"Assistant/Associate Professor - Industrial Design, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design"

Job Overview

The Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design aims to prepare students to be skilled professionals who can ably work in local and global markets while respecting the breadth of the human community. School of Design is innovative in teaching and in transforming design disciplines by infusing learning with the newest design methods and technologies. Through inspired interdisciplinary projects and solid corporate partnerships, the School of Design is devoted to furthering its role as a leading design institution.

Our undergraduate and graduate programs empower students with core knowledge that provides a solid educational base. Students are prepared for careers in fashion design, communication design, and industrial design by passionate faculty, rigorous academic endeavors, and a world-class professional practice (co-op) program.

The Industrial Design program is continually ranked among the highest in the world and is part of a tier-one research university. This academic tradition continually produces exceptionally talented/motivated undergraduate and graduate students. Our students' unique perspectives and advanced skill levels enable typical studios to be converted into laboratories of innovation. Applicants will find that our university’s centers of excellence, including the recently established 1819 Innovation Hub and Digital Futures Center, have many opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Essential Functions

• Primary responsibilities: teaching, maintaining an active research agenda/creative practice, and service to committees at various levels.
• Teaching will primarily occur at the undergraduate level but may include teaching opportunities in the Master of Design program.
• The typical Industrial Design teaching load is 15 credit hours per academic year, which entails developing and delivering course content, project supervision, integration of design methods, and skill-based demonstrations. This includes integrated theoretical and practical design assignments that address a variety of problems in emerging topics through user-centered perspectives, a range of viewpoints, and systems approaches, to develop design solutions for professional applications, and communicate those solutions effectively using 2D and 3D media.
• The areas of instruction include, but are not limited to, creative problem-solving, conceptual ideation, digital/analog design communication, 3D fabrication/prototyping, aesthetic execution, and professionalism.
• Candidates will be expected to conduct and publish research in their area of expertise in Industrial Design or related fields.
• In time, the candidate will also be expected to provide leadership in bridging the theory and practice of Industrial Design, mentoring faculty and/or students, and advancing research initiatives and curricular development within the program.
• Candidates are expected to serve as advisers for students and evaluate student coursework.
• Candidates are required to maintain current knowledge and skills related to the field of Industrial Design, which include but are not limited to systems design, sustainability, ergonomics/human factors, design for accessibility, theory, methods, interprofessional collaboration, materials and processes, digital and analog 2D/3D design communication, interactive prototyping, and service design.
• Service duties will include serving on various School, College and/or University committees such as Program Curriculum Committee or thesis committees.

Minimum Requirements

All of the following are required prior to the effective date of the appointment:

• Master's degree in Industrial Design or related field
• One year of industry experience in the field of Industrial Design or a related field
• Candidates at the Associate Professor level must also have 5 academic years of university-level teaching experience in the field of Industrial Design or a related field post-qualifying degree.

Application Process

To be considered for this position, please complete an online application and upload:

• CV/Resume
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Names and Contact Information of Three References
• Portfolio of Candidate Work (submit as a link or web address)
• Portfolio of Work Created by Students Under Candidate’s Teaching, if relevant (submit as a link or web address)
• Please use the additional documents feature as needed for these items.

The position is available on August 15, 2026. Review of applications will begin February 1, 2026, and will remain open until the position is filled. For more information about the School of Design and the Industrial Design program, please visit https://daap.uc.edu/academic-programs/school-of-design.html.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. (UC Benefits Link) Highlights include:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won’t contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you’ll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14–18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

• Vacation and sick time
• 11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.uc.edu/careers.html