University of Louisville · 18 hours ago
Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Product Design (Assistant Professor)
Louisville, KY
Full-time
Onsite
Senior LevelThe University of Louisville is seeking an assistant professor for a tenure-track position in Product Design at the Hite Institute of Art + Design. The successful candidate will focus on teaching BFA courses while maintaining an active research agenda and collaborating with engineering faculty.
AssociationCommunities
Responsibilities
Teach, develop, and refine BFA courses in Product Design, emphasizing concept development, form-giving, drawing as a communication/thinking tool, materials, and fabrication
Integrate human-centered methods, iterative prototyping, sustainable practices, and systems thinking across studios and critiques
Contribute to foundation-level courses (e.g., 3D Design, Drawing) that build students’ visual thinking and shop literacy
Mentor students through portfolio development, internships, competitions, and capstone projects
Maintain an active scholarly/creative agenda demonstrating conceptual rigor and material sophistication
Disseminate work through appropriate venues (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, exhibitions, conferences, patents, juried shows, industry partnerships)
Seek external funding or sponsored collaborations when appropriate
Partner with Speed School faculty to create joint learning experiences, co-taught studios, and/or applied research initiatives at the design–engineering interface
Engage in service to the department, college, and university; participate in professional organizations (e.g., IDSA) and regional/national design communities
Qualification
Required
Terminal degree (MFA, MDes, PhD, or equivalent) in Product/Industrial Design or a closely related field by the start date; ABD considered
Demonstrated excellence in conceptual development and three-dimensional form-giving
Hands-on fabrication expertise (shop safety and practices; materials knowledge; relevant manufacturing processes)
Foundation in human-centered design research and application
Commitment to sustainable and materially responsible design practices
Strong drawing skills and the ability to teach drawing as a tool for ideation, analysis, and communication
Record of creative/scholarly achievement commensurate with rank
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive pedagogy and mentoring
Preferred
Professional practice experience in product/industrial design
Successful university-level teaching
Breadth across fabrication methods (e.g., wood, metal, plastics, composites, textiles)
Facility with digital fabrication (CNC, rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing) and potentially emerging technologies (IoT, smart materials, interactive systems)
Foundation in systems thinking to situate products within broader contexts and lifecycles
Record of interdisciplinary collaboration, especially with engineering or technical fields
Community-engaged or socially responsible design work
Experience with grant writing, industry sponsorships, or external funding
Portfolio evidencing conceptual depth, formal sophistication, material exploration, and user-centered problem solving
Company
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a state supported research university located in Kentucky's largest metropolitan area.
Founded in 1798Louisville, Kentucky, USA
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Louisville has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (63)
2024 (44)
2023 (49)
2022 (51)
2021 (54)
2020 (60)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Melisa Adkins, EJD, MBA, BSN, RN
Chief Executive Officer- UofL Health- Mary & Elizabeth w/oversight of Peace & South Hospitals
In K. Kim
Co-Director, Co-Founder, Center for Health Process Innovation (CHPI)
Recent News
2024-02-09
Louisville Business First
2023-12-01
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