaks nothing, it is not worth making.
Designer Eugenija Tereščenko, Solo Teatras, Public Institution
Designer Milda Abraitytė, Psichikos sveikatos perspektyvos, Public Institution
Marius Bartkus
Visual communication
Marius holds a Ph.D. in design and has over 20 years of experience in the field. Among his most significant recent projects, Marius highlights the development of the Ministry of Health’s brand identity and the publications for the company “Mineraliniai vandenys.” The publications “Los Logos” and “Tres Logos,” dedicated to the evolution of logo design, feature logos created by “Moira Visuals,” the design agency led by Marius.
The idea of mentorship resonates with Marius because it allows him to pass on his experience to young creators while providing professional assistance to businesses in need of design services.
In the mentor’s view, resilience to criticism is essential for a contemporary designer seeking to thrive in the job market. Design is constantly evaluated by various people, and taking criticism personally can lead to emotional burnout.
Regarding social impact in society, Marius believes that design can contribute by creating clarity in the midst of chaos, increasing the accessibility of information, helping to shape responsible choices, and giving visibility to important issues.
Marius' motto: creating clarity out of noise.
Designer Elma Mačiulytė, Ribologija, Public Institution
Designer Eglė Alejevaitė, Lithuanian Association of the Deaf
Vilius Vaičius
Communication Design
User Experience and Interface Design (UX/UI)
Vilius Vaičius holds a Bachelor’s degree in Design from the Vilnius Academy of Arts and brings over a decade of experience in the field. His expertise spans graphic design and publishing, user experience and interface design (UX/UI), as well as the development of visual identities and design systems for businesses.
Vilius is the co-founder and creative lead of Outer Studio, where he consults companies on digital communication, UX/UI, and visual strategy. Together with his team, he has delivered more than 50 visual identity projects and over 40 digital solutions. His portfolio includes collaborations with startups, the public sector, and international brands across industries such as SaaS, fintech, e-commerce, medical technology, education and EdTech, HoReCa, real estate, construction, and engineering.
He has worked both as a freelance designer and as a creative director. His professional practice is complemented by training, mentorship, and a strong ability to approach design as a strategic business tool.
“My strength lies in a clear process, strategic thinking, and the ability to create solutions that generate real value,” says the mentor.
Selected projects
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labadiena.eu
E-commerce design combining clear structure, smooth user experience, and a strong visual identity. A strong emphasis was placed on conversion optimization—from product presentation to filtering and navigation logic. The system is easily scalable, allowing the store to grow while maintaining a consistent visual language. -
prado.com | rond.io
A long-term collaboration spanning six years. The work includes continuous development of visual identity, communication strategy, and digital solutions aligned with business growth. Three interconnected websites were created for different markets, ensuring a unified brand identity alongside localized user experiences. -
insuvia.com
Visual identity and website design for an international regulatory compliance company. The solutions focus on building trust, structuring complex information, and delivering a seamless presentation of services for clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.
Vilius emphasizes that mentorship is not only about transferring skills, but also about shaping a mindset in which design is understood as a value-driven discipline rather than purely an aesthetic one.
The “Design Wings” project is important to him as it contributes to building a stronger, more mature design community.
Design can create meaningful social impact by making information more understandable, services more accessible, and complex issues more visible. It can shine a light on under-discussed topics and offer ways to address them.
Motto: Form follows function.
Designer Laurynas Orlauskas, Equal Opportunities Development Centre (Public Institution)
Designer Simona Kačerauskaitė, Kazimieras Simonavičius University
Designer Maksim Nikiškin, Charity Foundation “Vienybė”
Igor Gubaidulin
User Experience and Interface Design (UX/UI)
Igor Gubaidulin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in E-Business Management. He created his first website design back in 2003 and, with brief interruptions, has been working in the design field for over 20 years. Igor specializes in user experience (UX) design.
Throughout his career, Igor has developed hundreds of design solutions, but two projects stand out as particularly memorable. One of them is the design of software for a smart TV set-top box.
“Today, devices like Apple TV, Android TV, or built-in smart TV systems are part of everyday life. But at the time, this was entirely new territory - there were almost no references or standards to rely on. As a result, many solutions had to be created from scratch, which made it an especially exciting challenge”, the mentor recalls.
Another standout project was the user interface for Lithuania’s State Tax Inspectorate personal income declaration wizard.
“More than 1.5 million people in Lithuania declare their income every year, so my team’s work on improving the user experience had a tangible impact on a large part of society. The enhancements significantly increased user satisfaction and likely contributed to a smoother tax collection process”, Igor shares.
Awards
- 2012 – Gold Medal for Product of the Year for the IPTV.iQ graphical TV user interface
- 2012 – Finalist, Connected World.TV Awards
- 2013 – Certified Usability Analyst of the Month by Human Factors International
- 2020 – “New Book Carrier” Award (Best Solution for Lithuania) for the personal income tax declaration wizard
According to Igor, the “Design Wings” project is a perfect combination of opportunities: a way to give back to society, contribute to the development of the younger generation, strengthen the role of design in both business and the NGO sector - and grow personally in the process.
Igor believes that design has the power not only to solve problems, but also to shape attitudes, change behavior, and reduce inequality. Thoughtful design can make services and information more accessible to older users, people with disabilities, and those less familiar with digital technologies. It can help create more inclusive systems, reduce bureaucracy, and even encourage positive societal change - from environmental responsibility to civic engagement.
The more designers see their work as part of a broader context, the greater real social impact can be achieved.
Motto: Nothing about users without users.
Designer Julija Kuprijaškinaitė, Mama ir auklė, Ltd
Designer Benas Pociūnas, Sales Port, SP
Designer Mindaugas Rimša, Retiva, Ltd
Pijus Cicėnas
Visual communication
Pijus Cicėnas holds a Master’s degree in Arts from the Vilnius Academy of Arts and has over 13 years of experience in the design field. According to Pijus, every project he has worked on has been meaningful and relevant in its own way. Over the years, he has collaborated across a wide range of industries, including real estate, pharmaceuticals, toys, fashion, construction, engineering, high technology, and design.
Featured projects
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Froceth
A 3D illustration project focused on the prevention of cancer stem cells. The project successfully delivered scientifically grounded yet visually compelling representations of cells, combining strict scientific accuracy with creativity. -
Ordoline.lt
Development of 3D graphics and animation designed to build trust through aesthetics and introduce users to the service. The project presents a visual narrative exploring the balance between naturalness and technology in orthodontic treatment. -
Brolis Sensor Technology
A unique project where 3D graphics were used to communicate the scientific direction of the company’s innovative laser technology in the medical field.
Pijus, who has participated as a mentor in the project more than once, highlights its uniqueness: it brings together emerging designers and businesses to co-create new products. The mentor’s role is to advise, observe, and sometimes guide the process in a smoother direction. “The first phase of the project (2022–2023) already demonstrated how the projects I mentored evolved into success stories. It’s rewarding to see how accumulated experience can create real value,” he notes.
According to Pijus, design creates solutions that can change people’s lives. It goes beyond aesthetics by fostering awareness, educating users, and contributing to the development of more user-friendly services, more sustainable products, and greater visibility of social issues.
Motto: You will find only what you bring in.
Kaja Elena Brilė
User Experience and Interface Design (UX/UI)
Kaja Elena Brilė completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) in 2014 and earned a Master’s degree in Cognitive Semiotics from Aarhus University, Denmark, in 2017. In 2023, she graduated from a Bachelor’s program in New Media Art and the Academia Cum Laude additional studies program at VDU. She also studied for a semester at ESAD College of Art and Design in Porto, Portugal, through the Erasmus+ program.
Kaja has six years of experience in the product field, working both as a designer and a product owner. During this time, she has collaborated with companies across Europe and Asia, gaining firsthand insight into how design decisions create business value while learning from industry professionals in Denmark, Portugal, Lithuania, and Hong Kong.
In addition to her work as a digital product designer, Kaja is actively involved in international startup ecosystems. She has participated in hackathons, served as a product design mentor at Techstars, and works as a lecturer and freelance consultant. Her clients include Kesko Senukai Digital, Secure Nordic Payments, SameSystem, Adeoweb, Happyer, and others.
Featured project
Olie. Kaja considers her own startup Olie to be her most significant project. For this venture, she developed a UX testing system that helps solve IT product testing challenges faster and more cost-effectively.
Awards
2018 – Winner of the “Mokslo sriuba” competition
2022 – Winner of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation pre-accelerator TechHub
Kaja finds mentorship especially meaningful due to her own experience transitioning from an academic design environment to a fast-paced business setting.
“The difference between the two felt like day and night”, she notes.
She has also observed contrasts between Denmark - one of the global leaders in experience design - and Lithuania, which has been catching up with global trends. These experiences highlighted the growing need for professionals who can effectively solve real business challenges through design.
“At the beginning of my career, I lacked supportive and encouraging people around me. Today, I see strong interest in UX/UI design in Lithuania and its value for businesses. This motivates me to contribute to helping both companies and emerging designers keep pace with global trends - with enthusiasm rather than fear”, Kaja shares.
She adds that mentorship is a two-way process: by sharing her knowledge, she also learns from others’ thinking and ideas, which she considers a gift as a designer.
Motto: There are no bad users—only poor design.
Designer Neringa Dailydžiuvienė, Public Institution “Apglėbk pasaulį”
Designer Agnė Ašmontaitė, “Pokalbių gidas”, SP