Teaching Professor (Assistant or Associate), Interdisciplinary Design & Design Fundamentals

Competition 1774

The Department of Art & Design, Design Studies (comprising Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design) invites applications for a full-time Teaching Professor at the rank of Assistant or Associate Lecturer. We seek a colleague with experience in Interdisciplinary Design—bridging UI/UX, Service Design, and other interdisciplinary design practices—and in Design Fundamentals (first-year instruction). Administrative duties (e.g., area coordination) will also be assigned as needed. This is a full-time, continuing career status position. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025.

While this position welcomes applications from individuals external to the university, current Academic Teaching Staff are first notified of available positions and will receive first consideration in accordance with the terms of Schedule D of the Academic Collective Agreement prior to considering external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status. Internal applications must be received by January 15, 2025, to be considered.

Salary will be commensurate with experience in accordance with the Academic Teaching Staff (ATS) agreement.

Location: Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton. This role is in-person.

Responsibilities:

• Teach eight class sections across both Design Fundamentals and Interdisciplinary Design (e.g., UI/UX, Service Design) per academic year, in person. Normally, this will be taught across Fall and Winter semesters with the possibility of Spring and Summer as negotiated. There is also the possibility to teach, or contribute to, graduate-level courses in Design Studies.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in Design or a related field. PhD is considered an asset.
• A minimum of three years of post-secondary teaching in the design areas specified (e.g., interdisciplinary design, UI/UX, design fundamentals). Professional design experience is considered an asset and a combination of instructional and professional equivalencies may be considered; and,
• Active engagement in practice and scholarship in the field.

In addition to the above requirements, the following are considered an asset:

• Strong teamwork within a cohort of instructors;
• Excellence in the design and development of instructional and curriculum materials;
• Record of welcoming a diverse student body into the design classroom, and of managing a classroom with students of different backgrounds and proficiency levels; and,
• Pedagogical innovation, for example, task-based learning, incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing, etc.

Working at the University

Edmonton and the University of Alberta are situated on Treaty 6 territory, the homeland of the Métis, and the traditional meeting ground and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Dene, and Nakota Sioux. Founded in 1908, the University of Alberta is one of Canada's largest and most-respected research universities. It serves over 41,000 students in more than 200 undergraduate and 500 graduate and professional programs. In 2022, the University’s Indigenous Strategic Plan was implemented, reflecting an important step in our institution’s commitment to reconciliation in post-secondary education and research, addressing the historical legacy of the residential school system and Canada’s colonial history. The University’s principles and actions and its Strategic Plan for EDI are underpinned by respect for the dignity, rights, and full participation of all those who live, work, and learn within the university.

The Faculty and the Department

The Faculty of Arts is the oldest and most diverse faculty on campus and is one of the largest research and teaching centres in Western Canada. The Department of Art & Design offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Fine Arts, Design Studies (Industrial Design & Visual Communication Design), and the History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture, and encompasses the FAB Gallery and a University Centre of Research Excellence in Printmaking.

How to Apply

To have your application considered, please select the Apply Online icon below and submit the following:

• Cover letter describing your fit for the above qualifications (2 pages max, attach under "Cover Letter")
• Curriculum vitae that includes the names of three referees (CV, attach under "CV")
• Letters of reference, teaching dossier, portfolio, and other supplementary materials may be requested of candidates after initial review of applications

Review of applications will begin on February 7, 2025, and posting will close February 14, 2025.

Inquiries regarding this position can be addressed to the Chair of the Advisory Selection Committee, Aidan Rowe, at aidan.rowe@ualberta.ca with the subject line, “Teaching Professor, Interdisciplinary Design & Design Fundamentals”.