"Tenure-Track Industrial Design"

Tenure-Track Industrial Design

Company: University of South Carolina

Job Location: Columbia

Category: Industrial Design

Type: Full-Time

The faculty of the School of Visual Art and Design at the University of South Carolina, Columbia campus, invites applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track, open rank position to begin August 16, 2026.

In addition to an established career within the field of industrial design, we are seeking candidates with expertise in experience design and/or human-centered design who can bridge design with emerging technologies, e.g. in human-computer interaction; artificial intelligence and machine learning; computational design methods and interactive systems; and/or in design that is broadly focused on the implications for future technologies. The faculty member hired into this position would contribute to the BFA concentration in Graphic Design and Illustration in the first year and, after the BSID is launched, would continue to develop and deliver courses that could potentially serve both degree programs.

The position is a 9-month appointment with a teaching load of four courses for the academic year (2/2). The successful candidate will be instrumental in expanding upon a dynamic design culture within the school and university, implementing and continuing to develop the new curriculum, and collaborating with school, college, and university staff on facilities expansion as the BSID and BFA degree programs grow.

About the Graphic Design + Illustration program: Graphic Design + Illustration (GD+I) is a concentration within the Studio Art BFA degree program in the School of Visual Art and Design. Students undergo a portfolio review before admission to the program, pursue internships, and have a capstone experience before graduation. Students in the program regularly win awards and recognition with the American Advertising Federation, AIGA, Creative Quarterly, and more. GD+I has an engaged student body and five full-time faculty who teach courses in motion, interaction, interface and experience design, augmented reality, design with AI and machine learning, product and packaging design, typography, branding, systems, traditional illustration, drawing, and digital illustration. Designers and illustrators in our program understand the objects and interactions we create are part of larger systems and that we have responsibilities as message-makers. We lead with research and data to make informed solutions. For more information about the GD+I program, please visit http://www.bit.ly/uofsc_design.

Candidates must have either an MFA (Master of Fine Arts), MID (Master of Industrial Design), MDes (Master of Design), MS (Master of Science), or PhD in a related field by the start date of the appointment.

The successful candidate will advance interdisciplinary research across the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD), the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, and the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing in the field of industrial design and will collaborate with faculty to build a distinctive Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design (BSID) program that bridges the university’s existing strengths in industrial engineering and design education, and the region’s growing manufacturing base. The faculty member in this role will be poised to provide leadership and vision as the program grows.

How to Apply: All applicants must apply online at USCJobs at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Applications must include: (1) a cover letter that describes their research and teaching interests, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a portfolio of relevant work and/or sample publications, and (4) the names and email addresses of 3 references. The Search Committee Chair will solicit reference letters of final candidates during the search process.

Applications will be accepted immediately, and committee review will begin November 6, 2025. Inquiries about this position may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Marius Valdes, at valdesm@mailbox.sc.edu.

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.