Faculty Position in Industrial Design

The Industrial Design program at Kansas State University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month faculty position beginning August 2027. The successful candidate may be appointed as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor or Professor of Practice, depending on qualifications, academic preparation, and professional experience.

We seek a collaborative and forward-looking designer and educator who will contribute to the continued growth of our Industrial Design program. The successful candidate will bring expertise in contemporary design practice, a commitment to student learning, and new perspectives that help prepare the next generation of industrial designers.

The program seeks candidates with demonstrated expertise in foundational design, furniture design, and/or visual communication. Candidates should be able to connect design education with evolving professional practice.

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will teach design studios and other courses across the Industrial Design curriculum, with assignments based on program needs and the candidate's expertise. Candidates should be prepared to:

• Teach undergraduate studios and courses primarily and, as appropriate to the appointment, graduate design courses.
• Develop and teach lectures, seminars, and other courses in two of the following areas: foundational design, furniture design, or visual communication.
• Integrate contemporary design methods, tools, technologies, and industry practices into teaching.
• Maintain current course content and contribute to curriculum development and continuous program improvement.
• Collaborate with faculty, students, alumni, industry partners, and the broader design community.
• Support industry and community collaborations, internships, and career development opportunities that connect students with professional practice.

APPOINTMENT PATHWAYS

Tenure Track Assistant Professor

The tenure-track appointment supports an integrated commitment to teaching, research and/or creative scholarship, and service.

Teaching - 65-70%
Teach undergraduate and graduate design studios and other courses aligned with the candidate's expertise and program needs. Contribute to curriculum development, collaborative teaching, and the advancement of Industrial Design education. The teaching load is 14-16 credit hours per academic year, including 5-credit-hour studios and 2-3-credit-hour lectures or seminars.

Research and Creative Scholarship - 25-30%
Develop and sustain a focused program of research and/or creative scholarship informed by the candidate's academic preparation, professional experience, teaching interests, or areas of design inquiry. Scholarly and creative work should advance Industrial Design and will form an important basis for promotion and tenure.

Service - 5-10%
Contribute to the program, department, college, university, profession, and broader community through committee participation, curriculum initiatives, professional engagement, outreach, and related activities.

Professor of Practice

The Professor of Practice appointment emphasizes teaching excellence, professional expertise, and engagement with the Industrial Design profession.

Teaching - 80-90%
Teach undergraduate Industrial Design studios and other courses aligned with the candidate's professional expertise and program needs, including courses related to professional practice. Bring substantial practice experience into the classroom and connect student learning with current industry methods, expectations, and opportunities. The typical teaching load is 14-18 credit hours per academic year, including 5-credit-hour studios and 2-4-credit-hour lectures or seminars.

Service - 10-20%
Contribute to program, department, college, university, and community initiatives; student engagement; curriculum development; and professional communities. Strengthen relationships with alumni, industry partners, and employers, and identify opportunities for collaboration, internships, and student career development.

About Our Industrial Design Program

The Industrial Design program is part of the Department of Design within Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning, and Design. The program offers multiple pathways to the Master of Industrial Design degree.

Students entering from high school complete a five-year non-baccalaureate master's program, beginning with a foundation year in environmental studies and followed by four years of Industrial Design coursework, including a summer semester. Students with a previous bachelor's degree may complete an accelerated graduate pathway in two to three years.

The curriculum combines design exploration, human-centered design, prototyping, visual communication, professional preparation, and an award-winning Furniture Design sequence. Internship and study-abroad embedded experiences expand students' academic and professional experience. Our goal is to prepare designers to address changing social, cultural, technological, and professional challenges through meaningful products, services, experiences, and systems.

Faculty and students work in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment alongside Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Regional and Community Planning. The department is housed in Seaton and Regnier Hall, with access to approximately 20,000 square feet of fabrication and research facilities supporting prototyping, experimentation, and hands-on learning.

This position is On-site.

Minimum Qualifications:

For Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Industrial Design, or a related field.
• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate design studios across the curriculum.
• Ability to develop and teach lectures, seminars, or other courses related to the candidate's expertise and program needs.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and visual communication appropriate to the design disciplines.
• Demonstrated potential to develop and sustain research and/or creative scholarship related to the candidate's academic preparation, professional expertise, or areas of design inquiry.

For Professor of Practice Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field.
• Six or more years of creative and/or professional practice experience in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field.
• Ability to teach undergraduate design studios across the curriculum.
• Ability to develop and teach courses related to professional practice in Industrial Design.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and visual communication appropriate to the design disciplines.

The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.

Preferred Qualifications:

For Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Preferred Qualifications

• Six or more years of creative and/or professional practice experience in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field.
• Previous experience teaching at the university level.
• Evidence of an emerging or established research and/or creative scholarship agenda.
• Experience contributing to curriculum development.
• Record of service or engagement within academic, professional, or design communities.
• Experience collaborating with industry, community partners, or interdisciplinary teams.

For Professor of Practice Preferred Qualifications

• Ten or more years of professional practice in Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field.
• Previous teaching experience in higher education.
• A diverse professional design background spanning multiple industries or product categories.
• Experience leading or collaborating with interdisciplinary design and development teams.
• Evidence of professional leadership, mentorship, or significant contribution to the Industrial Design profession.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Please submit the following documents in one PDF:

• Letter of interest addressing your qualifications and interest in the position.
• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Portfolio of professional and/or creative work.
• Teaching portfolio, if applicable.

Applications close on: January 15, 2027

$70,000-$78,000