Tenure-Track Professor of Product Design

Design Observer Group; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Louisville invites applications for a tenure-track Professor of Product Design, Open Rank, who is a practitioner-scholar bridging human-centered design, three-dimensional form development, and hands-on fabrication. The successful candidate will guide students through ideation, research, and prototyping toward finished form, emphasizing sustainable and material-responsible practices.

The role includes teaching across undergraduate and graduate levels, developing curriculum,

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, or closely related field (MFA, MID, or equivalent); ABD considered.
• Expertise in product design processes, form development, fabrication, and prototype-driven making.
• Evidence of effective university-level teaching or equivalent instructional experience.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual rigor, formal sophistication, and material exploration.
• Commitment to inclusive pedagogy and student mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses that include drawing, form-giving, fabrication, prototyping, and human-centered research methods.
• Contribute to curriculum development and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Mentor students through portfolio development, internships, independent study, and capstone projects.
• Maintain an active program of creative practice and scholarship in alignment with tenure-track expectations.
• Collaborate with engineering and other departments on shared programs and facilities.

Skills

Human-centered design

Form development

Fabrication

Teaching experience

Portfolio

Inclusive pedagogy

Mentorship

Education

Terminal degree (MFA/MID)

Job description

The University of Louisville invites applications for a tenure-track Professor of Product Design, Open Rank, who is a practitioner-scholar bridging human-centered design, three-dimensional form development, and hands-on fabrication. The successful candidate will guide students through ideation, research, and prototyping toward finished form, emphasizing sustainable and material-responsible practices.

The role includes teaching across undergraduate and graduate levels, developing curriculum,