Design for subjective well-being (SWB) is the activity of designing with the explicit intention to support people in their pursuit of sustainable happiness. Subjective well-being refers to happiness as an enduring sense of appreciation for one’s life, rather than a momentary feeling.
As a domain, design for SWB aims at designing products (services, environments, systems) that contribute positively to the experienced quality of life, in making things that are useful, usable, enjoyable, purposeful, desirable, and even virtuous and ethical. It is an approach that helps designers to think through the values they want to support and maximize in what they design. With the explicit focus on long-term happiness, Design for SWB is a novel approach that represents an exciting new major step of knowledge development in the domain of human-centered design.
The overall aim of the Tenure Track position is to build a research agenda that contributes to a paradigm shift towards the development of a possibility-focused design approach, opening up exciting new possibilities to design interventions that directly support people’s subjective well-being. This includes the following scientific opportunities:

• Develop instruments and approaches that can measure the SWB impact of design, on the level of the individual, communities, and society.
• Develop theory that explains (and predicts) the relationships between situational variables and SWB.
• Building on the above: Develop strategies and design tools (and related teaching materials for design students) that support a structured approach to design for SWB.
• Develop an understanding of how the above can be integrated in design innovation management practices.

Applicants should have the following qualifications:

• PhD in user-centered design, or in Positive Psychology (human well-being) with a demonstrable affiliation in design.
• Collaborative attitude, eager to learn, develop, and contribute to design research.
• Excellent researcher with an output track record (e.g., publications, research funding).
• Teaching experience at the Bachelor and Master level.
• Good international network and excellent writing skills.

Fixed-term contract: tenure track (6 years with the prospect of a permanent contract).

A tenure-track position is offered for six years. Based on performance indicators agreed upon at the start of the appointment, a decision will be made by the fifth year whether to offer you a permanent faculty position.For circumstances as having children or parental leave during the tenure track, it is possible to delay the definitive assessment and extend the Tenure Track appointment to a maximum of 8 years.The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice can support with advice for you and your accompanying partner about your individual settling needs in the Netherlands. Once arrived you can be supported withindividual consults and diverse workshops. Located on campus are the International Children’s Centre and an international primary school which are subject to availability as well as several bilingual schools in the nearby surrounding. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.The TU Delft sets specific standards for the English competency of the teaching staff. The TU Delft offers training to improve English competency.Inspiring, excellent education is our central aim. If you have less than five years of experience and do not yet have your teaching certificate, you get the chance to obtain this within three years.

Technische Universiteit Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Faculty Industrial Design Engineering

The faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) is the largest and broadest scientific design institute in the world, with over 2,000 students, 7,000 alumni and 300 staff (researchers and lecturers, including designers from industrial practice). The faculty aims to contribute to a better living environment and respond to social challenges by combining human values and desires with technological feasibility and economic viability. We are excellently placed to do so, as we ground design methods and skills in scientific knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, leading to concrete solutions.

The tenure track position is offered within the department of Human-Centered Design. The department HCD is recognized as an international leader in design research and was ranked excellent by an international review panel in 2015. Our research and education focusing on topics like design for happiness, prototyping in design thinking, design aesthetics, future interactions, ergonomics and social design. The department also houses the StudioLab, a unique interdisciplinary design research community that facilitates design-driven research and education. We believe that a professional designer needs scientific knowledge and the skills to use systematic methods, techniques and tools. We teach future designers to conceptualize products and services that are understandable and stimulate meaningful experiences. We develop and improve the knowledge and skills that help designers and researchers contribute to relevant societal challenges and to have an impact.

The tenure track position connects to the research agenda of the Delft Institute of Positive Design (www.DIOPD.org). The DIOPD is recognized as a key initiative that originated the current ‘positive design movement’ and is at the forefront of knowledge development.