The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, School of Design seeks a full-time, non-tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Lecturer in Industrial Design to support the launch of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design program, with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2027.
About the Program
The BFA in Industrial Design is a new, four-year, studio-based program in the College of Architecture + Design, and the first of its kind in the state. The curriculum is conceived as an evolved model for the discipline, rooted in the region's culture of resourcefulness, collaboration, and practical problem-solving. Students will learn to create user-centered outcomes spanning physical products, digital systems, emerging technologies, and contemporary manufacturing.
The program shares its first-year foundations and interaction design curricula with the BFA in Graphic Design. Both programs emphasize critical making, systems thinking, and collaboration with people and technology. There is strong, documented support from industry partners across the region, including those in consumer products, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, packaging, the built environment, entrepreneurship, and the arts. The program will welcome its first students in August 2027.
About the Position
We are looking for a colleague who understands the industry, has demonstrated teaching ability, and approaches teaching as a creative, applied act. The teaching load is three courses per semester, contributing to the development and delivery of the undergraduate curriculum. Studio courses will engage students with the product life cycle and sustainability, alongside core competencies in user experience, human factors, ergonomics, contextual inquiry, material intelligence, and usability. Teaching responsibilities may include courses in:
- Design Foundations, delivered in collaboration with the BFA in Graphic Design program
- Visualization, sketching, multi-dimensional representation, CAD, model-making, and prototyping
- Interaction design and screen-based design, delivered in collaboration with the BFA in Graphic Design program
- Beginning, intermediate, and advanced Industrial Design studios focused on concept development, material application, manufacturing processes, form, function, and systems, and informed by research and lived experiences
- Practicum and capstone development
Classes will have opportunities to build upon the program’s relationships with industry, community partners, and other academic disciplines, including engineering, materials science, manufacturing, health-related industries, and the arts.
Candidate Description
We seek candidates with professional experience in industrial design, product design, or an allied field, and evidence of effective teaching or mentorship. Relevant experience may include:
- Designing products, systems, or experiences for real-world contexts
- Integrating AI-assisted workflows, digital technologies, or interaction design into practice
- Prototyping, fabrication, material exploration, and contemporary manufacturing
- Human-centered research, usability, ergonomics, and user experience
- Sustainability, lifecycle thinking, circular design, repair, reuse, or responsible material futures
- Physical computing, sensors, code, XR, or other emerging design technologies
- Interdisciplinary collaboration with engineering, science, business, or community partners
Ideal candidates balance technological fluency with material engagement, cultural awareness, and critical judgment. They should be able to guide students in using emerging tools thoughtfully throughout the design process.
Required Qualifications:
- A terminal degree (MFA, MID, or equivalent) in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field or equivalent industry experience
- Demonstrated skill in the product development process, including concept generation, form development, fabrication, and hands-on prototyping
- A portfolio reflecting thoughtful conceptual development, formal craftsmanship, and material experimentation.
- Experience teaching at the college level or comparable instructional experience through professional mentorship
Program Facilities + Context
The School of Design, part of the College of Architecture + Design, operates alongside the Schools of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Landscape Architecture. This collaborative environment supports interdisciplinary teaching, research, and engagement. Industrial Design students and faculty will have access to:
- The Art + Architecture Building's woodshop, Digital Production Center, Materials Library, Photo Lab, and Digital Futures Lab.
- The College's 20,000-square-foot Fab Lab, which features robotics, CNC routing, waterjet cutting, metalworking, woodworking, and prototyping equipment.
The Industrial Design program will be housed in the Southern Railway Depot, a renovated railway station in downtown Knoxville, within walking distance of the Fab Lab. Opening in 2027, the depot will include dedicated Industrial Design studios, a classroom, a workroom, a gallery review space, and a faculty office loft.
As a land-grant university and as "Volunteers," serving the state and nation is integral to the university's mission. The University of Tennessee enrolls approximately 33,805 students at its Knoxville campus. The university’s culture is guided by core values that define the Volunteer spirit, including the pursuit of knowledge, leading with innovation, advancing access and inclusion, engaging locally and globally, and embracing responsible stewardship of resources.
Review of applications will begin on December 16, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
How to Apply:
Any questions regarding the position should be directed to Sarah Lowe, School of Design Director, at slowe@utk.edu.
Application materials should be directed to Jess Parker, School of Design Administrative Specialist at jpark119@utk.edu.
Please submit the following application materials as a single PDF:
- Cover letter of intent including interest in the program, relevant professional and teaching experience
- Current Curriculum Vitae
- If available, a teaching statement may be included
- Portfolio of creative/professional work (if submitted as a URL, please indicate this clearly within application)
- Samples of student work or link to an online portfolio, if applicable (if submitted as a URL, please indicate this clearly within application)
- Complete contact information for three professional references (contacted at the finalist stage)