Stuart Lilford

Stuart Lilford is a Lecturer in Game Design at the University of Hull with over fifteen years of experience spanning both the games industry and higher education. Prior to entering academia, he worked as a Game Designer at Rare and Codemasters, contributing to several BAFTA Award-winning titles including Kinect Sports and F1 2010, before working on augmented reality games for the PlayStation Vita.

Since moving into higher education, Stuart has held leadership roles including Programme Director for Game Design and Director of Student Experience within the School of Arts. His teaching and scholarship focus on game design pedagogy, employability, curriculum development, and industry engagement. He is particularly interested in practice-based learning, creative entrepreneurship, and widening participation within games education.

Stuart co-hosts the Games Every Designer Should Play podcast, which explores influential games through the lens of design, teaching, and professional practice. He has delivered talks and workshops nationally and internationally, including at Yorkshire Games Festival, Leeds International Festival, Game Republic, Feral Vector, Platform Expo, and AMAZE Berlin.

His research and knowledge exchange activities explore game design education, creative industries development, and pathways into the games sector. He has contributed to national qualification development through consultancy with NCFE, collaborated on industry and community projects, and is committed to strengthening opportunities for students, graduates, and the wider creative community within Hull and East Yorkshire.