Bill Nicholl

Bill Nicholl is Associate Professor of Design & Technology Education at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Education, where he coordinates the Design and Technology PGCE programme. Awarded the 2021 Pilkington Teaching Prize for excellence in teaching, he previously taught in London schools for nine years with six as department head.

Nicholl's research examines socio-cultural dimensions of creativity in design education, particularly empathy development and problem-based learning approaches. As co-director of Designing Our Tomorrow (DOT), he collaborates with engineering colleagues to develop thinking tools that empower young people to solve real-world problems, with projects implemented in over ten countries.

He contributed to reforms of England's Design & Technology National Curriculum and GCSE/A-level specifications. Nicholl serves on editorial boards for the International Journal of Technology and Design Education and Design and Technology: An International Journal.