Full-time Tenure-track position in User Experience Design

Faculty/Academic Area: Faculty of Liberal Arts 

Department: User Experience Design 

Campus: Brantford 

Employee Group: WLUFA 

Requisition ID: 10630 

WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF LIBERAL ARTS

USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN PROGRAM

The User Experience Design Program in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Wilfrid Laurier University invites applications for a Tenure-Track faculty position at the Lecturer/Assistant Professor level beginning July 1, 2026, subject to budgetary approval.

Anticipated Salary Range:  $90,000 to $120,000.  Actual salary to be commensurate with education and experience.

The User Experience Design Program was launched in 2017 and is one of Canada's fastest growing and most innovative design degree programs. Students in the undergraduate UX major take courses in Graphic Design, Web Design, Immersive Design, UX Research, UX Strategy, Interaction Design, Design Thinking, UI and Web Design, 3-D and Critical Making, Design Ethics, Designing for EDI, and Information Architecture. Students work with clients from industry, government, and community organizations to create user-centred solutions to complex business and societal challenges. Students may also participate in a 12-month co-op after their third year. The recently launched Master of Science in User Experience Design is unique within Ontario for its singular focus on UX, and it is structured to encourage practical, professional learning in the field. The User Experience Design Program is highly interdisciplinary, and faculty research in the program has been funded by NSERC, SSHRC, ORF, MITACS, and others.

To be considered, applicants must have completed, at minimum, a master’s degree (MA or MFA) in Design or a related discipline; however, a PhD is preferred. The terminal degree must have been completed no later than March 13, 2026.

The successful candidate should demonstrate a strong record of (i) scholarship and/or professional practice and/or creative work and (ii) teaching in areas related to Graphic Design, Web Design, and Mobile App Design with the ability to teach both foundational and advanced-level courses across these domains, including interaction design. The successful candidate should be familiar with emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) trends in graphic and web design. They should be able to teach best practices for AI use in design and demonstrate familiarity with emerging AI tools, generative design methods, and contemporary design software and standards. Evidence of industry and/or community engagement, applied research, and a commitment to inclusive and human-centred design practices will be considered strong assets.

Evidence of excellence in research or creative practice, or research or creative practice potential (commensurate and appropriate for the candidate’s stage of career development) can be demonstrated in several ways, including publications in top-ranked journals, conference presentations, research grants, and commissioned works presented in a credible artistic or professional forum. Along with 1-2 sample publications, applicants should submit a Research or Creative Work Statement (3 pages max.) that clearly describes the focus of their research or creative work and a plan for furthering that agenda over the next 5 years.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach in our Master's and undergraduate programs in courses such as UX211: Graphic Design Studio I, UX212: Graphic Design Studio II, UX 312: Graphic Design Studio III, UX220: Web Design Lab I, UX221: Web Design Lab II, UX230: Interaction Design I, UX308: Mobile Application Design Lab, UX330: Interaction Design II, UX600: Introduction to Human-Centred Design, and UX606: Immersive Design. Evidence of excellence in experiential teaching and pedagogical inquiry can be demonstrated through the Teaching Dossier submitted as part of the application. The Teaching Dossier will include a strong statement of teaching philosophy and pedagogical approach as evidenced by a concise selection of outstanding teaching materials, such as syllabi and course materials or other evidence of teaching excellence.

The successful candidate will be committed to collaboration and/or engagement with the broader community and contributing to the administration of the UX degree programs. The User Experience Design program at Wilfrid Laurier University is interdisciplinary in its focus. It provides an innovative approach to the design of experiences including services, products, digital applications, and spaces. The undergraduate major and Master’s are offered at Laurier’s innovative Brantford campus, which is integrated into the downtown core, and the minor in UX is offered on the Waterloo, Brantford and Milton campuses.

The ideal candidate will preferably demonstrate a commitment to critical making and designing for equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

Applicants will submit:

• A cover letter outlining their qualifications for the position and fit with the User Experience Design Program at Laurier,

• A curriculum Vitae,

• A teaching dossier as described above,

• Teaching evaluations or equivalent documents (e.g., letters of support from supervisors, colleagues, former students),

• A research or Creative Work dossier including a statement of research or creative work, research or creative work plan, and 1-2 sample publications, and

• Contact information (address, telephone, and email) for at least three academic or professional referees.

Application packages must be submitted by email to:

Dr. Geoff Spurr

Program Coordinator, User Experience Design

Wilfrid Laurier University

c/o Nicole Morgan, Academic Program Administrator (nmorgan@wlu.ca)

Applications will be accepted until March 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

If you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Nicole Morgan (nmorgan@wlu.ca).

The Faculty of Liberal Arts thanks all applicants for their interest. All applications shall be reviewed and considered under a set of criteria established by the Search Committee, and a short list of candidates shall be interviewed. Only those applicants selected for the short list will be contacted.

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Strategic Academic Plan prioritizes building capacity in Indigenous education and commits to the Indigenization of our campuses through Indigenous programming, which it seeks to expand under the leadership of Indigenous students, faculty, and staff. Laurier is committed to employment equity and values diversity. Laurier welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and/or a person of any sexual identities and gender identities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obligated to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenships; however, all applicants must include one of the following statements in their cover letter:

Yes, I am a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada; or

No, I am not a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Members of designated groups must self-identify, in confidence, to: (Dr. Tarah Brookfield, Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts [tbrookfield@wlu.ca]). Further information on Laurier’s equity policy can be found at https://www.wlu.ca/about/governance/assets/resources/8.4-employment-equity.html

Applicants are encouraged to address any career interruptions or special circumstances that may have affected their record of research and teaching, in accordance with SSHRC and NSERC definitions and guidelines.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a CV and letter of introduction will be required in electronic form.