Professor of Product Design (Open Rank)

University of Louisville•Louisville, KY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Louisville invites applications for a tenure-track Professor of Product Design, Open Rank. We seek a practitioner-scholar whose work bridges human-centered design, three-dimensional form development, and hands-on fabrication. The successful candidate will guide students through the full design process, from ideation, research, and prototyping to finished form, while emphasizing sustainable and materially responsible practices. We welcome candidates whose work engages physical products, systems, emerging technologies, sustainable design, social innovation, or related areas of contemporary product design practice. The successful candidate will prepare students to contribute to interdisciplinary teams and contemporary design practice. The University of Louisville is a Carnegie R1 research university located in a dynamic metropolitan region with strong connections to manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and civic innovation. The Hite Institute of Art + Design is the most comprehensive art and design program in Kentucky, offering BA, BFA, MA, and MFA degrees across multiple disciplines. The Design program is grounded in a shared first-year foundation and includes coordinated tracks in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Product Design, and Interior Design. Students benefit from robust campus partnerships, community-engaged initiatives, and an active internship network throughout Louisville's cultural and innovation ecosystem.

Requirements

Terminal degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, or a closely related field (MFA, MID, or equivalent) completed by the start date; 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.

Nice To Haves

Experience integrating human-centered design and user research into studio teaching.
Experience with makerspaces, digital fabrication, additive manufacturing, or related technical facilities.
Interest in interdisciplinary collaborations involving design, engineering, or other STEM fields.
Record of industry collaboration, sponsored projects, community-engaged work, or externally funded research.

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 and visible program of creative practice, scholarship, and/or professional design activity appropriate for a tenure-track appointment.
Disseminate work through appropriate venues (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, exhibitions, conferences, patents, juried shows, industry partnerships).
Pursue external funding or sponsored collaborations when appropriate.
Collaborate with the J.B. Speed School of Engineering on shared programs, facilities, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
Participate in departmental, college, and university service, including curriculum development, committee work, and student mentorship.
Engage with professional organizations and regional, national, or international design communities.