Dr Tim Williams

Biography

Dr Tim Williams is a senior lecturer in Industrial Design at QUT, specialising in computer-aided design, manufacturing technology, and transportation design. He holds a PhD. in Product Ecosystem Design from QUT (2019) and a Bachelor of Design from UniSA (1988). His career spans nearly 20 years as a practising industrial designer, with significant contributions to medical, electronic, outdoor goods, and play equipment design. He has been recognised with several awards, including the Design Industry Association’s Award of Merit in 2000 for the Minelab Explorer metal detector.

At QUT since 2008, Dr Williams has developed innovative teaching methods, such as video tutorials for CAD instruction, and led the industrial design study tour, enhancing students’ international exposure. His research focuses on integrating technology in design, particularly virtual reality and artificial intelligence. From 2014 to 2017, he served as the Study Area Coordinator for Industrial Design, playing a key role in curriculum development and planning for the new DE43 course.

He has collaborated extensively with industry partners, including leading projects at ARM Hub. Notably, he led the foundational stage of the “Young Guns Shoot for AI Automated Shipping Container First” project, developing an automated packing solution, and the “Voltin” project, creating the AutoBAT system for AI-assisted building façade inspections. These projects highlight his expertise in the practical application of AI and automation, significantly impacting productivity and safety in their respective fields.

His teaching philosophy emphasises experiential learning, and he is committed to fostering real-world learning experiences through University-industry collaboration. He has also supported PhD students through initiatives like the “PhD club” and led a longitudinal study on the impact of study tours on students’ international perspectives.