Assistant Professor of Design Sciences

Ryerson University

School of Fashion — The Creative School
Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

Posted: November 20, 2025
Application Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Position Start Date: July 1, 2026 (subject to budgetary approval)

About the School and Location

Located in downtown Toronto—Canada’s largest and most culturally diverse city, on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat Peoples—the School of Fashion in The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Fashion Design Technologies.

The School offers innovative undergraduate (BDes) and graduate (MA) programs and is recognized for excellence in teaching, scholarly research, creative activities (SRC), and community engagement. TMU is a vibrant, urban university known for innovative, professionally relevant programs, an inclusive culture, and leadership in equity, diversity, accessibility, and sustainability.

Position Summary

The successful candidate will engage in a combination of:

• Teaching at the undergraduate (BDes) and graduate (MA) levels
• Scholarly research and/or creative activities (SRC)
• Service to the School, Faculty, and University
• Implementation of inclusive, equitable, and collegial academic practices

Teaching responsibilities include developing and delivering large lectures, studios, seminars, and advanced design courses, supervising graduate students, and contributing to curriculum development.

The candidate will be expected to build a strong and innovative SRC agenda, pursue external funding, deliver meaningful outputs, and contribute to academic leadership and collegial governance.

Applicants from equity-deserving groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Area of Specialization: Fashion Design Technologies

The School welcomes applicants whose work bridges traditional and emerging technologies within fashion design, with a focus on:

• Garment construction, patternmaking, and material innovation
• Digital prototyping, 3D visualization, CLO3D
• AR/VR applications in fashion
• AI-augmented design and computational creative methods
• Sustainable, decolonized, accessible, and inclusive design approaches

Applicants should demonstrate how their research, creative work, or community practice supports equitable and innovative futures within the fashion sector.

Qualifications

Required

• A PhD (preferred) or Master’s degree with substantial academic and professional experience in fashion or a closely related field
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience working with fashion design technologies
• Demonstrated experience teaching studio courses at the post-secondary level
• Evidence of a developing or established SRC agenda
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and decolonization
• Ability to teach:
  • Core fashion design studios
  • Garment construction and patternmaking
  • Digital design tools (CLO3D, AR/VR, AI applications)
• Experience supervising or mentoring students

Assets

• Experience in adjacent fields (e.g., healthcare, manufacturing, adaptive design, smart textiles)
• Experience in design leadership, sustainable production systems, or community-engaged initiatives
• Ability to teach courses in:
  • Sustainable and circular design
  • Textile innovation
  • Design for health and accessibility
  • Wearable or smart textile systems
• Evidence of collaborative, interdisciplinary, or industry-engaged work

Evidence Required

Applicants should provide evidence of:

• Current SRC work or professional contributions aligned with inclusion, decolonization, sustainability, and accessibility
• Teaching effectiveness (via a teaching dossier including philosophy, syllabi, evaluations, and related documentation)
• Commitment to EDI and accessible pedagogy
• Ability to contribute to School and University service

The committee acknowledges non-traditional career paths and career interruptions; candidates are invited to contextualize their trajectory in their application.

Salary and Union Information

This position is part of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA).

• Minimum salary for Assistant Professor: $103,916.30 per annum
• Final salary commensurate with qualifications and experience
• See TFA Collective Agreement and benefits via www.tfanet.ca and TMU Faculty Affairs

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the TMU Faculty Recruitment Portal by January 15, 2026.
A complete application includes:

1. Letter of application, including a statement on the candidate’s approach to EDI and accessibility
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Statement of research interests
4. Teaching dossier, including:
   • Teaching philosophy
   • Sample syllabi
   • Teaching evaluations
   • Evidence of curriculum development (if applicable)
5. Names and contact information of three referees

Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority, per immigration regulations.

Equity and Inclusion

TMU is committed to fostering a diverse academic community and strongly encourages applications from:

• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples
• Indigenous peoples of North America
• Black and other racialized persons
• Persons with disabilities
• Women
• 2SLGBTQ+ / LGBTQ2IA persons

The University believes that diverse worldviews and lived experiences strengthen scholarship, innovation, and teaching.