Jonathan Mekinda

Email Address: mekinda@uic.edu
College: Architecture and the Arts Department: Art and Design
Title: Associate Professor
Office: Architecture + Design Studios 1300 Phone: 312-996-2607
Webpage: https://design.uic.edu/people/jonathan-mekinda-phd
Participating in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards program: Yes

Research Interest:
History of design in Chicago, including architecture, furniture, graphic design, interior design, and industrial design as well as manufacturing and retail activities at the local, regional, national, and international level. Exemplary subjects of interest include businesses such as Sears, Roebuck and Motorola; designers such as Charles Harrison and Emmett McBain; institutions such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the South Side Community Arts Center; and events such as the 1933-1934 "A Century of Progress" World's Fair.

Minimum time commitment in hours per week: 10

Qualifications of a Student:
Careful attention to detail and a commitment to methodical, organized, and high-quality work are required. Experience conducting research in libraries and archives is preferred as is familiarity with bibliographic, database, and design software (e.g. Endnote, Excel, and Adobe Creative Suite).

Brief Summary of what is expected from the student:
I am looking for students to help construct a substantial website with material produced by students in a series of seminars taught annually at UIC between 2015 and 2018. Students will be part of a team working on this grant-funded project. Student tasks will include data entry, copy editing, and bibliographic research and may include original writing, research, and website design depending on skill and interest.

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