What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Professor or Professor of Practice in Industrial Design position at Design Observer?
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.
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.