Partnerships

Partner with Emily Carr University on Research

Emily Carr University partners with businesses, non-profit organizations, industry and educational partners on research that is effective, creative, community-engaged and practice-based. Projects are co-created with faculty and students are led by experts in their field, rooted in experimentation and collaboration and designed for real-world impact. Interested in partnering with us?

A student engages in a focused discussion with an instructor or mentor during a workshop or collaborative session. The setting is a bright, modern classroom or studio environment, characterized by colorful sticky notes on the wall and other participants working in the background. The student appears attentive and thoughtful, while the mentor gestures toward a laptop screen, suggesting a hands-on learning experience centered around technology and creative problem-solving.

Focus Areas

We’re especially interested in research partnerships related to:

Sustainability + environmental practice
Indigenous research, knowledge + culture
Social justice, community engagement + innovation
Studio-based + collaborative art practices
Design, from commercial to experimental
Media innovation + emerging platforms
Culture + technology intersections
Experimental, practice-based research

Types of Partnerships

ECU supports a wide range of collaborative formats, from short-term engagements to long-term creative projects:

Practice-based, academic + funded research
Co-design projects
Sponsored studios + co-instructed courses
Student co-op, employment + volunteer placements (learn more)
Field schools + community-based projects with SMEs + non-profits

Research Centres at ECU

Our research centres offer dedicated tools, space and expertise to support interdisciplinary collaboration:

Health Design Lab	Applies participatory design to support and amplify initiatives that tackle complex challenges in health and healthcare systems.
Material Matters	Explores material innovation technologies and rapid prototyping through design research, materials experimentation and hands-on making.
DESIS Lab	Focuses on how design can drive social change, social innovation and sustainability.
Basically Good Media Lab	Explores the cultural, social and critical potential of new and old technologies through partnerships and residencies.
Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship	Supports artists and designers in moving their work into the world—through systems, platforms and opportunities where creative ideas can have real impact.

ECU Partnerships

Explore past partnerships below. Click on the icons in the bottom right for details.

A person wearing headphones and a long coat stands in a forested area, touching a tree branch. They are surrounded by ivy-covered trunks and orange survey tape tied around branches and trees.

ECU student Keira Madsen listens to touch interactions with old alder trees at Stoney Creek — one of the sites being cleared for the Transmountain Pipeline expansion. Led by ECU associate professor Julie Andreyev and Maria Lantin, this new project series uses immersive media to build empathy for the 1,308 trees slated for removal from Burnaby as part of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Branching Songs is part of the ongoing Wild Empathy project which uses new media and sound techniques to raise awareness of the value and irreplaceability of B.C.’s ancient trees. The project has expanded to involve students of the New Media + Sound Art major at ECU, under guidance from Julie and Maria.

Close-up of a hand gripping thick cream-colored yarn, resting on a textured wool surface with loops and fibers.

The textiles industry has been long overdue for a change—fast fashion and unsustainable production practices have taken their toll on the environment and local communities. The textiles industry has been long overdue for a change—fast fashion and unsustainable production practices have taken their toll on the environment and local communities. It’s with this in mind that Emily Smith, ECU’s Faculty Research Lead, founded the Fibreshed Field School. In partnership with the Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship, the Fibreshed Field School uses experiential methods to connect artisans, farmers, and educators with local fibre systems and supply chains. It’s with this in mind that Emily Smith, ECU’s Faculty Research Lead, founded the Fibreshed Field School. In partnership with the Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship, the Fibreshed Field School uses experiential methods to connect artisans, farmers, and educators with local fibre systems and supply chains. Read more about Fibreshed’s creative and sustainable business model. Visit the Fibreshed project website for more information and a link to the publication.

wo people working in a bright makerspace with large windows; one adjusts something on the window while the other cuts paper at a cluttered workstation labeled “PAPER.”

Sam Talbot, (BDes 2019), is bringing graphic design resources for the Sunshine Coast through her work with the Graphic Research Unit, the practice-based research project Graphic Lab for Teens. A one-of-a-kind resource on the coast, The Graphic Lab for Teens aims to address challenges that teenagers face when looking for publication and design resources, and empower them with the tools they need to work in communication design.

Bold blue and white graphic reading “Access Font,” with a stylized bracket symbol and layered white geometric shapes forming the number 5.

Tyler Hawkins (BDes 2020) recently received funding from the Government of Canada to create the world’s first customizable font catering to individuals with low vision. Called “Access Font,” the groundbreaking project tailors fonts to readers’ specific needs to make on-screen reading more accessible for all. This project is supported by the Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship and the Health Design Lab.

Let’s work together.

Inquire

Have a project or idea in mind? We welcome inquiries from industry and community partners. Connect with us at research@ecuad.ca to explore collaborations and partnerships, or access to our researchers, technologies and emerging talent.

Access Funding

Industry partnerships with Emily Carr Research may qualify for government funding that supports innovation and research. Learn more about funding opportunities by contacting us at research@ecuad.ca.

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