Megan Strickfaden

Megan Strickfaden 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 adjunct roles at Donghua University (China) and has taught globally, including at Edinburgh Napier University and KU Leuven. Her research focuses on design for aging, disability, and inclusive environments, combining ethnographic methods with material culture studies.

Education: PhD in Design Studies from Edinburgh Napier University, MDes in Industrial Design from the University of Alberta, and an Engineering Diploma in Design Research from Danmarks Tekniske Universitet.

Research Interests: Human-centered design, dementia care environments, disability studies, multisensory design, and co-creation with marginalized communities. She has produced over 18 films, including Dementia Care by Design and Light in the Borderlands, exploring disability narratives through film.

Awards: University of Alberta McCalla Professorship (2020/21), Great Supervisor Award (2018), and multiple grants for research and teaching.

Teaching: Courses include HECOL 250 (Design Studies), HECOL 469/569 (Material Culture), and HECOL 661 (Design Perspectives). She actively mentors doctoral students in disability and design through the disAbility Mundus program.

Labs/Teams: Leads projects with AGE-WELL, Design for All initiatives, and community partnerships like the Alberta Ability Lodges Society. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in healthcare, urban design, and assistive technologies.