Ambassadors for the Design History Society
Founded in 1977, the Design History Society works internationally to promote and support the study and understanding of design history. It welcomes all those engaged in the subject, from students, researchers and educators, to designers, makers, critics and curators. The Society aims to play an important role in shaping an inclusive design history.
With this in mind, the Society is now seeking three Ambassadors to support its core aims and activities.
Overview
The Ambassadors will play a vital role in enriching the virtual presence of the Design History Society, co-creating events within our virtual seminar and symposium programme and disseminating knowledge and understanding of all its activities. Ambassadors will be mentored by the Chair of the Society, and work closely with the Executive Committee and the DHS Administrator, who provide guidance and support as needed.
The role is advertised on an annual basis. Successful applicants are appointed in December to serve for the following calendar year (2022 in this instance) with the opportunity to seek a second year in the role (2023). These three roles are undertaken on a voluntary basis with benefits.
The DHS is committed to progressing equity and sustainability. We welcome applications from candidates engaged in design history from the widest variety of perspectives and experiences, research interest and geographical locality. We especially encourage applications from anyone desiring to help the Society in reaching new diverse audiences.
Key Activities
■ Create a virtual event such as a symposium, seminar series or outreach opportunity about design history in either spring or autumn of 2022 mentored by Claire O’Mahony, Chair of the Society (n.b. a proposal for the open call for contributors for the event in the application form)
■ Promote the DHS as the leading organisation in the study of global design histories throughout the year
■ Collaborate with the Communications Officer, DHS Administrator and Student Representative in providing regular content for the DHS social media channels
■ Generate engaging and relevant contributions for the DHS Blog – including reviews, reports, interviews, thought pieces, visual essays etc
■ Work with Trustees in their respective roles and in developing new initiatives as they arise through the year.
Benefits
■ Free registration for the 2022 DHS conference on ‘Transience’ convened in a hybrid format by the Izmir Institute of Technology in Turkey (virtual or online registration as desired, but Ambassadors would be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses).
■ Free annual membership to the Design History Society which includes an online subscription to the Journal of Design History, qualification for a number of DHS awards and occasional discounts on a range of academic publications.
■ Access to a range of professional networking opportunities through DHS events, writing and social media experience which includes the publication of your work on the DHS website.
Person requirements
■ Sustained study, research and/or professional experience in design history (essential).
■ Commitment to equal opportunities and inclusive practices (essential)
■ Self-motivated, organised and able to meet deadlines (essential)
■ Social media experience (essential)
■ Excellent written communication skills in English (essential)
■ Experience of writing for different audiences (desired)
■ Experience of working in a team (desired)
How to Apply
To apply for the Ambassador role please complete please submit these three documents by email it to the DHS Administrator at designhistorysociety@gmail.com no later than 12 midnight GMT on Tuesday 23 November 2021:
■ Contact details form
■ Application and Proposal Form (anonymous)
■ Letter of support from your employer, supervisor or professional colleague outlining your suitability for the role and their relationship to you
Interview and Selection Process
Interviews will be held via Zoom on Thursday 2 December 2021 with the role commencing on January 2022. All forms will be anonymized and blind-assessed by the Chair and two Trustees.
