"Assistant Professor - Design History"

About Us

MacEwan University is where caring faculty help people connect their passions to their future paths. Located in the heart of Edmonton's diverse and dynamic downtown community, and on the traditional lands of Treaty 6 First Nations and homelands of the Métis people, MacEwan is known for exceptional undergraduate learning. With its dedication to teaching excellence, informed by scholarly research, innovation, and creative activity, MacEwan provides an exceptional collaborative and supportive learning environment with a commitment to human rights, environmental sustainability, and opportunities for community engagement. We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community for all peoples, cultures, and identities.

Our comprehensive undergraduate university offers 55 programs to more than 19,000 full- and part-time students in business, communications, community and human services, design, fine and performing arts, health, humanities, natural science, nursing, public safety, and social science. Through a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, and strategic relationships in the community, we partner with others to produce graduates of stature. Along with a robust grounding in their chosen disciplines, MacEwan students are given durable life skills that prepare them to take on the world.

Opportunity

The Department of Design in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications invites applications for a full-time tenure-track appointment in Design History at the rank of Assistant Professor, commencing July 1, 2025, subject to final budgetary approval.

The MacEwan Design Department has been graduating well-respected designers for 50 years. We are the largest Bachelor of Design program in Alberta, with more than 350 students, 40 faculty, and 55 unique design courses and the only user experience design major between Vancouver and Toronto. This degree is unique in Canada, envisioning design as not just an applied art but also an applied social science. This human-centered approach will allow students to better understand the audience/users they are designing for, and to more effectively evaluate their design outcomes. The degree currently has four main pathways – Visual Communication Design; Digital Experience Design; Photo, Video & Motion Graphics; Illustration.

The Design Department at MacEwan University prepares students to become the creative design leaders of tomorrow. Students are immersed in the knowledge, processes, methods and skills of the discipline: the ability to research and identify problems and provide communication solutions within a given social and environmental context; use tools of the field to give form to their concepts while recognizing the cultural significance and meaning of them; communicate and defend solutions to team members and stakeholders; organize and manage design projects and client relations. Learn more about Design at MacEwan.

In this role you will:

• Instruct students in design history and design issues lecture and seminar courses.
• Provide learning activities that stimulate student involvement and encourage critical thinking and discussion.
• Provide students with ways to connect design history, theory, and issues with design studio practice.
• Maintain competencies in the subject area and currency in instructional methodologies through professional associations and professional development.
• Maintain an active research practice.
• In consultation with the Design Department, create and maintain a pedagogical vision and provide leadership for design history and issues courses within the department.
• Serve on university-wide, faculty and departmental committees as needed.
• Foster interdisciplinary approaches and establish ties with other departments including but not limited to: Studio Arts, Communications Studies, Arts and Cultural Management, Theatre, Music.

Qualifications

You will:

• Hold a minimum of a PhD (ABD will be considered) in design history, material culture, and/or a related field; candidates with an MDes or MA may be considered where they have accumulated experience that is particularly relevant to this job.
• Have an understanding of design history’s global connectedness and a diversity of perspectives on design practice.
• Have excellent organizational and leadership skills.
• The ability to teach a variety of design history and design issue subjects at multiple levels in the curriculum, from introductory courses to senior lectures and/or seminars.
• A record of a strong research agenda which includes one or a combination of the following: publishing or other disciplinary modes of knowledge mobilization; institutional, cross-institutional, and/or community collaborations; creative practice; curatorial work.

You will submit a cover letter (with competition number stated), curriculum vitae, teaching dossier (including teaching philosophy, teaching evaluations, sample course outlines and projects), statement of research interests and experience (including examples of your scholarly work, communications and publications). 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the Department Chair to provide three (3) letters of reference sent directly from referees.

Only selected candidates will be required to submit official transcripts sent directly from the institutions where you completed your degrees.

Questions about this opportunity may be addressed to Robert Andruchow, Department Chair, at andruchowr@macewan.ca.

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Closing Date: A review of applications will begin January 13, 2025, and continue until a suitable candidate is found.

How to Apply

To apply, please head to our MacEwan University Opportunities Page, select the job opportunity and click Apply Now. If you require assistance, please contact us at careers@macewan.ca.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties when submitting your application, please try submitting through a different browser (i.e., Safari, Firefox, Chrome, etc.). If the issue persists, please send a screenshot of the error message to careers@macewan.ca so we can assist and ensure your application is received.

This position is included under the Faculty Association collective agreement.

Diversity Statement

MacEwan University is committed to fostering the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion within our community, and we are dedicated to removing barriers that have been historically encountered and are currently experienced by some members of our society. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, and members of all equity-deserving groups. We believe that the diversity of our students, staff, and faculty serves as a strength of our institution and benefit to society. We are committed to ensuring full and inclusive participation for all in our community.

Accessibility Statement

We strive to provide an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, beginning with the hiring process. If you require accommodation, we want to ensure you have the support you need to showcase your abilities. Please contact humanresources@macewan.ca and we will support you to the best of our ability.