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:
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.
About Our Industrial Design Program
The Industrial Design program is part of the Department of Design within Kansas State University’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Design. The program offers multiple pathways to the Master of Industrial Design degree.
Students entering from high school complete a five-year non-baccalaureate master’s program, beginning with a foundation year in environmental studies and followed by four years of Industrial Design coursework, including a summer semester. Students with a previous bachelor’s degree may complete an accelerated graduate pathway in two to three years.
The curriculum combines design exploration, human-centered design, prototyping, visual communication, professional preparation, and an award-winning Furniture Design sequence. Internship and study-abroad embedded experiences expand students’ academic and professional experience. Our goal is to prepare designers to address changing social, cultural, technological, and professional challenges through meaningful products, services, experiences, and systems.
Faculty and students work in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment alongside Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Regional and Community Planning. The department is housed in Seaton and Regnier Hall, with access to approximately 20,000 square feet of fabrication and research facilities supporting prototyping, experimentation, and hands-on learning.
This position is On-site.
Minimum Qualifications:
For Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Required Qualifications
For Professor of Practice Required Qualifications
The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.
Preferred Qualifications:
For Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Preferred Qualifications
For Professor of Practice Preferred Qualifications
Sponsorship eligibility:
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship
Please submit the following documents in one PDF:
Applications close on: January 15, 2027
$70,000-$78,000
Kansas State University offers a supportive and inclusive community, dedicated to your professional growth. While specific benefits may vary by position, many roles come with comprehensive packages that support your well-being and work-life balance, including health and life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. To learn more about benefits that are available for various positions, visit our benefits overview page.
Employees must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment. International candidates who require employer-sponsored work authorization are welcome to apply. Eligibility for visa sponsorship depends on several factors, including but not limited to, the job’s occupational requirements, specific duties, wage level, the candidate’s qualifications (such as degree field) and available departmental resources. As a result, not all positions or applicants will be eligible for sponsorship.
Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.
Some positions are eligible for remote or hybrid working arrangements. An employee who is working in a remote or hybrid capacity for K-State must reside within the United States in order to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available for anyone who resides in the state of Idaho.
Kansas participates in the MakeMyMove program, which connects eligible newcomers with participating communities offering financial incentives, housing support, and local perks to help make your move easier and more rewarding. If relocating from outside of Kansas you can visit the site to apply online for the program incentives.
Upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment, a candidate may be subject to a background check per K-State’s background check policy.
Kansas State University honors interview preferences for qualified applicants who are veterans or individuals with disabilities. Eligible applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, submit all required application materials, and submit required preference documentation by the closing date on the job advertisement will be granted a first-level interview.
The disability and veteran interview preferences do not apply to student employment positions, temporary positions, athletics positions, academic and administrative department heads*, positions that require licensure as a physician, and positions that require that the employee be admitted to practice law in Kansas.
*Heads of Departments refers to any individual holding a primary leadership role responsible for the overall strategic direction, management and operational oversight of a recognized academic or administrative unit within the university.
To learn more about interview preferences at K-State, please visit our interview preferences page.
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