Assistant or Associate Professor of Design Studies

NC State University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 78,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Assistant or Associate Professor of Design Studies to join their innovative team. This role offers the opportunity to teach, mentor, and lead research in a dynamic academic environment. The successful candidate will engage with students in design research and theory, contributing to a nationally recognized program. With a focus on interdisciplinary education, this position allows for significant impact on the next generation of design leaders. If you are passionate about design and education, this is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of design studies.

Qualifications

• Proven success in conducting research and teaching appropriate for their stage of career.
• Experience in design research, theory, and criticism.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and disseminate research scholarship while delivering instruction.
• Advise undergraduate students and participate in curriculum development.

Skills

Design Research

Teaching

Curriculum Development

Mentoring

Education

Terminal Master's degree or PhD

Job description

Assistant or Associate Professor of Design Studies

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Applicants are required to submit: (1) a letter of intent describing qualifications and interests; (2) a CV; (3) a digital research and/or professional portfolio (upload under "other document 1"); (4) a research statement that includes a plan for scholarly production; (5) a teaching portfolio (upload under "other document 2"); and (6) contact information for three references.

Review of applicants will begin October 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Please send inquiries to search committee chair, Bess Williamson ([e-mail] )

Posting Information

Posting Number

Posting Number PG194034EP

Internal Recruitment

Internal Recruitment No

Working Title

Working Title Assistant or Associate Professor of Design Studies

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range Commensurate upon experience ($78k for Assistant, $90k for Associate)

Work Schedule

Work Schedule Varies based on Teaching Schedule

Job Location

Department

Department Art and Design

About the Department

About the University

North Carolina State University is a well-established world-class research university with research expenditures exceeding $500 million annually and a focus on real-world solutions for real-world problems, with a population of nearly 40,000 students. NC State is ranked second in industry-sponsored research among all public US universities without medical schools and is in the top 1% of universities worldwide according to the Center for World University Rankings. NC State is a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution that is globally recognized for contributions to science and technology

About the College of Design and the Department
The College of Design offers comprehensive undergraduate and graduate studies in architecture, graphic and experience design, industrial design, landscape architecture and environmental planning, and media arts, design, and technology through several degree programs, including the Ph.D. and Doctor of Design.

The Design Studies program in the Media Arts Design and Technology (MADTech) Department is a nationally recognized program known for its innovative interdisciplinary research and broad-based professional design education. The College of Design’s mission is to educate students to become designers and thought leaders creating a community for designers, researchers, and scholars.

The Bachelor of Arts in Design Studies is a non-studio-based program that provides an interdisciplinary orientation to the history and theory of the design disciplines, material culture, and design thinking. Design Studies focuses on the social, historical, technological, and physical contexts in which design is produced. It presents the formative role of design in shaping human values and experiences. Design Studies is one of the largest growing programs in the College of Design with 158 undergraduate students.

The Design Studies program in the Department of Media Arts, Design and Technology (MADTech) and Design Studies housed in the College of Design at North Carolina State University is seeking applicants for a full-time, tenured, or tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Design Studies. The successful candidate will be able to teach courses related to design research, theory, and criticism, including research methodologies, design thinking, design writing, and theory-based topical seminars. Additionally, the candidate will advise students in the undergraduate Bachelor of Design Studies Program and may serve on the graduate faculty servicing the Masters in Art and Design, the Ph.D. in Design, and/or the Doctor of Design students. We are also interested in candidates with robust industry experience in design research and/or criticism. Selected candidates will be considered for the additional responsibility of Director of Undergraduate Students in Design Studies.

Responsibilities:

This position is responsible for conducting and disseminating research scholarship while delivering lecture, studio, and seminar instruction at the undergraduate level. The Assistant or Associate Professor will provide leadership in recruiting, teaching, and mentoring undergraduate students, and advise students on academic and career choices. The Design Studies program has a structured curriculum where theory, criticism, and research-focused faculty contribute to students’ learning experiences.

The position is responsible for developing a nationally competitive program relevant to the multidisciplinary field of Design Research, History, Theory, and Criticism. The program prepares students to deal with all issues related to design spanning the physical, social, and cultural environment, addressing issues of health and wellbeing, sustainability, and social justice. This position is expected to participate in department meetings and service, such as curriculum development, advising, and committee assignments. In addition, service to the college, university, and the profession is expected.

Essential duties for the position include:

• Teach 18 credits per year (three 3-credit courses per semester)
• Develop and maintain an active record of significant research
• Participate in Design Studies admissions
• Advise Design Studies students and students within the Design Studies Minor
• Participate in Design Studies poster and paper reviews
• Develop the curriculum with program faculty

Other Responsibilities

• Serve on program, department, college, and university committees
• Participate in select outreach activities
• Participate in open-house events
• Engage with Design Studies alumni

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Terminal Master’s degree or PhD or equivalent in a field relevant to the specific area of instruction (i.e. Art, Design, other art-related course), or relevant master’s degree with professional practice in that related field.

OR

• A terminal degree in the broader field of design with at least one undergraduate or graduate degree from art + design, graphic design, interior design, industrial design, architecture and other allied fields is required.

Other Required Qualifications

• Experience will be commensurate with the rank sought. All candidates must have proven success in conducting research and teaching appropriate for their stage of career.
• Assistant professor candidates must have their degree at time of application, or official notification of completion of the degree by January 01, 2026 or July 01, 2026. Assistant professor candidates should have at least 3 years of post-graduate teaching experience in higher education, which could include instructing as a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Research Assistant (RA). Associate professor candidates must possess experience and scholarly credentials that meet the tenure and professorial rank standards of the College of Design and of NC State University.
• The ability to lead a research program that attracts external funding individually and/or through active collaboration, that actively attracts and engages graduate students, and that produces high-impact research and thought leadership.
• The ability to teach Design Studies courses, seminar, and lecture courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels including, but not limited to, current knowledge on design research methods and a willingness to stay up to date.
• Demonstrated experience at creating process-driven, research-based, human-centered design solutions for a range of design challenges at a level appropriate for grad/undergrad studio teaching.
• An ability to work collaboratively with a cross-disciplinary faculty and students with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of professional practice in the field of Design.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

• N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

Valid NC Driver's License required No

Commercial Driver's License required

Commercial Driver's License required No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date

Job Open Date 04/30/2025

Anticipated Close Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants are required to submit: (1) a letter of intent describing qualifications and interests; (2) a CV; (3) a digital research and/or professional portfolio (upload under “other document 1”); (4) a research statement that includes a plan for scholarly production; (5) a teaching portfolio (upload under “other document 2”); and (6) contact information for three references.

Review of applicants will begin October 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Please send inquiries to search committee chair, Bess Williamson ([e-mail] )

Position Number

Position Number 00107152

Position Type

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.0

Appointment

Appointment 9 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID

Department ID 120501 - Art and Design

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-515-3148 to speak with a representative at the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail] .

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you learn of this opportunity?
  • NCSU website
  • Craigslist
  • Indeed.com
  • Carolina Job Finder/Employment Guide
  • NC Works
  • Dress for Success
  • Technical/Trade School Program
  • Job Fair (Identify Job Fair in question #2 below)
  • Direct Contact from NSCU Representative (identify person in question #2 below)
  • Other
  • Monster.com
  • Other online job board
  • NCSU employee referral
  • Social Media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Ohter)
• If you learned about this vacancy from "other source" or "other website", please provide the source.

  (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Other Document (1)
• Other Document (2)
• Contact Information for References
• Research Statement
Optional Documents

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
RALEIGH, NC 27695
PHONE: [phone]

To ensure the security of your data, you will be logged out due to inactivity in 3 minutes at
.

Any data not saved will be lost.

Click 'OK' to keep your session active.