Job Summary:
The School of Human Ecology at University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a full-time (9-month) faculty position at an open rank (assistant, associate or full) with an expertise in sustainability in fashion and design to join the faculty of the Design Studies Department. The department seeks a colleague who is an imaginative design practitioner and scholar who can build a forward-thinking program to prepare students to shape a sustainable future of textiles, fashion, other soft goods, and related design. Textiles and fashion span the trajectory from global concerns about the environment and those who work to sustain it; local initiatives to strengthen community economies, cultures, and well-being; and individual viewpoints about the relationships between bodies, identities, and creative expression. The successful candidate will join conversations around questions of adaptation, resilience, uses of technology, and humanity in support of sustainable environments at all scales. This position is a part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/. Faculty hired under this initiative will engage in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research or creative scholarship.
More specifically, the position is expected to provide experience and expertise in sustainable design, ideally with an emphasis on textiles, fashion, and/or other soft goods. Particular areas of interest to the department include (but are not limited to):
– Circular design
– Material innovation
– Technology integration
– Entrepreneurship
– Craft in design and production
– Textile and fashion systems, in local, national, or global contexts
– Design for social change
– 3D software technology and/or emerging and developing technologies
– Accessible and inclusive design
The programs seek to reimagine how the next generation of designers might reinvent the fashion and textile industry’s systems to combat its unsustainable practices. We work to envision alternative models, local materials, closed-loop systems, and prioritize durable goods to foster a new economy. With a focus on entrepreneurship, social innovation, and environmental impact, this research-oriented faculty member will educate future designers to effect positive change.
This position will be responsible for conducting and disseminating impactful scholarship in sustainable design, focusing on textiles and/or fashion, with an emphasis in responsibility and resourcefulness, whether in the use of materials, approaches to design, production processes, technological integration, or entrepreneurship. Limited and shared research space geared toward arts/humanities and/or social science research is available to support faculty research, within the School of Human Ecology’s space guidelines.
This position carries research, teaching, and service responsibilities appropriate for the rank sought. The 2-2 teaching load (4 courses per year) will include rigorous lecture, studio, and seminar instruction across a range of levels. Other responsibilities include leading an independent and high-impact research program; seeking external funding as appropriate for the area of study; advising and working with graduate students; and participating in department, school, and university service.
Anticipated Begin Date:
AUGUST 18, 2025
Salary:
Negotiable
ACADEMIC (9 months)
To find out more and apply, visit this link.
Application deadline: January 20, 2025
