Assistant or Associate Professor in Product Design

Posting Details

Job Title Assistant or Associate Professor in Product Design

Requisition Number FE05084

Working Title

Department Name 8N700:Product Design

Work Location Lexington, KY

Type of Position Faculty

Position Time Status Full-Time

Tenure Track Status Tenure Track

Required Education

A terminal degree (MS, MA, MDes, MFA) in product design, industrial design, or related field.

Required Related Experience

• A teaching philosophy that integrates theory and practice and supports students’ engagement with an inclusive vision of design, culture, and global society.
• Documented experience in teaching, professional design practice, and/or research that integrates design theory, methods, and processes.
• Ability to develop students’ design skills through real-world problem solving, conceptual development, and critical thinking.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with students, faculty, and staff, as well as with external partners on shared projects.
• Interest in incorporating socially engaged projects into creative activities and teaching.

Required License/Registration/Certification

n/a

Job Summary

The Department of Product Design (PRD) in the University of Kentucky’s College of Design invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor position in the Regular Title Series beginning August 1, 2027.

Job Summary

We seek candidates committed to preparing students for careers in physical and digital product design. This position is an in-person, full-time 9-month appointment.

This position supports the mission of the Department of Product Design through excellence in teaching, curriculum development, research, and service. We seek candidates with diverse professional and educational experiences in product design who are committed to preparing students to address complex challenges through the design and development of physical products, digital products, and experiences.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to teach design concepts, methods, and skills across classroom, studio, and workshop environments.

The successful candidate will demonstrate expertise in product and industrial design processes, human-centered design principles, and contemporary product development practices from research and concept generation through prototyping, refinement, and implementation.

Candidates should be prepared to teach at multiple levels in the four-year undergraduate curriculum and contribute to its core sequences aligned with their expertise, including Studios (product development), Means of Communication (drawing, visualization, and graphic communication), Means of Production (materials, fabrication, prototyping, CAD, digital modeling, and manufacturing technologies), and Design Contexts (history, theory, ethics, and professional practice).

Faculty may also develop electives aligned with their expertise.

Faculty are expected to contribute to curriculum development; participate in departmental, college, and university service; and help develop new degree programs, certificates, minors, and industry partnerships. The position offers opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across Architecture, Interiors, and Historic Preservation, while contributing to a shared vision for the future of design education.

Faculty are expected to establish and sustain a focused agenda of scholarly research, professional practice, and/or creative activity appropriate to an R1 research institution. This work should advance product design knowledge and practice, contribute to the faculty member’s national or international standing, and result in peer-reviewed, juried, exhibited, or otherwise publicly disseminated outcomes.

Candidates should also demonstrate potential for interdisciplinary collaboration and, where appropriate, external support.

Salary is competitive and based on qualifications and experience. The anticipated Distribution of Effort (DOE) is 60–65% teaching, with 30–35% research, and the remainder devoted to departmental, college, and university service. Teaching responsibilities include studio, lecture/seminar, and courses developing digital and physical design skills.

Application

To apply, please apply directly to the UK Jobs system. Complete applications must include, and will be evaluated on, the following materials:

1. A letter of intent that addresses the listed qualifications (Cover Letter)

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Statement of teaching philosophy (Specific Request 1)

4. Statement of research, scholarly, and/or creative agenda (Specific Request 2)

5. A PDF file with samples of professional work and/or student work, or a website address (Specific Request 3)

6. The names and contact information of three (3) references. *Providing names and contact information gives permission for members of the hiring committee to contact references without an explicit request.

Review of applications will begin on Monday, November 30, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions regarding the position should be directed to

Adam Feld, Chair of the Department of Product Design: [email protected]

Jennie Boyd, Faculty Resource Manager: [email protected] or (859) 257-6935.

For more information about the College of Design and the University of Kentucky, please visit: https://design.uky.edu

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

We welcome candidates whose teaching, research, or professional practice align with one or more of the following areas:

• Product Design
• Industrial Design
• Physical Product Development
• Design Foundations
• Professional Practice in Product or Industrial Design
• Design for Manufacturing and Assembly
• Advanced Materials, Processes, and Production Methods
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD): N.U.R.B.S and Solids Modeling
• Visualization methods, both analog and digital
• Prototyping, Model Making, and Fabrication
• Ergonomics, Human Factors, and Usability
• Design Research and User-Centered Design
• Medical Device and Healthcare Product Design
• Entrepreneurship and Product Commercialization
• Soft Goods, Wearables, and Textile-Based Product Design
• Sustainable Design and Circular Product Development
• User Experience and User Interface Design (UX/UI)
• Digital Product Development
• Emerging Technologies for Product Development, including Artificial Intelligence, Extended Reality (AR/VR/MR), and Digital Manufacturing

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education/Experience

Ideal candidates will demonstrate a commitment to advancing the educational vision of a contemporary product design program and possess:

1. Excellence in teaching, or potential for excellence in teaching, of foundational and advanced product design concepts.

2. A strong understanding of the historical, cultural, social, economic, technological, and manufacturing contexts of product design.

3. Strong visual, verbal, and written communication skills.

4. Expertise in form development, visualization, prototyping, materials, manufacturing processes, design research, and iterative product development.

5. Proficiency in 2D and 3D visualization, physical and digital prototyping, fabrication methods, and contemporary product development workflows.

6. An ability to balance conceptual, aesthetic, technical, and human-centered considerations in design theory with hands-on studio practice and design discourse.

7. A focused research, scholarly, and/or creative agenda with the potential for sustained dissemination, interdisciplinary collaboration, and external support;

8. An interest in collaboration across design, engineering, business, healthcare, manufacturing, or related fields.

Deadline to Apply

Open Until Filled Yes

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination.

The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.