Contact Professor Leon Williams
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758531
- Email: l.williams@cranfield.ac.uk
Areas of expertise
- Design, Strategy & Innovation
Background
Academically trained as a goldsmith with a doctorate from the RCA; his work has been showcased internationally from Universidade do Porto, Portugal; to Galerie Ra, Amsterdam; Milan, Korea and Hong Kong.
He has led as Principal Investigator more than 50 research funded projects and supervised many postgraduate researchers to competition from the RCA/Rochester/Cranfield (at MSc by Research/MPhil/PhD level). He is also the course tutor of the internationally acknowledged Innovation and Creativity MDes by Bloomberg Businessweek.
Current activities
Dr Leon B. M. Williams is the Director of Centre for Competitive Creative Design (C4D) at Cranfield University with a specialised area of research in Prestige Design and Creative Innovation.
He has a wide knowledge base in 'technology development' but focuses his attention on the ever-changing disciplines that yield high impact for technological change and creative innovation. For this reason, precision engineering, novel materials, craftsmanship techniques and new technology development take high priority within his current research. However, most of his professional consultancy engagement focuses on problem solving for the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors, as his research and development processes are valued for being rapid and pragmatic. He focuses on developing design-led strategic tools, creative insight and working solutions to large and small enterprises, simulating ideas whilst bringing them to reality using proven R&D methodologies combined with new rapid development mechanisms.
He has been a consultant for over ten years providing guidance and support to developing FMCG companies. His key skills include:
Rapid-innovation toolkits (theory and practice)
Technology readiness level pipelines
Open Innovation Management workflows
Technology-led Innovation
Design for manufacture innovation management best practice
Digital technology development (concept-to-creation)
Reverse engineering systems for rapid manufacture
Design-led insight mechanisms (empathic data collection)
Client-driven innovation processes
Craftsmanship and practitioner knowledge exchange
Innovation strategy and creative business management mechanism
Precision engineering and rapid technology development
Creative systems and product optimisation pathways
Game changing innovation strategies for business growth
Smart Materials and Processes Design Thinking Practice Technology
Prototyping Management of Innovation and Technology.
Clients
SABMiller Materials Department
P&G
IBM
Housing 21
BMS
Links of London HQ
Benney Watches Ltd - in conjunction with Faberge Design Orchard
Royal Mint
Shadow Robotics
London Tap Water
Bombay Sapphire
Theo Fernell
Marant Jewellery
Wind Power Ltd (Grimshaw Architects London HQ)
Hornby
Rapid-Form
RCA
Garrard
V&A (goldsmiths)
Jaguar Land Rover.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Beik F, Williams L, Brown T & Wagland ST. (2023). Development and prototype testing of a novel small-scale pyrolysis system for the treatment of sanitary sludge. Energy Conversion and Management, 277(February)
- Abu-Bakar HH, Williams L & Hallett SH. (2023). Contextualising household water consumption patterns in England: A socio-economic and socio-demographic narrative. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 8(March)
- Jiang Y, Tran TH & Williams L. (2023). Machine learning and mixed reality for smart aviation: Applications and challenges. Journal of Air Transport Management, 111(August)
- Zhang M, Shi H, Williams L, Lighterness P, Li M, .... (2023). An Empirical Test of the Influence of Rural Leadership on the Willingness to Participate in Public Affairs from the Perspective of Leadership Identification. Agriculture, 13(10)
- Jiang Y, Tran TH & Williams L. (2023). A Surveillance-and-Blockchain-based Tracking System for Mitigation of Baggage Mishandling at Smart Airports. Journal of Airline Operations and Aviation Management, 2(2)
- Jiang Y, Yang R, Zang C, Wei Z, Thompson J, .... (2022). Toward Baggage-Free Airport Terminals: A Case Study of London City Airport. Sustainability, 14(1)
- Mead MI, Bevilacqua M, Loiseaux C, Hallett SH, Jude S, .... (2022). Generalised network architectures for environmental sensing: Case studies for a digitally enabled environment. Array, 14(July)
- Jiang Y, Tran TH & Williams L. (2022). Advanced Visual SLAM and Image Segmentation Techniques for Augmented Reality. International Journal of Virtual and Augmented Reality, 6(1)
- Xie J, Unnikrishnan D, Williams L, Encinas-Oropesa A, Mutnuri S, .... (2022). Influence of domain experience on icon recognition and preferences. Behaviour & Information Technology, 41(1)
- Jiang Y, Tran TH & Williams L. (2022). Importance of UV Disinfection Robots for Airports During and After Covid-19: A Short Review. Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, 2(4)
- Abu-Bakar H, Williams L & Hallett SH. (2021). Quantifying the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on household water consumption patterns in England. npj Clean Water, 4(1)
- Abu-Bakar H, Williams L & Hallett SH. (2021). A review of household water demand management and consumption measurement. Journal of Cleaner Production, 292(April)
- Davey CJ, Liu P, Kamranvand F, Williams L, Jiang Y, .... (2021). Membrane distillation for concentrated blackwater: Influence of configuration (air gap, direct contact, vacuum) on selectivity and water productivity. Separation and Purification Technology, 263(May)
- Abu-Bakar H, Williams L & Hallett SH. (2021). An empirical water consumer segmentation and the characterisation of consumption patterns underpinning demand peaks. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 174(November)
- Beik F, Williams L, Brown T & Wagland ST. (2021). Managing Non-Sewered Human Waste Using Thermochemical Waste Treatment Technologies: A Review. Energies, 14(22)
- Kamranvand F, Davey CJ, Williams L, Parker A, Jiang Y, .... (2021). Membrane distillation of concentrated blackwater: Effect of temperature, solids concentration and membrane pore size. Water Environment Research, 93(6)
- Hennigs J, Ravndal KT, Parker A, Collins M, Jiang Y, .... (2021). Faeces – Urine separation via settling and displacement: Prototype tests for a novel non-sewered sanitation system. Science of The Total Environment, 753
- Budge S, Parker A, Hutchings P, Garbutt C, Rosenbaum J, .... (2021). Multi-Sectoral Participatory Design of a BabyWASH Playspace for Rural Ethiopian Households. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 104(3)
- Zhu B, Leon W, Paul L & Gao P. (2021). Impact of Crowdsourcee’s Vertical Fairness Concern on the Crowdsourcing Knowledge Sharing Behavior and Its Incentive Mechanism. Journal of Systems Science and Complexity, 34(3)
- Somorin T, Parker A, McAdam E, Williams L, Tyrrel S, .... (2020). Pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of human faeces, simulant faeces and wood biomass by thermogravimetry–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry methods. Energy Reports, 6
- Hulme AM, Davey CJ, Parker A, Williams L, Tyrrel S, .... (2020). Managing power dissipation in closed-loop reverse electrodialysis to maximise energy recovery during thermal-to-electric conversion. Desalination, 496
- Kamranvand F, Davey CJ, Williams L, Parker A, Jiang Y, .... (2020). Ultrafiltration pretreatment enhances membrane distillation flux, resilience and permeate quality during water recovery from concentrated blackwater (urine/faeces). Separation and Purification Technology, 253
- Somorin T, Fidalgo B, Hassan S, Sowale A, Kolios A, .... (2020). Non-isothermal drying kinetics of human feces. Drying Technology, 38(14)
- Mercer E, Davey CJ, Azzini D, Eusebi AL, Tierney R, .... (2019). Hybrid membrane distillation reverse electrodialysis configuration for water and energy recovery from human urine: An opportunity for off-grid decentralised sanitation. Journal of Membrane Science, 584
- Mercer E, Davey CJ, Campo P, Fowler D, Williams L, .... (2019). Quantification of liquid phase faecal odourants to evaluate membrane technology for wastewater reuse from decentralised sanitation facilities. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 5(1)
- Fidalgo B, Chilmeran M, Somorin T, Sowale A, Kolios A, .... (2019). Non-isothermal thermogravimetric kinetic analysis of the thermochemical conversion of human faeces. Renewable Energy, 132
- Hennigs J, Parker A, Collins M, Jiang Y, Kolios A, .... (2019). Planning and communicating prototype tests for the Nano Membrane Toilet: A critical review and proposed visual tool. Gates Open Research, 3
- Wang J, Wang L, Sun N, Tierney R, Li H, .... (2019). Viscoelastic solid-repellent coatings for extreme water saving and global sanitation. Nature Sustainability, 2(12)
- Hennigs J, Ravndal KT, Blose T, Toolaram A, Sindall RC, .... (2019). Field testing of a prototype mechanical dry toilet flush. Science of The Total Environment, 668
- Sowale A, Kolios AJ, Fidalgo B, Somorin T, Parker A, .... (2018). Thermodynamic analysis of a gamma type Stirling engine in an energy recovery system. Energy Conversion and Management, 165
- Anastasopoulou A, Kolios A, Somorin T, Sowale A, Jiang Y, .... (2018). Conceptual environmental impact assessment of a novel self-sustained sanitation system incorporating a quantitative microbial risk assessment approach. Science of The Total Environment, 639
- Jurado N, Somorin T, Kolios AJ, Wagland S, Patchigolla K, .... (2018). Design and commissioning of a multi-mode prototype for thermochemical conversion of human faeces. Energy Conversion and Management, 163
- Kamranvand F, Davey CJ, Sakar H, Autin O, Mercer E, .... (2018). Impact of fouling, cleaning and faecal contamination on the separation of water from urine using thermally driven membrane separation. Separation Science and Technology, 53(9)
- Kolios A, Jiang Y, Somorin T, Sowale A, Anastasopoulou A, .... (2018). Probabilistic performance assessment of complex energy process systems – The case of a self-sustained sanitation system. Energy Conversion and Management, 163
- Jones PM, Lonne Q, Talaia P, Leighton GJT, Botte GG, .... (2018). A Straightforward Route to Sensor Selection for IoT Systems. Research-Technology Management, 61(5)
- Somorin TO, Kolios AJ, Parker A, McAdam E, Williams L, .... (2017). Faecal-wood biomass co-combustion and ash composition analysis. Fuel, 203
- Wang CY, Mercer E, Kamranvand F, Williams L, Kolios A, .... (2017). Tube-side mass transfer for hollow fibre membrane contactors operated in the low Graetz range. Journal of Membrane Science, 523
- Onabanjo T, Kolios AJ, Patchigolla K, Wagland ST, Fidalgo B, .... (2016). An experimental investigation of the combustion performance of human faeces. Fuel, 184
- Hanak DP, Kolios AJ, Onabanjo T, Wagland ST, Patchigolla K, .... (2016). Conceptual energy and water recovery system for self-sustained nano membrane toilet. Energy Conversion and Management, 126
- Mercer E, Cruddas P, Williams L, Kolios A, Parker A, .... (2016). Selection of screw characteristics and operational boundary conditions to facilitate post-flush urine and faeces separation within single household sanitation systems. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 2(6)
- Onabanjo T, Patchigolla K, Wagland ST, Fidalgo B, Kolios A, .... (2016). Energy recovery from human faeces via gasification: A thermodynamic equilibrium modelling approach. Energy Conversion and Management, 118
- Haines-Gadd M, Hasegawa A, Hooper R, Huck Q, Pabian M, .... (2015). Cut the crap; design brief to pre-production in eight weeks: Rapid development of an urban emergency low-tech toilet for Oxfam. Design Studies, 40
- Collins M & Williams L. (2014). A Three-Stage Filter for Effective Technology Selection. RESEARCH-TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, 57(3)
- Hennigs J, Parker A, Collins M, Jiang Y, Kolios A, .... Planning and communicating prototype tests for the Nano Membrane Toilet: A critical review and proposed strategy. Gates Open Research, 3
Conference Papers
- Quqandi S, Lighterness P & Williams L. (2022). DESIGN FOR SENTIMENT-ANCY: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE USER’S WELL-BEING THROUGH FOSTERING EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT IN THE USER EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR ASSISTIVE DEVICES
- Jiang Y, Tran TH, Williams L, Palmer J, Simson E, .... (2021). Enhancing the Customer Experience by Mixed Reality in the Retail Industry
- Anastasopoulou A, Kolios A, Somorin T, Sowale A, Jiang Y, .... (2018). Probabilistic life cycle assessment of the nano membrane toilet
- Adams RJ, Barrington D, Collins M, Hutchings P, Ihasz O, .... (2018). A scoping review of business model configurations for diffusing high-tech innovations at the bottom of the pyramid
Books
- Flores M, Golob M, Maklin D, Herrera M, Tucci C, .... (2018). How Can Hackathons Accelerate Corporate Innovation? In Moon I, Lee G, Park J, Kiritsis D & von Cieminski G (eds), IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology (535). Springer International Publishing.
- Hieu Tran T, Jiang Y & Williams L. Applications of Mixed Reality for Smart Aviation Industry: Opportunities and Challenges In Modern Development and Challenges in Virtual Reality. IntechOpen.
