William Hurley

William Hurley is a Senior Lecturer at Nottingham School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University, specializing in Fashion, Knitwear and Textile Design. With over 18 years of experience in education and research, he focuses on industrial knit technology and its creative applications in novel textile development.

His primary research interest lies at the intersection of technology innovation and creative design processes, particularly in fashion weft knitting. He explores novel applications through seamless knitting, 3D knitted structures, and electro-active textiles for medical and communication purposes. His work bridges traditional fashion design with cutting-edge technological advancements, emphasizing how technological innovation drives creative exploration in textile development.

Recent publications (2025-2013) reveal consistent focus on textile-based sensors, antenna materials, and moisture management in knitted textiles. Key themes include optical and electrical sensing for health monitoring, space antenna applications, compression garments, and environmental effects on textile performance. This output demonstrates deep expertise in smart textiles and industrial knitting, with strong emphasis on practical applications in healthcare, aerospace, and wearable technology.

No major scientific awards are documented in the available records.

He has secured significant funding from Innovate UK, Horizon 2020, and the European Space Agency for projects including patient-customized compression sleeves for lymphoedema treatment, active simulator cockpit enhancement, and space antenna surface materials. While specific PhD students aren't listed, his role as Senior Lecturer involves supervising undergraduate students in knitwear design and research projects within the BA (Hons) Fashion Knitwear Design program.

He is an active member of the Advanced Textiles Research Group (ATRG), which develops innovative textile applications across medical, communication, and aerospace domains. His work includes commercialized outcomes like Nike's Flyknit technology and SmartLife Technology Ltd's knitted transducers.