معرفی
Arlene Oak is a Professor in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta, within the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. She holds a PhD in Social & Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge, an MA in History of Design and Material Culture from the Royal College of Art, and undergraduate degrees from the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on material culture, design studies, and the interplay between language and objects in shaping identity and societal structures. She investigates how talk influences design practices, urban planning, and creative processes through methodologies like conversation analysis and ethnography.
Dr. Oak has led and contributed to major research projects, including SSHRC-funded 'Thinking while Doing' (2013) and the Killam Cornerstones Grant on design innovation in healthcare education (2014). She explores media representations of design and material culture through analyses of TV programs like Grand Designs and What Not to Wear. Her teaching includes courses such as Introduction to Material Culture (HECOL 201) and Themes in Material Culture and Design Studies (HECOL 662).
Her work bridges disciplines, emphasizing collaboration across design, social sciences, and humanities. She advises graduate students on topics ranging from urban design critiques to sustainability in craft practices. Oak’s publications span design pedagogy, media studies, and ethnographic research, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary exploration of human-object interactions.
