Associate Professor / Assistant Professor in Design (several posts)

THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

Rooted in 90 years of heritage and intellectual achievement, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has evolved alongside society and made pivotal contributions to the development of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. The University pursues world-class excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer to nurture socially responsible professionals and leaders, as well as to drive impactful research and innovation. PolyU will strive to continually excel as an innovative world-class university that makes a positive impact on society, living up to the University’s motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.

Ranked among the top 100 universities globally by well-known ranking organisations such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE) and U.S. News & World Report, PolyU offers a wide range of world-class educational and research programmes in seven faculties and three independent schools. PolyU has furthermore achieved commendable results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 – it is ranked in the global top 30 for five subjects, is first in Hong Kong for four subjects, and is in the global top 100 for 24 subjects.  For further details about the University, please visit PolyU’s website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.

SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Associate Professor / Assistant Professor in Design (several posts) (Ref. 260601004)

The School of Design, a leading and transdisciplinary design school, is at the forefront of nurturing capable, open-minded, creative talents and active learners; contributing to innovation in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland while maintaining a global perspective.  As one of the top design schools in the world, its highly diverse design expertise widely covers Product Design, Interaction Design, Information Design, Advertising Design, Media Design, Interior Design, Environmental Design, Social Design, Service Design, Transitional Environments Design, Innovative Business Design, Intelligent Systems Design, Smart Service Design and Innovative Multimedia Entertainment.  It is consistently ranked among the top 25 on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject - Art and Design.  The School is based in a Zaha Hadid designed building well-equipped for innovative research and creative learning on the university campus.  Please visit the website at https://www.sd.polyu.edu.hk/en/ for more information about the School.

The School attaches equal importance to design theory and application, integrates art with science, actively promotes interdisciplinary cooperation and learning, emphasises high-quality design education, conducts high-level research, and provides consulting services. The School is committed to contributing its expertise to the community through applied research and consultancy, providing forward-looking advice and support to the industry covering three main pillars: Design Intelligence, Design for Virtue, and Design Wellbeings; and contributes to innovation in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, while maintaining a global perspective.

The School is looking for candidates who will work in a transdisciplinary design environment that builds on the School’s global position within the regional and Chinese context (e.g. the Greater Bay Area).

More specifically, candidates are sought, preferably with industry experience together with a strong track record of teaching and research in any one of the following areas:

•         Communication Design (e.g. strategy, branding, creative advertising, market research, content creation, information design, infographics, wayfinding, animation content creation, filmmaking, storytelling)

•         Content Design (e.g. digital content creation, digital communication design, brand development, publication design)

•         Design for Entrepreneurship (e.g. design strategy, user-centered design, design management, circular design, product service systems)

•         Digital Entertainment and Game Development (e.g. applied anthropology, psychology, neuroscience, socio-technical systems)

•         Interactive System Design (e.g. UX design, smart product, design for AI, internet of things, digital fabrication, data driven design)

•         Service Design and Social Innovation (e.g. strategic innovation, user experience design, organisational/community design)

•         Interaction Design (e.g., design-oriented HCI, user experience and interface design, research through design, design methodologies, interactive computing)

Candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong research potential and/or good publication track record in transdisciplinary design projects (e.g. healthcare systems, smart tourism, e-enterprises, city-regeneration, age-friendly city, etc.).

Duties

The appointees will be required to:

(a)         synthesise knowledge and design applications with theories, design research methods and form-giving techniques;

(b)         provide leadership in all aspects of academic activities, including research, teaching and service among the design disciplines;

(c)         teach at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels in a mix of design disciplines;

(d)         act as student advisor and supervisor to groups as well as individual students including research students;

(e)         secure competitive research grants and conduct research that leads to publications in refereed journals, or a body of design work which leads to outputs contributing to the knowledge and teaching of the design disciplines;

(f)          engage actively in research and scholarly activities serving the regional and international industry with significance and relevance to the discipline and profession;

(g)         work with industry, nonprofits and the public sector to initiate funded research projects;

(h)         activate inter-departmental and inter-institutional collaboration and networking; and

(i)          perform any other duties as assigned by the Dean of School or his delegates.

Qualifications

Applicants should have:

(a)         a relevant PhD degree with professional and/or teaching experiences in a specialised area of design and/or a related discipline;

(b)         extensive knowledge of and expertise in an area of design with hands-on techniques;

(c)         extensive knowledge of and track record in design research and research methodologies;

(d)         a high level of contextual and cultural awareness, and a vision for the future development of the profession; and

(e)         a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, research and professional service.

Applicants for appointment at Associate Professor level should have stronger relevant academic and/or professional achievements. Candidates with less experience will be considered for appointment at a lower level.

Applicant should submit (a) a letter of application declaring a focus area of expertise; (b) updated curriculum vitae; (c) a brief statement of research and teaching philosophy; (d) three key publications; and (e) a design and/or teaching portfolio including samples of personal and professional work.

Conditions of Service

A highly competitive remuneration package will be offered.  Initial appointment for Assistant Professor will be on a fixed-term gratuity-bearing contract.  Re-engagement thereafter is subject to mutual agreement.  An appropriate term will be provided for appointment at Associate Professor level.  For general information on terms and conditions for appointment of academic staff in the University, please visit the website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/docdrive/careers/doc/Prof.pdf. 

Application

Please submit an application through PolyU’s career website (https://jobs.polyu.edu.hk/academic).  Consideration of applications will commence on 31 July 2026 until the positions are filled.  The University’s Personal Information Collection Statement for recruitment can be found at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/careers/pics_for_recruitment/.

PolyU is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to fostering an environment that embraces diversity and demonstrates inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and experiences where all members of the University are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.  To learn more about the University’s “Statement on Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion”, please visit our website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/equal_opportunities_diversity_and_inclusion/.

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com