Senior Artist (m/f/d, 20 hours per week, limited from 1 September 2026 – 28 February 2027) - Design Investigations

The University of Applied Arts Vienna is looking for a Senior Artist (m/f/d, 20 hours per week, limited from 1 September 2026 – 28 February 2027) for Design Investigations.

ABOUT DESIGN INVESTIGATIONS

Design Investigations at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, led by Prof. Anab Jain, is a five-year design diploma that transcends traditional industrial design boundaries. We prepare tomorrow's designers by expanding their toolkit to shape technological, social, and ecological futures. From data to biology, politics to AI — our students engage with an ever-evolving design landscape, embracing limitless possibilities.

THE TOPIC, WINTER SEMESTER 2026–27

In Winter 2026–27, Design Investigations is excited to be embarking on a possible new collaboration with the Weltmuseum Wien, inviting our students to ask: What stories do objects tell? Together we will explore how objects carry meaning across cultures, and create speculative objects that act as cultural artifacts.

To help our students with this brief, we welcome applications from creative practitioners, whose work moves between anthropological research, storytelling and making, and who bring a critical, curious approach to culture and the worlds we build through objects.

What You Will Do:

●       Work with the teaching team to shape and deliver the semester brief, bringing references, case studies, and inspiration.

●       Guide students through their research, worldbuilding, and making - from initial provocations to finished artefacts.

●       Join weekly feedback sessions and offer one additional touchpoint per week.

●       Deliver a kickoff workshop and 2–3 lectures over the semester.

●       Support students in preparing an optional exhibition of the work.

●       Contribute to the department's online presence (articles, social media, exhibitions).

●       Be present in the studio in Vienna at key moments of the semester.

Qualifications:

●       A creative practice that brings together making, research, and storytelling

●       Experience with speculative, anthropological, and/or worldbuilding approaches

●       A portfolio that reflects a critical engagement with cultures, societies, or alternative ways of living

●       University-level teaching experience

●       A commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration

We know this is a specific profile, and we encourage anyone who recognises themselves in some — not necessarily all — of these areas to apply.

The language of instruction is English, but German skills would be an advantage.

The position requires some physical presence at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, but arrangements are flexible (blocked seminars, online presence, etc.) and can be discussed individually. Please send any questions to office@designinvestigations.at

More information on our previous work can be found under:

https://designinvestigations.at

https://www.instagram.com/design_investigations/

Suitable candidates will be informed of dates for interviews via email.

The teaching time zone is Vienna, CET.

The minimum monthly salary for this position is currently € 1,888,05 gross (7x for 20 hours per week) and may be increased accordingly based on previous experience specific to the position in accordance with the collective agreement for universities (B1, salary scale for academic/artistic university staff).

Please submit a full CV, statement of intent, and any work, publications, projects that are related to the subject matter by 30 June 2026, via our online application platform at angewandte.at/jobs. Applications submitted otherwise will unfortunately not be considered.

The University of Applied Arts Vienna pursues an anti-discriminatory employment policy and stands for equal opportunities and diversity. We aim to have a wide range of gender identities, ages, cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds among our employees. We also strive to maintain a high proportion of women among our artistic, scientific, and general university staff, particularly in management positions, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. In the case of underrepresentation, women with equal qualifications and suitability will be given priority.

The University of Applied Arts welcomes applications from people with disabilities.

We regret to inform you that applicants are not entitled to compensation for travelling and accommodation expenses.